The Central Arkansas Library System aims to help feed the needy and give money-owing patrons a break again this year by designating a “Food for Fines” week in December.
The Food for Fines program, this year scheduled for Dec. 15-21, lets library patrons exchange nonperishable food items for the expunging of fines on overdue library materials, the library system said.
One nonperishable food item equals one dollar, and library cardholders can contribute up to 10 food items to cancel up to $10 in fines. Fines accumulated from lost library materials will not be covered by the program, the library system said.
Donations will be given to the Arkansas Rice Depot, an organization established in 1982 with the mission to combat hunger in Arkansas. The items will also be used to support the depot’s Food for Kids program, which doles out backpacks of “kid-friendly” foods that can be eaten over weekends, when children aren’t receiving school lunches. Examples of desired items are canned ravioli, peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit, pudding cups, cereal and granola bars, the library system said.
Little Rock libraries participating in the Food for Fines week include:
• Main Library, 100 Rock St.
• Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Learning Center, 4800 W. 10th St.
• Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road.
• Fletcher Library, 823 N. Buchanan St.
• McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road.
• Oley E. Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Court.
• Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive.
• Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle.
• Williams Library, 1800 Chester St.
More information is available by calling (501) 918-3000.