Jeffrey Lee Baskin

Beloved father, husband, friend and community leader Jeffrey L. Baskin of Little Rock, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2014, he was 67. Born in New York City on August 2, 1947 to Bernard and Muriel Baskin, Jeff’s unprecedented leadership has established North Little Rock’s Laman Library System as a world-class institution and cultural center. After returning to New York from the Vietnam War in 1969, he enrolled in C.W. Post College where he graduated with a master’s degree in library sciences. In 1976, Jeff and his wife Susan Weinstein relocated from Long Island, N.Y. to Little Rock, Ark. after he was recruited to help expand UAMS’ library. Jeff joined Laman Library as director in 1987 and in the nearly thirty years since has built the North Little Rock Public Library System into one of the most highly respected library systems in the region. Under his tenure, Laman has established a very modern outlook, expanding three times, and bringing every form of learning to the public, including music, art, theatre and lectures. In 2006, Jeff opened Laman’s first branch library in historic Argenta, and in February of this year that branch moved into the restored US Post Office at Fifth and Main Street. Former NLR mayor Patrick Hays recently noted, “Jeff’s footprints are very large in North Little Rock and will continue to be appreciated for years to come.” Apart from his work with Laman Library, Jeff was an active leader of his Synagogue Agudath Achim, often leading services for years at a time when the congregation was between rabbis. Jeff was also a founding member of the Argenta Arts Council and dedicated substantial energy to developing Argenta into the arts hub it is today. He was deeply passionate about collecting, buying and selling antiquarian books and paper, and was very involved in the Arkansas Antiquarian Book Association. In his down time, Jeff enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, reading and fishing with a good cigar. His grand visions, energy, enthusiasm, and sense of humor will be missed tremendously. He leaves behind his loving wife Susan, and three children, Bernie, Meredith and Danny. Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Interment will follow in Jewish Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Synagogue Agudath Achim (7901 W. 5th Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72205) or William F. Laman Public Library (2801 Orange Street, North Little Rock, Ark. 72114). To sign the online guest book visit www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.