Community Collections

Li'l Library in the Park at Lake Bentonville

BPL established its first Li'l Library in 2022 as part of Mayor Stephanie Orman's Bright Idea Initiative. 

Li'l Libraries are small, free libraries located in parks throughout Bentonville. Community members can take a book, leave a book, or both.

Designed and constructed by local artisan Randy Townzen with fabrication assistance from Don Barnett, the Li'l Library at Lake Bentonville celebrates the wonder of flight, our municipal airport, and gives a nod to Bentonville's very own aviation pioneer Louise M. Thaden. 

You can find this Li'l Library at Lake Bentonville - 2100 SW I Street, Bentonville, AR 72712.

 Special thanks to our partners in the Bentonville Parks & Recreation department for their collaboration and Friends of the Bentonville Library for supporting the book collection.

The Seed Library is a free program committed to increasing our ability to feed ourselves wholesome food by offering seeds and education. 

Located inside the Bentonville Public Library, the Seed Library offers free seeds to all members of the community. 

When possible, participants are encouraged to grow out and return seeds.  Returned seeds will allow us to keep the library well-stocked. 

The Seed Library is made possible with support and generosity from the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Friends of the Bentonville Library, City of Bentonville Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee, and Benton County Master Gardeners.⁠

In Spring 2021, BPL collaborated with supporters and partners to plan, fund, and install Learning Gardens as part of BPL’s Needs Assessment Study and the staff’s desire to implement a project that would improve the wellness of our community members, volunteers, and staff through nature and environmental education.

The BPL Learning Gardens provide opportunity to present programs and activities as well as eventually providing areas for recreational reading. The primary responsibility lies with our teen volunteers who work alongside Benton County Master Gardeners volunteers. Our Teen Volunteers have learned how to prepare planters, maintain a garden, and harvest the fruit of their labor. 

This project also works with the BPL Seed Library to plant and harvest seeds to be resubmitted to the Seed Library. Produce from the gardens is also made available to the community. 

Currently the Learning Gardens are located on the southeast corner of the grounds in the middle of the book drop drive through. Once the expansion is complete in Fall 2024, the gardens will be expanded and relocated to the northwest corner of the property in full view of Main Street passersby.

This project is made possible by Benton County Master Gardeners and Friends of the Bentonville Library.