Introducing Our New Exhibit: My Country Called 

By Cody Berry  Over the past few months, I’ve been searching the building for anything that came from the 1940s in hopes of building a display on Saline County during the Second World War. This year marks eighty years since the end of WWII in 1945 and this is our tribute to the brave men … Continued

Dream Big at Saline County Library

Join us for a week of exploring figures from history in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series! From Monday – Thursday, September 15 – 18 from 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM, there will be special storytimes at the Benton branch for those dreamers looking to reach for the stars. What’s happening in Benton StorytimesEach day … Continued

Summer Reading Challenge RECAP!

We did it! Our Summer Reading Challenge in 2025 was fantastic, and we’re so proud of our staff for their hard work in putting together so many engaging programs! We saw thousands of visitors at the library this summer, and we appreciate you, too! Your joy and creativity made all of our branches a wonderful … Continued

McCright’s Purple Heart 

By Cody Berry  I recently saw an announcement online about Purple Heart Day on August 7th. This made me think about the recipients of that award that I’ve been researching over the summer. One of them was a man from Benton named Ewell Ross McCright. McCright was born in Benton on December 4, 1917, to … Continued

Bauxite: The Death of a Dream 

Pictured above: The Alcoa plant in Bauxite, originally built in 1952, but now owned and operated by the Almatis, Inc. By Cody Berry  This week I wanted to cover the end of Bauxite as a company town. The end didn’t come because the mines were depleted or the aluminum industry shutdown after WWII. By 1944, … Continued

If You Like This… try these Book Recs!

Looking for something new, but not sure where to start? What about with something you already love!? Check out some of these popular movies, TV shows, and books to find new book recs. Who knows, maybe it’ll be your next big thing! Like KPOP Demon Hunters? Then you might love: Excited for the upcoming season … Continued

Book Buffet!

Stuck in a reading rut? That’s where the Book Buffet quiz comes in handy! Introducing the personalized, tailored quiz from Saline County Library that helps you find your next literary meal. Ms. Laura sat down with one of our librarians, Ms. Jordan, to tell us more about it… Who should take the Book Buffet quiz? … Continued

The Aluminum Ball Gown

By: Cody Berry One of the weirdest things that Alcoa made during its heyday was their famous aluminum gown. This special dress was made in 1956 by French designer Jean Desses of Paris. Desses made his dress with “woven aluminum lame,” and 28 yards of “shimmering apricot gold fabric.”1 It was a full-length ball gown … Continued

Who was Benton named after? 

By Cody Berry  So, I get lots of questions about Saline County from our patrons and visitors from other states or countries around the world. One of them has to do with the town of Benton and how it got its name. So, who was Benton named after? Well, that would be Missouri Senator Thomas … Continued