Nate Coulter
@dncoulter.bsky.social
Arkansas native, failed politician, and recovering lawyer. Now toiling away in Little Rock as a public library executive, joyfully litigating against book bans and promoting the library's potential for changing lives and curbing loneliness.
As the director of the largest public library in Arkansas, and someone who loves books and our 250 year old American project in self-governance, this is an extremely disturbing essay.
The dawn of the post-literate society
And the end of civilisation
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
As the director of the largest public library in Arkansas, and someone who loves books and our 250 year old American project in self-governance, this is an extremely disturbing essay.
Many years ago I had the good fortune to take a course from & then serve as TA for Dick Neustadt. Later still I was a weekend guest with my wife at his modest vacation home on the Cape. He was an exemplary public official & teacher. No, he did NOT offer lessons on the virtues of appeasing tyrants.
Have been talking w friends who took courses from major figures in Harvard's history, gov, related fields:
Samuel Beer. Stanley Hoffman. Richard Neustadt. Joe Nye. Even Kissinger, in his univ days. A very long list.
Imagine lecture by any one of them: "Here's why it pays off to appease bullies..."
Samuel Beer. Stanley Hoffman. Richard Neustadt. Joe Nye. Even Kissinger, in his univ days. A very long list.
Imagine lecture by any one of them: "Here's why it pays off to appease bullies..."
Extortionists alwasy raise the vig at any sign of weakness www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
July 30, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Many years ago I had the good fortune to take a course from & then serve as TA for Dick Neustadt. Later still I was a weekend guest with my wife at his modest vacation home on the Cape. He was an exemplary public official & teacher. No, he did NOT offer lessons on the virtues of appeasing tyrants.
In Huntington Beach, the message from the community is loud and clear: libraries belong to the people, not to politicians.
www.everylibrary.org/huntingtonwin via @everylibrary.bsky.social
www.everylibrary.org/huntingtonwin via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Your Support Help Defeat a MAGA Takeover of the Huntington Beach Library
Thank you so much for your support!
www.everylibrary.org
June 13, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In Huntington Beach, the message from the community is loud and clear: libraries belong to the people, not to politicians.
www.everylibrary.org/huntingtonwin via @everylibrary.bsky.social
www.everylibrary.org/huntingtonwin via @everylibrary.bsky.social
Reposted by Nate Coulter
What's extra weird about the idea of BlueSky as containment or a bubble, is that it's generating significantly increased traffic for news websites — whereas they've made it near-impossible to get anyone on Twitter to click through, leave the site, & read articles.
June 12, 2025 at 3:08 PM
What's extra weird about the idea of BlueSky as containment or a bubble, is that it's generating significantly increased traffic for news websites — whereas they've made it near-impossible to get anyone on Twitter to click through, leave the site, & read articles.
Reposted by Nate Coulter
People get mad at me on bluesky but I rarely get called slurs, see someone posting a bullshit chart about how people like me are subhuman, and no one complains when i Romapost. People seem to actually read pieces I share! As far as social media experiences go it’s about as good as it gets
June 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
People get mad at me on bluesky but I rarely get called slurs, see someone posting a bullshit chart about how people like me are subhuman, and no one complains when i Romapost. People seem to actually read pieces I share! As far as social media experiences go it’s about as good as it gets
Yes, thanks to city voters who enabled this in May of ‘22 when they approved an extension of their property tax (at a lower millage rate!) that supports CALS’s capital improvement bonds. By fall Little Rock will enjoy a beautiful modern downtown public library that will be the envy of larger cities.
So many books and more! The re-opening of our main CALS library is coming soon; kudos to @dncoulter.bsky.social & the team. In this era when libraries are under attack, I’m glad our city & residents support our library. #libraries #read #books
April 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Yes, thanks to city voters who enabled this in May of ‘22 when they approved an extension of their property tax (at a lower millage rate!) that supports CALS’s capital improvement bonds. By fall Little Rock will enjoy a beautiful modern downtown public library that will be the envy of larger cities.
The headline is accurate but falls short of describing the sweeping scope of this deeply flawed legislation that bears a strong resemblance to objectionable provisions of Act 372. A federal court permanently enjoined those sections of Act 372 last December. edition.arkansasonline.com/article/2818...
Arkansas Online
Arkansas Online
edition.arkansasonline.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The headline is accurate but falls short of describing the sweeping scope of this deeply flawed legislation that bears a strong resemblance to objectionable provisions of Act 372. A federal court permanently enjoined those sections of Act 372 last December. edition.arkansasonline.com/article/2818...
