Library to Extend Curbside Hours and Services
The Saline County Library will remain closed to the public through mid-July, and then the board will reassess the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, both locations will 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 or by calling 501-778-4766 for Benton and 501-847-2166 for Bryant. No orders can be placed in person.
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.
You have five days to pick up a hold once notified. If a you arrive before you have been notified items are ready, you will still need to wait until your items are ready. Due to the high-volume of requests being placed, staff will not be able to estimate a time for pick-up, and cannot search for an order that isn’t ready.
When you get to your designated location to pick-up items, call the library and have your library card number or name and date of birth ready. A staff member will direct you on how to pick up your items from that point.
Since you can’t physically browse the shelves, the Saline County Library has created a new service called Pocket Librarian. Fill out a form online or on the phone with your favorite genres, authors and least favorite authors. Subject specialists will use this to recommend books.
Both locations will also offer limited self-service computer access, using a separate entrance. You must reserve a one-hour time slot to use the computers. Reserve 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 will be quarantined for four days before being checked in and re-shelved. You might not see the items changed on your account as soon as you turn them in, but you won’t accrue fines during this time.
For more information, including the calendar of Virtual Summer Reading events happening on Facebook and Zoom, call 501-778-4766 or visit www.SalineCountyLibrary.