On June 12, the library board voted to keep the library closed to the public through mid-July, when they will reassess the spread of COVID-19.  As a result of the buildings remaining closed to the public, both locations will now offer curbside holds pick-up services Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The library will not be open during the evenings at this time.

Holds must be placed online in our catalog or by calling 501-778-4766 for Benton and 501-847-2166 for Bryant. No orders can be placed in person at this time.

Patrons will receive an email or text notification when their hold is ready for pick-up. If they have multiple items on hold, they will receive a notification for each item as it is available for pick-up. For example, if they have put five items on hold and received two notifications before heading to pick up, they will only receive those two items because the other items are not ready.

Patrons have five days to pick up a hold once they are notified. If a patron gets to the building before they have been notified that the items are ready for pick up, they must wait until their items are ready. Due to the high-volume of requests being placed, staff will not be able to give estimates as to when items will be available for pick-up and cannot go searching for any order that a patron hasn’t been notified is ready.

When patrons get to their designated location to pick-up items, they will need to call the library and have their library card number or name and date of birth ready. A staff member will direct them on how to pick up their items from that point.

To make up for patrons not being able to browse the shelves, we have created a new service called Pocket Librarian! Patrons can fill out a form online or on the phone with their favorite genres, authors and least favorite authors that subject specialists will use to recommend books they think the patron will like.

Both locations will also offer limited self-service computer access via a separate entrance. Patrons must reserve a one-hour time slot to use the computers. They can reserve a time slot by calling 501-778-4766 for Benton and 501-847-2166 for Bryant. Printing, copying, and scanning will be available in Benton and printing will be available in Bryant. Notary services are also available at both locations by appointment only.

Returned materials are being quarantined for four days before being checked in and re-shelved. Because of this, you may not see the items changed on your account as soon as you turn them in, but you will not accrue fines during this time.