A large part of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center revolves, surprisingly, around food. A fully equipped teaching kitchen plays a prominent educational role in the LEED Gold building; in it, children prepare meals for themselves, learning the basic steps of cooking so they can recreate healthful meals at home. Outside, the library’s grounds have been planted with gardens that are tended and harvested by the kids who take part in the cooking program. Its unique offerings are in response to the Little Rock community, where numerous families face resource hardships.

An open staircase, leading up to a loft-like reading area, curves out beyond the main boundary of the building, giving visitors the sense of being outside and part of the site.

An open staircase, leading up to a loft-like reading area, curves out beyond the main boundary of the building, giving visitors the sense of being outside and part of the site.

Kids visit the teaching kitchen on the library’s lower level. Here, children learn how to prepare meals for themselves and the basics of cooking.

Kids visit the teaching kitchen on the library’s lower level. Here, children learn how to prepare meals for themselves and the basics of cooking.