Book Recs of 2024!

Looking for an awesome book recommendation? Look no further – We’ve got you covered! 💚 Throughout the year, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite books on social media. Everything from horror to adventure, to the coziest stories to warm you up on a cold winter night! Are you looking for your next read to … Continued

A Bell Tower for Dr. Gann, Jr. 

By Cody Berry  Did you know that the Angelus Bell and its tower at Benton’s Our Lady of Fatima church were donated in memory of Dr. Gann, Jr? In my research on the Gann Museum and all its contents I came across an article on Our Lady of Fatima’s website called “Our Bell Rings Again!” … Continued

The County’s First Bilingual Newspaper? 

By Cody Berry Did you know Bauxite had a bilingual newspaper over a century ago? It did!   While the history of the town of Bauxite, Arkansas goes back to the late nineteenth century, its editorial history began with the publication of the Bauxite News in 1920. It ran from June 1920 to January 1921 when … Continued

Dr. James Wyatt Walton and Dr. T.E. Buffington 

By Cody Berry  Saline County has a long and colorful history. And it’s certainly had its share of great doctors and I’m not just talking about Dr. Gann, Sr. and his son. In our “Only the Names Have Changed” exhibit, we’ve featured the homes of two other Saline County physicians; Dr. James Wyatt Walton and … Continued

Niloak Pottery’s Centennial Anniversary! 

By Cody Berry  When we started going through the Gann Museum’s collections, we found an old box of items left behind by Arlene Hyten Rainey, the daughter of Niloak inventor Charles Hyten. The box contained her father’s bible, a sample of hair from a Civil War hero, Mr. Hyten’s formula books, and a patent certificate … Continued

The Courthouse at Christmas

The Courthouse at Christmas  By Cody Berry  Pictured above: the courthouse in present day (December 2024) lit up with Christmas lights for the holidays. Growing up here the lighting of the Courthouse was always a favorite holiday tradition of mine. As a boy, I thought our beautiful Romanesque Courthouse was a castle, or perhaps even … Continued

Bring joy with the Imagination Library!

The Saline County Library is collecting donations for the charity foundation Imagination Library, founded by the one and only Dolly Parton! đŸ˜± This program is funded by grants, and generous donations from folks like you! All donations go directly to the Saline County Chapter of the Imagination Library to promote early literacy by purchasing picture … Continued

Frequently Asked Questions: How was Niloak Pottery made? 

By Cody Berry  One of the things that the Gann Museum is known for is its collection of Niloak Pottery. We keep it on permanent display in Dr. Gann’s old exam room. When I give tours of the museum people usually comment on how pretty the pottery is. They also want to know how it’s … Continued

2024 Evaluation Survey

Another year is gone! Please take a moment to answer a few questions to let us know how we did, what were your favorite things, and how we can improve! Your feedback is very important to us.

Free Holiday Events!

The Saline County library branches are offering a ton of FREE holiday themed events this December! You’ll find something for everyone: from creating holiday crafts and gifts, storytimes for children, gift wrapping sessions which provide supplies, and so much more. Check out some of the amazing things we’ve got going on at the library for … Continued