An Old Bridge with A New Purpose

by Cody Berry, Special Collections Assistant On March 11, 2024, I had the pleasure of attending a historic groundbreaking ceremony with Kari Lapp, our Public Relations Manager, and the library’s new Assistant Director, Stony Evans. Together, we walked down the muddy road to a part of the Saline River that had been the site of … Continued

Saline County Library Hosts Third Annual Tiny Art Show

From Wednesday, May 1, to Friday, May 31, the Saline County Library is hosting its Third Annual Tiny Art Show. Patrons will be given the opportunity to decorate their own miniature canvases, which will be displayed at the Benton branch for viewing and voting. The Benton branch is located at 1800 Smithers Drive, Benton, AR … Continued

Saline County Library Opens East End Branch

On Monday, April 1, the Saline County Library will open its East End branch. The East End branch is located at 24005 Arch Street Pike, Suite 20, Hensley, AR 72065. The East End branch will function similarly to the Benton and Bryant branches, but on a smaller scale. The building is 3,000 square feet and … Continued

Saline County Reads

In preparation for April’s total solar eclipse, the Saline County Library is hosting Saline County Reads. This reading event for adults will start on March 1 and run through March 31, leading up to the Saline County Discusses event. Saline County Discusses will take place in the Benton branch’s Meeting Room on Monday, April 1, … Continued

Breaking Barriers: Celebrating Black Space Pioneers

by Dana Bloch During the month of February, we are celebrating Black History Month and our space theme by highlighting these great books about amazing space pioneers! Mae Jemison by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara Dr. Mae Jemison is an astronaut and physican, and became the first African American woman in space in 1992. Hidden Figures … Continued

Blind Date with A Book

What is it? Just a regular “blind date” you don’t know exactly what you are getting. Take a random book (by checking it out and reading it) to see for yourself if its a match and you have discovered your new favorite book genre or a disaster and you are never, ever, ever getting back … Continued

Celestial Spectacle: Saline County Residents Prepare for Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, parts of Arkansas will experience a total solar eclipse! This means that for a matter of minutes, the moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun. During this period, the Sun’s bright rays will be blocked, casting the Moon’s dark shadow over parts of the planet! Arkansans are particularly … Continued

Blast Off into Learning: Stellar Space Resources for Kids

by Dana Bloch The Saline County Library Youth Services department is so excited for the eclipse this April that we are making our theme for the next few months all about space! If you are interested in learning more about space with your little ones, here are some websites we think you’ll enjoy! To Learn … Continued

Leigh Espey Selected to Lead Saline County Library

Benton, AR- Leigh Espey, a Saline County native has been selected to be the Director of the Saline County Library System (SCL) effective January 1, 2024. Espey was unanimously recommended for the position by the SCL Board of Trustees earlier this week following a two-month search process. She has been serving in an interim capacity as … Continued

Saline County Library Gears Up for 2024 Seed Library

Spring is just around the corner! Okay, maybe it’s a couple of months away. But it’s never too early to start daydreaming about your spring garden! Luckily for you, the Saline County Seed Library has all of your garden wishlist needs! The Seed Library was established in 2020 with donations from the Healing Waters Outreach … Continued