FAQs

Children 12 and under require supervision while in the library. See our Unattended Child Policy for more information.

The library hosts many after-hours events for youth and adults throughout the year. Children and Teens are required to submit a contract in order to attend any after-hours events. Event Contract.pdf

Storytimes are held throughout the week at both locations. View our calendar for a full list of storytimes.

Here is a list of some of our favorites!

Songs and rhymes for babies:

Pat a Cake

Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Rolllllllll it. And paaaaaat it. And mark it with a B.
And toss it in the oven for baby and me!

Where, oh where, are baby’s fingers?

Where, oh where, are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where, are baby’s toes?
Where’s the baby’s bellybutton?
Round and round it goes!

Where, oh where, are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where, is baby’s nose?
Where’s the baby’s bellybutton?
Round and round it goes!

Peek a boo

Peek a boo, peek a boo
I see you! I see you!
I see your little nose, and your little toes.
Peek a boo, peek a boo.

Tick tock

Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock, now I’m striking one o’clock. Cuckoo!
(repeat for two and three o’clock)

What shall we do with a tiny baby?

What shall we do with a tiny baby? What shall we do with a tiny baby?
What shall we do with a tiny baby? Early in the morning.
Hug and squeeze and kiss the baby. Hug and squeeze and kiss the baby.
Hug and squeeze and kiss the baby. Early in the morning.
Hoppity hop, bounce-along baby. Hoppity hop, bounce-along baby.
Hoppity hop, bounce-along baby. Early in the morning.
Yippee-yi-yay! Up goes baby! Yippee-dee-yay! Up goes baby!
Yippee-yi-yay! Up goes baby! Early in the morning.

Toddler and preschool songs and rhymes:

Roly poly

Roly poly, roly poly, up up up, up up up! (circle arms over each other moving upwards)
Roly poly poly, roly poly poly, down down down, down down down.
Roly poly, roly poly, out out out, out out out!
Roly poly poly, roly poly poly, down in in in, in in in.
Roly poly, roly poly, fast fast fast, fast fast fast!
Roly poly poly, roly poly poly, slow slow slow, slow slow slow.

Hurry, Hurry

Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck (Hands on steering wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (Ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder (Pretend to climb ladder)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (Ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, squirt the water (Pretend to spray hose)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (Ring bell)

Slowly, slowly, back to the station (Lean slowly to the left and right)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! (Ring bell)

Zoom, zoom, zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom
(clap hands rhythmically)
We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’ll be there very soon
If you’d like to take a trip, clim aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom
we’re going to the moon
In 5…4…3…2…1…Blast off! (jump up and blast off)

Children 12 and under require supervision while in the library. See our Unattended Child Policy for more information.

We have a variety of programs for homeschoolers of all ages throughout the week. View our calendar for a full list of homeschool programs.

The goal of the Homeschool Collection is to provide greater accessibility to educational resources that assist homeschool teachers and parent educators with curricular development for children, Kindergarten through grade 8. This collection includes curriculum, teacher-edition textbooks, test preparation materials, homeschool parent reference materials, and the Practical Homeschooling Magazine. Additionally, we have the Launchpad tablets and Youth Services Kits, which are aimed at providing a hands-on approach to learning in a variety of subjects. Homeschool Curriculum is for in-library use only, but all other materials are available for check out.

Our Youth Services Kits that are aimed at providing a hands-on approach to learning in a variety of subjects and target ages.

For infants and toddlers:
These kits are designed to be utilized by children ages 1-2 and their caregivers. Based on the Montessori Method of learning, the activities in these kits embrace the method’s focus on self-directed activity, natural curiosity, multi-sensory learning, and collaborative play. 

• • Montessori Inspired Play – 12-18 mo.

• • Montessori Inspired Play – 18-24 mo.

• • Montessori Inspired Play – 24-36 mo.

For Early Literacy:These kits are designed to be utilized by children ages 1-5 and their caregivers. Based on the five early literacy practices of Every Child Ready to Read, the included activities are aimed at helping your child develop the skills needed to learn to read once they are ready.

• • Read

• • Play

• • Write

• • Talk

• • Sing

For Storytime:These kits are designed to be utilized by children ages 2-6 and their caregivers or early childhood educators. The activities in these kits are intended to replicate the Storytime experience at home or in the classroom. 

