The Saline County Library announces the grand re-opening of their Bryant location – the Mabel Boswell Library – and plan to host celebration to show it off. For over three months, the staff at the Bryant branch, along with Library Interiors of Texas, has been working to make the library a better environment for all of its patrons. Renovations include new flooring, furniture, a Makerspace and more.
Come Thursday, November 8th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm to join with the Bryant Chamber of Commerce in attendance to do a ribbon cutting, enjoy refreshments, get a goodie bag and enter to win a $50 Walmart gift card. The winner will be announced on the Saline County Library Facebook page the next day.
Jill Martin, Assistant Director of the Saline County Library, was integral in the renovations, including recruiting Library Interiors of Texas to remodel the branch. Trevor Taylor, Vice President of Library Interiors of Texas, practices European design philosophies for libraries. This fits with how the Saline County Library has seen usage change in the past several years.
“The design aesthetic focuses more on creating functional and beautiful spaces for patrons to use the library in a new way,” stated Jill Martin, “Hanging out, playing, learning, etc. rather than the traditional model of a building full of research books and only table and chair seating.”
Martin says in a building the size of the Bryant branch, it’s important to buy furniture that isn’t static—that can be moved around and rearranged as library use changes.
“There’s something for everyone,” stated Patty Hector, Director of the Saline County Library, “a quieter computer lab with new spacious desks, new furniture in the children’s section, a new section just for the tweens and a great new hangout for the teens.”
Friends of the Library member, Linda Zehner says the renovation is going to be a positive thing for the community. “There are a lot of kids who need a positive place to go, and this is not only a positive place, it’s a safe place.”
For more information, including our hours for each location, visit www.SalineCountyLibrary.org or call 501-778-4766.