UPDATE MARCH 15, 2024
We’ve been telling you about the new library branch coming. Well the Saline County Library has been working hard and has finally set a date to open the doors.
On Monday, April 1, the East End branch will finally be open to the public. The East End branch is located at 24005 Arch Street Pike, Suite 20, Hensley, AR 72065.
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The East End branch will function similarly to the Benton and Bryant branches, but on a smaller scale. The building is 3,000 square feet and will feature a small meeting room, which seats about twelve people, and a private study room with two individual study tables. There is also a small CreativeSpace, similar to Benton and Bryant’s Makerspaces but without the large equipment. CreativeSpace is designed for arts and craft projects that are more hands-on. The new branch will offer limited programs for all ages.
The Library released new photos on Nov 29, 2023 of the construction process. See more below.
This branch will also contain a computer lab with desktop computers with printing, scanning, and copying capabilities. The space has been leased for three years, but there is potential to expand into adjacent suites in the future, if needed.
“I’m excited to finally have a library branch in East End,” said Branch Manager Amanda Garrison. “It has been a dream of mine for several years to have a library in this area, and after more than a year of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, I’m thrilled that we are opening soon! We have a great team, and we are looking forward to serving our community and meeting our neighbors!”
Based on shelving estimates, the East End branch will hold approximately 5,000 items. These materials will be made up of newly purchased books as well as duplicate items from the Benton and Bryant branches. The books will be a mixture of fiction and non-fiction for adults, new adults, teens, juveniles, and children. This branch will also have some movies and video games for checkout.
Members of the East End community are encouraged to visit the East End branch and sign up for a free library card. Library cards are available to anyone over the age of 16 who can provide a photo ID and proof of home, work, or school address in Saline County. Patrons between the ages of 5 and 16 can sign up for a children’s library card with a parent or legal guardian, who would then be responsible for the account. Community members with a Pulaski County address are able to sign up for a non-resident library card for an annual fee of $10.
The East End branch will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. At this time the East End branch will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. These hours may change in the future, depending on staffing abilities and the needs of the community.
The Saline County Library has been serving the residents of Saline County since 1931. In that time, it has expanded to three locations: The Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton, the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant, and the East End Branch Library in Hensley. Each location provides wireless access computing as well as desktop computers for guest use, and several other non-traditional items such as video games, cake pans, small tools, and more. The Saline County Library also provides a variety of events and community outreach programs. For a full list of services and upcoming events, visit www.salinecountylibrary.org or call the East End branch at 501-315-3153.
PREVIOUSLY, NOV 29, 2023
The Saline County Library is in the process of expanding into a third branch, which will serve the community of East End, Arkansas. This branch will be located in the Hope Valley Development at 24005 Arch Street, Hensley, AR 72065. The expansion will open in 2024.
According to 2020 Census data, there are more than 24,000 households in Saline County’s East End community. However, the nearest branches of the Saline County Library are a 30-minute drive away. Given this area’s propensity for growth, library staff deemed it the perfect location for a new branch.
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East End previously relied on book lockers and visits from the Malvern-Hot Spring County Bookmobile. This “library on wheels” would visit the iCan! Center at The Crossing at Angel Court on the fourth Thursday of each month. While the opening of the East End branch will discontinue visits from the Bookmobile, the Saline County Library still plans to host events at the iCan! Center.
The East End branch will function similarly to the Benton and Bryant branches, but on a smaller scale. The new branch will offer limited programs for all ages. The building is 3,000 square feet, and will feature a small meeting room and two private study rooms.
This branch will also contain a computer lab with six desktop computers, printers, a fax machine, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a couple of seating areas. The space has been leased for three years, but there is potential to expand into adjacent suites in the future, if needed.
Based on shelving estimates, the East End branch will hold approximately 5,000 items. These materials will be made up of newly purchased books as well as duplicate items from the Benton and Bryant branches. The books will be a mixture of fiction and non-fiction for adults, young adults, juveniles, and children. This branch may carry DVDs and other forms of media, depending on demand and space availability.
The new branch will initially have a staff of one full-time employee and one part-time employee.
Staff members from the Benton and Bryant branches will stop by to facilitate programs and help out as needed. Currently, the plan for this branch is to remain open until 6:00 p.m. most weekday evenings, to give students the chance to visit after school. This is subject to change, based on patron need.
The Saline County Library has been serving the residents of Saline County since 1931. In that time, it has expanded to two other locations: The Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton and the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant.
Each location provides wireless access computing as well as desktop computers for guest use, and several other non-traditional items such as video games, cake pans, small tools, and more. The Saline County Library also provides a variety of events and community outreach programs. For a full list of services and upcoming events, visit www.salinecountylibrary.org or call 501-778-4766.