• • Mouse Paint

• • Elephants & Pigs

• • Animals

• • Out of Place

• • Clothing

• • Food

• • Going to School

• • Story Kit I

• • Story Kit II

• • Story Kit III

• • The Three Little Pigs Story Kit

• • The Three Billy Goats Gruff Story Kit

For all-age learning:These kits cover a variety of educational topics for students in preschool through high school.Kits include materials to supplement learning in a particular subject area or to support a specific educational need. 

• • Preschool Skills

• • Kindergarten Readiness I: General Skills

• • Kindergarten Readiness II: Math & Literacy Skills

• • Sight Words & Phonics

• • Alphabet

• • Handwriting

• • Learning to Read

• • Rhyming Words

• • Visual Learning

• • Sensory Tools

• • Fidget Tools

• • Mindfulness for Kids

• • Making Music I: Musical Exploration

• • Making Music II: Beginning Music Literacy

• • The Three Billy Goats Gruff STEM Kit

• • The Three Little Pigs STEM Kit

• • Goldilocks & The Three Bears STEM Kit

• • The Gingerbread Man STEM Kit

• • Makey Makey Inventions

• • Chain Reactions

• • Squishy Circuits

• • Addition & Subtraction

• • Multiplication & Division

• • Fractions

• • Telling Time

• • Number Sense I

• • Number Sense II

• • Counting Money

• • Weights & Measures

• • Plant & Animal Cells

• • Human Body

• • United States

• • Explore Arkansas

• • Learning Braille

• • Spanish I: Essentials

• • Spanish II: Intermediate

• • Spanish III: Advanced

• • French I: Essentials

• • French II: Intermediate

• • French III: Advanced

• • Wired Kids Headphones

• • CD Player

• • Graphing Calculator

We have a wide variety of both educational and entertainment-based Launchpad tablets available for check out. Launchpads are pre-loaded with content for a variety of ages, easy-to-use, 100% secure, and do not allow internet access. See all our available Launchpad tablets here.

Brainfuse

HelpNow provides live tutoring on a variety of subjects, offering a comprehensive suite of online academic services designed to support many learning needs and styles.

Novelist K-8

Find new authors, series, other titles of a favorite author, match plots or characters. Create your own lists of titles you want to read or have read. Check the library’s catalog to see if we own a particular title and its availability. Focuses on materials for students.

Arkansas State Library K-8 Student Resources

The Arkansas State Library provides access to online encyclopedias, primary source materials and various reference collection databases to aid research.

Here is a list of other helpful homeschool resources not affiliated with the Saline County Library.

Arkansas Virtual Academy

Home Educators of Greater Little Rock

Arkansas Homeschool Support Groups

Arkansas Homeschool Support Groups Resource Directory

State Organizations and Local Homeschool Groups:

Central Arkansas Homeschoolers

Consumer Affairs – Best Online Homeschool Reviews

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your precious one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? Not really if you think about it. If you read just one book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think (so get started!).

The key is perseverance. Make it exciting. When your child reaches a milestone, give him/her a small reward (stickers, backpacks, books).

Sign up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.

Sign up at the children’s desk at either library branch or on Beanstack. You will receive a folder that includes a handout on why it’s important to read to your child, a book & author list (just for suggestions!), and a reading tracker.

When your child reaches a milestone (100 books, 200 books, etc.), bring your tracker to the library and your child will get a sticker to put on the wall.

Once your child reaches 1,000 books, he or she will get to pick out a book from the library to keep!

Visit Saline County Library’s digital archives to view local history photographs. Check back from time to time to see what’s new.

Our obituary index lists the name, date of death, date of obituary and microfilm roll or page number for the Saline Courier.

Computer labs at both locations close 15 minutes before the library closes.

Benton:

• • Mondays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Tuesdays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Thursdays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Fridays 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

• • Saturdays 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

Bryant:

• • Mondays 9:00 AM – 5:15 PM

• • Tuesdays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 5:15 PM

• • Thursdays 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM

• • Fridays 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

• • Saturdays 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM

Borrow eBooks from Overdrive. You will now select “Mid-Ark Regional Library System” as your library. When you log in, it will ask for your library card number and PIN, which is the last 4 digits of your phone number or your 4 digit birth year. Search for the title you are looking for, tap or click the cover, and choose “Borrow.”

With the Libby App, open the app and select the Libby icon in the top right corner. Then select “Add A Library” and enter “Arkansas” in the search bar. Next, select “Saline County Library” and click “Sign In With My Library Card.”  From here, you will follow steps similar to the Overdrive App. Click the drop down arrow and select “Mid-Ark Regional Library System” and enter your library card number and PIN. Now click “Enter The Library” to begin searching through all of the eLibrary materials.

