This Interesting Library in Salem, IL Has a Taste of Historical Importance for the People of the Town By: Rebecca Hays

Could you imagine having 37,000 books in your house?  Well, if you are love-struck by reading, travel to Bryan-Bennett Library in Salem, IL for an exclusive look at the housing place of over 37,000 books! The genres of these books are limitless!  The opening and closing hours for Monday through Thursday are 11 AM to 2 PM.  On Friday and Saturday, the opening and closing hours are 9 AM to 4 PM. The books and genres are seemingly endless!  Let's get to know this special library a bit better, shall we?

Image via: Bryan-Bennett Library

Diving right in, the Bryan-Bennett Library and its special relationship with almost 40,000 books offers way more than you could ever imagine.  Yes; you read that right.  Almost 40,000 books on the shelves of just the Bryan-Bennett Library alone.  Amazing, right?  Bryan-Bennett Library is the home of over 37,000 books.  Can you imagine the amount of genres listed in just this library?  The possibilities are endless!  The amount of genres could be over the thousands!  These genres could include science fiction, fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, language, and so on!  Books for patrons of all ages!  If you’re looking for a place to explore different genres of books, we have a spot bookworms will love!  To finish, all 37,000(and more) books are waiting to be read, so come on down?

Image via: Bryan-Bennett Library

To start off, Bryan-Bennett Library was built in 1909.  Bryan-Bennett Library was built because of the close friendship between Philo S. Bennett and a politician who lived right here, in Salem, IL.  Before Bennett’s death, in 1903, the duo had a very tight relationship.  This politician’s name just so happened to be William Jennings Bryan.  William Jennings Bryan was a politician who ran for president in the presidential election of 1896, 1900, and 1908.  Sadly, he did not win any of these elections.  Mr. Bennett died in 1925; 22 years or so after Mr. Bryan’s death.  Bennett was a tea merchant before he sadly passed on.  Therefore, the library was in its first stages of being built after Mr. Bryan’s death.  The Bryan-Bennett Library is a showing of the close friendship that the two had, hence the name being Bryan-Bennett.  Like they say in those cringey high school movies, these two were definitely friends forever!

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To continue, the staff of the facility are one major part of keeping the library up and running.  The staff need to have the appropriate attitudes towards others, themselves, and towards the library itself. In Bryan-Bennett Library, from the experiences of others, the employees are very quiet, kind, and respectful.  These staff members are loyal to the rules and policies laid out in front of them, just as they should be.  There are employees inside the library who are aged, but none too old like the ones you may see in the movies!  The current Board of Trustees and workforce in Bryan-Bennett Library are listed here, Bryan-Bennett Library, if you want to check them out!  To conclude, the staff and Board of Trustees are both important to keeping the Bryan-Bennett Library appropriately running.

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To begin with, the library also has several rules and policies that patrons must follow in order to keep the library running properly and appropriately.  As was previously mentioned, children under the age of eight years old must be accompanied by a parent, adult, or guardian.  All internet users must comply with the internet usage policies, as stated in the website.  The noise level in the facility must remain as silent as possible, at all times.  Anyone who fails to comply with these rules, or fails to respect the others around them(including staff and other citizens) will be asked to exit the grounds.  Privacy is something taken seriously by the Bryan-Bennett Library staff.  All files and records are kept confidential and away from the public’s reach.  The staff of Bryan-Bennett Library are loyal to keeping its’ users’ privacy confidential. Since we are in unfortunate situations currently, the library is taking extra precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  These precautions include shortening opening hours, encouraging all patrons to wear masks inside the premises, asking all citizens inside the building to practice social distancing, close all meeting rooms from the public, closing the “Friends of the Library Room”, and not accepting any donations of books currently.  To end, these rules and policies are enough to keep everyone in check.

Image via:  Bryan-Bennett Library

Finally, Bryan-Bennett Library holds special programs for children of all ages. One example of a program includes “...special story time kits Program Director Karen Shanafelt has put together.”  These kits include supplies used to craft, specially made for the children.  Since we are in unfortunate circumstances, these special programs would be more difficult to carry on with, without taking the special precautions.  These special programs would be decided and settled upon in board meetings, which happen every third Tuesday of each month.  Although the board meeting, events, and programs are not being held during this difficult time, it is encouraged that the people try to enjoy as much as they can without risking their lives and others’ lives.

In conclusion, Bryan-Bennett Library is a special library that has an important history that includes a friendship between a wealthy tea merchant and a politician.  The rules and regulations of Bryan-Bennett Library are not one to be reckoned with(you may get kicked out of the building if you do).  The staff and Board of Trustees are loyal and strong to the beloved library in which they take pride and joy into working.  With over 37,000 books, Bryan-Bennett Library has an unlimited amount of books and genres!  The board meetings, events, and programs are all very fun and/or serious!  They definitely are recommended!   Bryan-Bennett Library is open on Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 4 PM.  They are also open Friday through Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM.  To finally conclude, Bryan-Bennett Library is located at 315 South Maple, Salem, Illinois.  Bryan-Bennett Library is worth a visit!  Just be sure to find a comfy spot so you can read in comfort and peace.  Think this is an adventure you’d like to have in the future?  You can find out more from Bryan-Bennett Library.