Reposted by Nate Coulter
President Trump's executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum & Library Services would have disastrous effects for communities nationwide. We call on all Americans who value reading & learning to reach out to their elected leaders.
Read ALA's full response: www.ala.org/news/2025/03...
Read ALA's full response: www.ala.org/news/2025/03...
March 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
President Trump's executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum & Library Services would have disastrous effects for communities nationwide. We call on all Americans who value reading & learning to reach out to their elected leaders.
Read ALA's full response: www.ala.org/news/2025/03...
Read ALA's full response: www.ala.org/news/2025/03...
February 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
There are no easy answers to the societal challenge of a steep rise in the number of people without a place to live. But there are some helpful measures that cities like Dallas & Nashville have taken and Little Rock is now trying. Public libraries everywhere are on the front lines of this struggle.
February 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
There are no easy answers to the societal challenge of a steep rise in the number of people without a place to live. But there are some helpful measures that cities like Dallas & Nashville have taken and Little Rock is now trying. Public libraries everywhere are on the front lines of this struggle.
The Central Arkansas Library System has a simple mission statement: We connect people. We nurture potential. We grow community. No better example of CALS putting this into practice than our partnership with a local nonprofit, Advancing Black Entrepreneurship, to foster small business creation.
Rock It! Lab Helps 'Underestimated' Entrepreneurs
A wall in the Rock It! Lab space in downtown Little Rock's River Market District reads, “If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you
armoneyandpolitics.com
January 30, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The Central Arkansas Library System has a simple mission statement: We connect people. We nurture potential. We grow community. No better example of CALS putting this into practice than our partnership with a local nonprofit, Advancing Black Entrepreneurship, to foster small business creation.
Reposted by Nate Coulter
Yup, it works. Want a book the library doesn’t have? Ask ‘em for it.
I don't have a good understanding of the behind-the-scenes workings of libraries, but mine keeps buying the books that I request, and my librarian friends have told me that I should keep doing that.
December 22, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Yup, it works. Want a book the library doesn’t have? Ask ‘em for it.
This 1977 picture of Dale Bumpers and Jimmy Carter from the Oval Office hangs on my office wall. Both were young progressive governors first elected in 1970.They broke the grip of old guard segregationists in GA & AR, were courageous, incorruptible, & thankfully shaped my worldviews as a young man.
December 31, 2024 at 2:52 AM
This 1977 picture of Dale Bumpers and Jimmy Carter from the Oval Office hangs on my office wall. Both were young progressive governors first elected in 1970.They broke the grip of old guard segregationists in GA & AR, were courageous, incorruptible, & thankfully shaped my worldviews as a young man.
Reposted by Nate Coulter
The best thing you can do for an author is to request their book from your library. The library will usually get it for you! The author will get an immediate sale, and libraries will know there is a demand for their future books! Just google your library name plus "book request" or walk in and ask
Library purchases are purchases. They pay the press. The press counts them towards advances and royalties. And (gasp) the book is in a library!! It’s wonderful and no one should ever feel bad about getting a book through a library instead of buying it.
I got it from my local library system, which has 28 physical copies (more than half are checked out) and 4 audiobooks. The branch library is two blocks from my house so I get most of my books from there. Hope this helps because I loved the book - I'm not a historian and knew nothing of that period.
December 27, 2024 at 2:28 AM
The best thing you can do for an author is to request their book from your library. The library will usually get it for you! The author will get an immediate sale, and libraries will know there is a demand for their future books! Just google your library name plus "book request" or walk in and ask
Reposted by Nate Coulter
A federal judge struck down parts of an Arkansas law that included prison sentences for librarians and booksellers for providing books that might be considered “harmful” to minors. nyti.ms/3DIpLBi
December 24, 2024 at 9:31 PM
A federal judge struck down parts of an Arkansas law that included prison sentences for librarians and booksellers for providing books that might be considered “harmful” to minors. nyti.ms/3DIpLBi
Another media outlet’s account of this significant ruling in the federal court in Arkansas.
Arkansas book-censorship law ruled unconstitutional (UPDATED) - Arkansas Times
The book censorship law had already been put on temporary hold.
arktimes.com
December 24, 2024 at 3:09 PM
Another media outlet’s account of this significant ruling in the federal court in Arkansas.
This is a great victory for the first amendment, public libraries, librarians, bookstores, authors, and readers; and a defeat for censorship and those who would seek to have the government limit access to what other people and their children can read.
