Benton area residents now have a temporary home base for their library needs while major repairs are being made to the Benton Library building. An area in the Bossier Parish Courthouse Annex building on Burt Blvd. in Benton has been selected as an alternate location.
Library Director Heather McEntee says, “Since the Benton Branch will be closed longer than originally expected, we have chosen to open a makeshift branch with basic library services in order to continue meeting the needs of our patrons. We are most grateful to Bill Altimus and Jim Firth of the Bossier Parish Police Jury and Ricky Kilpatrick of the LSU Ag Center for being instrumental in locating this space for the library and helping us set up. I also want to thank our patrons for being patient with us during this time.”
Six Internet accessible computers and a printer have been installed at the “makeshift branch” for patrons to use. Holds may be placed online at bossierlibrary.org and picked up there as well. Returns can be taken to the temporary site or the outside book deposit at the Benton Library location.
Hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday, 9am—6pm and Friday, 9am—5pm. The phone number will remain the same, (318) 965-2751.
The Benton Library also has a new branch manager. Kristin Kennedy is originally from Elm Grove. She graduated from LSU-Baton Rouge with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. Kristin says, “I am happy to be here and look forward to working with the Benton community.” Stop by to meet her at the temporary location in the Courthouse Annex building.
Make a note:
- Thanksgiving Holiday closure dates: Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23.
- Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m., the Beaker Kids Club for ages 8-12 will meet in the Children’s Library at Bossier Central. Register in advance due to limited space. Call Jessica at (318) 746-1693 or stop by the Central Library to sign up.
- “Grateful for our Patrons” fine-free period will be during the weeks of Nov. 1-18. All late charges will be forgiven in exchange for non-perishable goods donated to the Food Bank of NW Louisiana. Please be aware fines on laptops are not included. If expiration dates are not current, items will not be accepted.
- Book Match, a book discussion group for teens ages 13-18, begins on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the History Center meeting room. Bossier Central Teen coordinator Tonya Oswalt will be on hand to facilitate the discussions.
New Books
Fiction
“Miss Me When I’m Gone” by Emily Arsenault
“What Happens at Christmas” by Victoria Alexander
“San Miguel” by T.C. Boyle
“Tiger’s Claw” by Dale Brown
“Buried on Avenue B” by Peter De Jonge
“Abducted” by Janice Cantore
“Against the Tide” by Elizabeth Camden
“The Malice of Fortune” by Michael Ennis
“Dark Storm” by Christine Feehan
“Slammed” by Colleen Hoover
Nonfiction
“The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson
“The Red Circle” by Brandon Webb
“Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis
“Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team Six Operator Adam Brown” by Eric Blehm
“Lone Wolf Terror” by George Michael
“The Community College Career Track” by Thomas J. Snyder
“Honor Bound: My Journey to Hell and Back with Amanda Knox” by Raffaele Sollecito with Andrew Gumbel
“A Case for Solomon: Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping that Haunted a Nation” by Tal McThenia & Margaret Dunbar Cutright
“God’s Hotel” by Victoria Sweet
“Sophie” by Emma Pearson
Vickie Hardin is Outreach Specialist for the Bossie Parish Library. She can be reached at
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