National Library Week 2026
We are excited partner with a variety of local businesses to celebrate National Library Week: Sunday, April 19 through Saturday, April 25, with fundraisers, events, prizes, and a little pie-ing! The national theme of the event is “Find your joy!” For events hosted at restaurants, participants are responsible for ordering and purchasing their own food and drinks.
“National Library Week is a week to celebrate how the library is still important,” said Kari Lapp, Saline County Library Public Relations Manager. “Our main branch has almost 500 people in the doors daily and we host over 100 events monthly that cost nothing to attend.”
The library is no longer a place to just check out books. We have many non-traditional materials available for free checkout, as well as opportunities for our community to hang out in our spaces as well as get to know others at events and programs.
You guys have loved our Bingo, Trivia, and Murder Mystery Nights in the past so we are bringing them all back. Local businesses welcomed the week long event by offering spaces to host these events, along with a few new ones. See bottom of this page for event schedule.
Along with a week of exciting events, we are holding a Food-for-Pies food drive to help stock our pantries at all library locations. Patrons are asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items and hygiene items to any library branch and put the items in boxes labeled with the face of the library staff member they wish to be pied. On Saturday morning, the person whose box receives the highest number of donations will be pied in the face after Saturday Storytime at the Benton location. Please do not donate any food in glass jars or foods that have passed their expiration date. Examples of acceptable food items include: Vienna sausages, ramen noodles, Easy Mac, tuna pouches, granola bars, pudding cups, single-serve cereals, and fruit cups. Examples of needed hygiene items include: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and diapers.
Patrons may also enter to win a tablet bundle during National Library Week by filling out a short form letting us know how the library has helped them find joy. Winner will be selected on Monday, April 27th and contacted via email or phone.
“Our collection has grown from more than just books to items that can help anyone out in many different areas of life,” said Lapp. “Need a yard game for a party but don’t want to buy it? Check it out at the library. Need to learn a language but don’t want to buy an expensive app? Use your library card to access Pronounciator. Need a space to host your team training or group meeting? Book the meeting room at the library. We provide many ways for you to check out items, hang out at the library, and just help you enjoy life.”
Our “The Library is My Happy Place” t-shirts will be discounts $5 off this week only! Visit any library location to order your shirt. Shirts are normally $20 and can be ordered in a variety of colors and sizes, including youth sizes.
“The Saline County Library is celebrating National Library Week in a unique way that brings the community together while also supporting our local restaurants,” said Rachel Rivers, City of Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission Director of Marketing. “These events highlight how strong partnerships can create lasting connections—encouraging residents to explore Benton’s restaurant scene, invest in our local economy, and learn more about the incredible resources our library provides. I’m excited to see how residents show up, get involved and invest locally.”
Sunday, April 19 – Fundraiser Lunch
o 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Eat My Catfish
o 1205 Military Rd #7, Benton, AR 72015
Monday, April 20 – Ice Cream & Art Night
o 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Loblolly
o N Market St, Benton, AR 72015
Monday, April 20 – Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Day
o Patrons are invited to share photos of themselves dressed up as characters from their favorite novels, and to tag the library on Facebook, @salinecountylib.
Tuesday, April 21 – Fundraiser Night
o 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM at Texas Roadhouse
o 20280 I-30 North, Benton, AR 72019
o Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of all proceeds to the library.
Wednesday, April 22 – Fundraiser Night
o 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Freddy’s
o 20240 Interstate 30 N, Benton, AR 72019
Thursday, April 23 – Murder Mystery Night
o 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at La Hacienda
o 17401 I-30 E, Benton, AR 72015
o Registration is required for this event.
o The Murder Mystery is targetted at ages 18 and older.
Friday, April 24 – BBQ & BINGO Fundraiser
o 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Whole Hog
o 5309 AR-5, Bryant, AR 72022
o Registration is required for this event.
o Prizes for BINGO have been donated by Healing Waters.
Saturday, April 25 – Movie Night: Inside Out
o 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM at Mills Park
o 1003 Mills Park Rd, Bryant, AR 72022
o All movie-goers are welcome to free hot dogs and chips, provided by Sage Health and water from Everett Buick GMC. Food and drinks available while supplies last.