Federal judge declares sections of Arkansas' library obscenity law unconstitutional • Arkansas Advocate
The law's vague language could lead to viewpoint-based restrictions on library content, violating the First Amendment, Judge Timothy Brooks ruled.
arkansasadvocate.com
December 23, 2024 at 10:41 PM
This is a great victory for the first amendment, public libraries, librarians, bookstores, authors, and readers; and a defeat for censorship and those who would seek to have the government limit access to what other people and their children can read.
This is very good news for those of us who are Tesla owners and want to keep driving an EV but can’t come to terms with buying another Tesla after Elon Musk has shown the world who he is.
Hyundai Is Becoming the New Tesla
Even in a Trump presidency, America’s EV future may not run through Elon Musk.
www.theatlantic.com
December 17, 2024 at 10:55 PM
This is very good news for those of us who are Tesla owners and want to keep driving an EV but can’t come to terms with buying another Tesla after Elon Musk has shown the world who he is.
Reposted by Nate Coulter
1/2 Point too obvious to make, except as illustration of contrasting media info-spheres:
Imagine for a moment that UHC suspect were: Black, Muslim, immigrant, undocumented, trans, "antifa," from Calif—"other" in whatever way.
We know that Fox, Trump, entire GOP + MAGA would base ads on it forever
Imagine for a moment that UHC suspect were: Black, Muslim, immigrant, undocumented, trans, "antifa," from Calif—"other" in whatever way.
We know that Fox, Trump, entire GOP + MAGA would base ads on it forever
December 10, 2024 at 2:17 AM
1/2 Point too obvious to make, except as illustration of contrasting media info-spheres:
Imagine for a moment that UHC suspect were: Black, Muslim, immigrant, undocumented, trans, "antifa," from Calif—"other" in whatever way.
We know that Fox, Trump, entire GOP + MAGA would base ads on it forever
Imagine for a moment that UHC suspect were: Black, Muslim, immigrant, undocumented, trans, "antifa," from Calif—"other" in whatever way.
We know that Fox, Trump, entire GOP + MAGA would base ads on it forever
How to Be Grateful Despite Trump
Counting our blessings has never been more vital.
www.thebulwark.com
November 28, 2024 at 1:28 PM
This may not sound like much but adding these 5 positions will give the City access to substantial HUD funds that can get more people housed. Doing so is humane and just; and it also provides support for merchants, providers, librarians, and residents who face daily the sad effects of homelessness.
November 28, 2024 at 12:40 AM
This may not sound like much but adding these 5 positions will give the City access to substantial HUD funds that can get more people housed. Doing so is humane and just; and it also provides support for merchants, providers, librarians, and residents who face daily the sad effects of homelessness.
open.substack.com/pub/fallows/...
My wife and I are so impressed with this idea that we are planning to implement it when our 19 mo old grandson turns 12. Thanks @JamesFallows for inspiring us.
My wife and I are so impressed with this idea that we are planning to implement it when our 19 mo old grandson turns 12. Thanks @JamesFallows for inspiring us.
A Note to Readers, in Gratitude.
Paying attention to different kinds of time.
open.substack.com
June 18, 2024 at 12:24 PM
open.substack.com/pub/fallows/...
My wife and I are so impressed with this idea that we are planning to implement it when our 19 mo old grandson turns 12. Thanks @JamesFallows for inspiring us.
My wife and I are so impressed with this idea that we are planning to implement it when our 19 mo old grandson turns 12. Thanks @JamesFallows for inspiring us.
Thanks to @TimAlberta who captivated > 330 with his program @CALibrarySystem last night about his best selling book. His experiences as an evangelical give him credibility and insight to report courageously the dangers to the democracy and Church of worshipping politics and America.
May 10, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Thanks to @TimAlberta who captivated > 330 with his program @CALibrarySystem last night about his best selling book. His experiences as an evangelical give him credibility and insight to report courageously the dangers to the democracy and Church of worshipping politics and America.
One of the kindest souls to ever hold high office in Arkansas has died.Someone once said that David Pryor could tell you to go to hell and you’d look forward to the trip. He was decent, intelligent, resilient, and honorable. I was blessed to know and admire him for > 44 years.
April 20, 2024 at 4:08 PM
One of the kindest souls to ever hold high office in Arkansas has died.Someone once said that David Pryor could tell you to go to hell and you’d look forward to the trip. He was decent, intelligent, resilient, and honorable. I was blessed to know and admire him for > 44 years.
April 14, 2024 at 4:48 AM