An Arkansas House committee rejected Senate Bill 536 on April 9, 2025, which proposed dissolving the State Library and transferring its responsibilities to the Arkansas Department of Education. The bill, filed by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro), aimed to bring more "accountability" to state and local libraries by increasing government oversight. Although the bill passed the Senate, it failed to gain traction in the House, with committee members expressing concerns about the potential for reduced effectiveness and new unfunded mandates for libraries.
Supporters of the bill, including Sullivan and Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford), argued that the State Library Board had overstepped its role, particularly after rejecting motions aimed at protecting children from inappropriate content in libraries.
The bill would restrict access to "age-inappropriate materials" for minors and require libraries to adhere to stricter content criteria. However, opponents, including library professionals and homeschooling advocates, warned that it would limit access to educational resources and introduce vagueness in defining what constitutes inappropriate content.
Key highlights:
“I think this could have been resolved very easily… Folks dug their heels in and decided they weren’t going to negotiate.” — Rep. Howard Beaty, R-Crossett
“Libraries should be free to make their own decisions about appropriate materials and programs for their communities.” — Adam Webb, President-elect, Arkansas Library Association