The Saline County Library is excited to announce expanded operating hours at the East End Branch, located in Hensley, Arkansas. Beginning Monday, November 10, the East End Branch will now be open each weekday one hour earlier at 9:00 AM and will be open on Saturdays on from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The first Saturday the library will be open is November 15.

These changes come in response to growing community demand for increased access to library resources, technology, and programs in the East End area.

“Our patrons have been asking for this since we opened, and we’re excited to finally be able to make it happen,” said Amanda Garrison, East End Branch Manager. “New families are moving into the neighborhood, and our staff is happy to be able to serve them and be a safe place for them to learn and grow. Expanding our hours allows us to better meet the needs of local families, students, and community members who rely on us for resources and connection.”

In anticipation of the increased hours, the Saline County Library has hired both a full-time and a part-time Library Assistant and several seasonal staff members.

“With these new hours, we’ll be able to have some large-scale programs a few times a year, so that’s going to be a lot of fun,” Garrison continued. “We’re kicking off our new hours with a party for all ages.” The Pocket Monster Party event will take place all day on the first Saturday the East End branch is open, Saturday, November 15, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can learn more about the event by visiting our online library calendar.

The East End Branch, which opened in April of 2024, has quickly become a hub for the local community, offering a wide range of resources including books, technology access, educational programs, and family activities. The expansion of hours marks another milestone in the library’s ongoing mission to make library services more accessible to all in Saline County.

During the entirety of the month of November, the library will be collecting winter clothing including sweaters, vests, cardigans, and winter coats. Patrons are encouraged to donate gently used clothing and drop them off at marked displays available at all three library branches (Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library Branch, Mabel Boswell Memorial Library Branch, and East End Branch). All collected winter gear will be donated to a local nonprofit.

From November 3 – 16, the Saline County Library is holding it’s second annual a food drive entitled “Battle of the Businesses.” Participating businesses will compete in a contest to gather the most food donations. In addition, the library will also be collecting hygiene items such as toothpaste and deodorant, and warm winter gloves, hats, and scarves. All food, hygiene, and clothing items will be collected for the Saline County Library food pantry. The winning business who collect the most items will receive bragging rights and the Battle of the Businesses Golden Heart Belt trophy.

In addition, patrons are encouraged to send donations directly to the three Saline County Library branches.

To see the full list of requested items in need, an updated list of participating business and organizations, or learn more about the charity drive, please visit the website at https://www.salinecountylibrary.org/battle-of-the-businesses/.

The Saline County Library has been serving the residents of Saline County since 1931 and has three locations: Benton, Bryant, and East End. 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. For more information about programs at the library, including hours for each location, visit www.SalineCountyLibrary.org.