Good afternoon.
Sledgehammers were wielded inside the Main Library on Tuesday as officials celebrated the coming overhaul of the flagship Little Rock branch of the Central Arkansas Library System.
During the "wall-breaking" ceremony, Nate Coulter, the library system's executive director, told the crowd that even in an era of digital library materials, the city deserves state-of-the-art facilities.
On top of the rearranged interior, new features of the five-story building are expected to include a cafe run by the Boulevard Bread Company, a glass facade at the front and rooftop access.
Of course, construction projects come with certain headaches. The branch closed last September and isn't expected to reopen until 2025; some services have shifted to a nearby branch within Library Square.
Additionally, a recent estimate of the construction costs was roughly $1 million over the library system's budget.
Some interesting measures moved ahead at the Little Rock Board of Directors yesterday related to parks and clean energy.
Elected officials authorized contracts for a new mountain bike trail at Allsopp Park; bleachers, benches and picnic tables at Interstate Park; and design services tied to Hindman Park.
The city board also voted to move ahead with a 4.9-megawatt solar array.
Officials still need to approve financing for the project, but once completed, the facility is expected to supply 70% of the city's electricity needs.
The city's push for solar follows similar efforts at Pulaski County and Central Arkansas Water. Both entities recently brought solar arrays online.
Finally, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. has been named to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Advisory Council.
The group of up to 40 officials provides recommendations to the FEMA administrator. Terms are for three years.
There are a slew of other local stories to browse below. Have a good rest of the week.
