Bees, Bees, Bees!

The Saline County Library has exciting news- We now have bees! Bees are considered one of the most important pollinators on the planet, but unfortunately, their numbers have been declining in recent years. Jeff Rosinbaum owns and will care for the hive located at the Benton branch.

Our hive is located outside the children’s area windows, where the bees will help our straw bale and Nature Play Space gardens to thrive. This also allows children to be up close and personal with the bees while enjoying the safety from behind the glass. Keep an eye on our calendar to see when Mr. Rosinbaum returns to care for the hive and collect the honey.

If you would like to help bees in Arkansas, two easy steps are to reduce your use of pesticides and plant flowers where possible, be it in a flower bed or window box, or just allowing wildflowers to bloom. Here are a few books to help your child learn more about bees and why they are so important to our ecosystem:

1. Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier

2. Beehive bye Jorey Hurley

3. Magic School Bus: Inside A Beehive by Joanna Cole

4. Give Bees A Chance by Bethany Barton

5. Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup