Little Rock, AR – Central Arkansas Library System's Sue Cowan Williams Library, 1800 Chester Street, is hosting a Silver Celebration honoring the life of its namesake and 25 years of service with a block party Tuesday, June 14, 5:30-7 p.m. The community is invited to come enjoy games, music by DJ Swift 720, catering by Haygood BBQ, and learn about the history of this great library. There will also be a cake cutting and a chance to win a limited edition 25th anniversary t-shirt.

“Williams Library is in the very community that Mrs. Williams served as a teacher at the former Dunbar High School,” said Latina Sheard, branch manager at Williams Library. “This community is a big part of her legacy and as the library that carries her name, our goal is to continue to build on that legacy of community and youth enrichment through the access of materials, programming, and services.” 

Sue Cowan Williams took a courageous stand on behalf of equal rights when in 1942, she became the plaintiff in a lawsuit to challenge the unequal salaries paid to African American teachers in the Little Rock School District. CALS's tenth library was dedicated in her honor on March 22, 1997. Fittingly, the Sue Cowan Williams Library serves the community near the historic Dunbar High School building in downtown Little Rock. In addition to the wide selection of books and audio/visual items, the 8,500-square-foot facility offers public computers, wireless Internet access, and a public meeting room. The Business and Technology studio provides adults and teens with access to free digital resources to help entrepreneurs promote and develop their businesses online. Information about Mrs. Williams can be found at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sue-cowan-williams-4063/. 

For more information about the event, contact Latina Sheard at [email protected] or 501.376.4282. The event is free and open to the public; reservations are not required.

 About CALS 
The Central Arkansas Library System includes 15 branch libraries located in Little Rock, Perryville, and throughout Pulaski County. CALS has the largest research collection in central Arkansas. Most of its more than one million items may be reserved online and picked up at any branch that is convenient to the patron. Library Square, the library system’s downtown Little Rock campus, includes the Main Library, as well as the Ron Robinson Theater, the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, and the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square