If you need help, see the Overdrive help page.

We have both Office 2010 and 2013 on our computers with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

It costs 10 cents to print a black and white page, or 25 cents for a color page.

Print money can be added to your account after you have printed a few pages with a new library card. See the help desk to add money, it must be in your account before you print.

Your PIN is set to your 4-digit year of birth (newer cards) or if you have an older card, the last 4 digits of your phone number.

If you need assistance with your library card or PIN, please call (501) 778-4766.

OR

Click “Forgot your password or pin number” from the MY ACCOUNT page.

Visit our computer lab for our all-in-one scanner. Scanning is free.

If you are just visiting Saline County, you can still use one of our library computers without a library card. Simply bring your driver’s license to a help desk and we will give you a complimentary guest pass to use a computer.

For many people, making something can be both a difficult and rewarding experience. While we might have the motivation and all the lofty ideas of what we would love to create, finding the time, space, and available tools can be a whole other barrier – unless you have access to a makerspace.

Physically-speaking, a makerspace is a communal space that contains tools, equipment, and materials that allow for people to come in with an idea and leave with a completed project. It is the physical representation of all things STE(A)M – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

As part of the maker movement, Makerspaces emphasize and encourage hands-on discovery, natural creativity, and innovation in ALL users, regardless of age, gender, or “talent.” You do not have to be an artist to utilize Makerspace. They are environments made specifically for exploring, challenging your imagination, finding inspiration, embracing mistakes, and creating new things (or even just enhancing what already exists).

Here at Saline County Library, Makerspace – in conjunction with our Library of Things – fully encompasses the idea that “We Are More.” We are “rewriting tradition” by providing our community with tools, materials, and invaluable educational experiences with which they normally would not interact. Whether crafting or tinkering, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination!

Makerspace equipment available for patrons to use includes:

• • 3D printer (print jobs made by request)

• • 3D printing pens

• • computers with full Adobe Creative Suite software

• • HD video camera + audio equipment

• • green screen

• • sewing machines

• • die cut machine + variety of dies

• • knitting + crocheting supplies (including yarn swift +

• • embroidery supplies

• • table loom

• • jewelry making tools + supplies

• • leather working tools

• • wood burning tools

• • laser engraver (engraves wood, cardboard, plastic, and leather)

• • Cricut machine (Benton)

• • Silhouette machine (Bryant)

• • heat press machine

• • polymer clay + tools

• • Perler bead supplies

• • heat foiling

• • general art supplies (pastels, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, etc.)

• • acrylic, tempura, and watercolor paint supplies

• • scrapbook, origami, and quilling paper supplies

• • guillotine paper cutter

• • light tables

• • label maker

• • small laminator

• • grommet tools

Our list of available tools and supplies is continually growing and we’d love to know how we can better our serve our community, as well! Have interest in a specific craft or tool? You can submit suggestions for things you’d love to see in our Makerspace! Have tools or materials you’d like to donate? Shoot an email to ashlynw@salinecountylibrary.com to arrange a donation!

The Makerspace in Benton is open for one-hour appointments only on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Thursdays from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, and the second Saturday of the month from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

If any of those days fall on a holiday that the library is closed, the Makerspace will also be closed.

For safety and supply limitations, Makerspace users must abide by the following rules:

• • Patrons age 12 and under may only use the Makerspace if supervised by an adult at all times.

• • No children under the age of 5 are allowed in the Makerspace.

• • Do not remove supplies from the Makerspace.

• • Patrons will not modify the Makerspace’s hardware or software, or install new programs onto the computers.

• • Computers are for projects only.

• • Patrons are limited to one-hour time slot reservations. This hour includes set-up and clean-up time. Time will not be extended and new reservations must be made if more time is needed to complete a project.

• • All 3D prints will be printed at the discretion of the library.

• • Patrons may be granted one 3D print per month.

• • If Makerspace equipment is found to be damaged or missing when a patron is finished, the patron may be subject to a fee.

• • All equipment is used at the patron’s own risk. The library is not responsible for any injuries caused by Makerspace equipment.

• • Patron is responsible for any personal belongings brought into the Makerspace.

• • No food or drinks allowed in the Makerspace.

• • The library reserves the right to deny Makerspace access if a patron violates any part of the Makerspace policy.