Lion King Jr Playbill

The Saline County Library and the Rising Stars players proudly present our 6th annual library theater production: “The Lion King, Jr.” This production will premiere for one night only on Thursday, May 29, 2025, lead by SCL library staff members Mason Newberry and Nathan Clay and Rising Stars student Evalyn Russum with a cast of … Continued

Gann Museum Day 

By Cody Berry  Did you know that former Benton Mayor Lynn Moore and former County Judge Lanny Fite issued proclamations naming May 18, 1999, as “Gann Museum Day?” I didn’t either until I started looking through our many, many scrapbooks at the Gann Museum this week. At that time, the Gann Museum’s executive director was … Continued

Bauxite’s Reaction to Pearl Harbor 

By Cody Berry On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which propelled the United States into WWII. The Arkansas Democrat’s top headline that day read “Japanese Declare War,” above pictures of a battleship on fire and planes flying over the island. That day the Japanese bombed Manila, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and … Continued

Library Board Vacancy

At the May 12, 2025 Saline County Library Board of Trustees meeting, a call was made for applications for the trustee position that will become vacant July 1, 2025. Interested applicants are asked to submit a current resume as well as a cover letter outlining their desire to serve and how their skills and experience … Continued

WWII in Bauxite, Arkansas 

By Cody Berry  In recognition of the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, 2025, I wanted to write about what life was like in Bauxite during the Second World War. Legislation passed during the Great Depression allowed workers to organize, bargain collectively, and to have more control over their employment. Union activity began … Continued

Juneteenth Reading Recs!

This Juneteenth, read a book or graphic novel, or watch a movie celebrating black lives and history! There’s something for all ages in this reading list.❤️💛🧡💚 Juneteenth Is – Ages 5-8 A girl contemplates what Juneteenth means to her, her family, and her community. What is Juneteenth? – Ages 8-12 On June 19, 1865, a … Continued

Support your Community, Learn, & Have Fun!

Before the rush of Summer Reading in June and July, our Benton branch is having some amazing community events. Don’t miss out on some of these awesome programs! Baby Prom: Friday, May 9 from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM at the Benton branch This one is just for ages 5 and under and their caregivers! … Continued

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! 

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! 🪅 On the fifth of May, we celebrate Mexican heritage and culture and how it’s shaped America – Everything from the humble taco, to arts and media like Disney’s “Encanto!” We hope you have a wonderful Cinco de Mayo holiday. 💚🤍❤️ We’d love to share some amazing Spanish and bilingual books … Continued

The Reynolds Story 

By Cody Berry  There were two companies that competed for dominance in the bauxite fields of Saline County: the Aluminum Company of America, aka Alcoa, and the Reynolds Metals Company which may know as the makers of aluminum foil today. Reynolds started its life in 1928 as a subsidiary of the U. S. Foil Company. … Continued

More About Aluminum 

By Cody Berry  This time, I want to talk more about aluminum. Recently, I was looking for items to use in an exhibit on WWII, and I found a few small books about the Reynolds Metals Company and the Hurricane Creek Plant which operated in Saline County for many years. In a book from 1950 … Continued