Benson Public Library
🏢 City of Benson — Cochise County · Benson, Arizona
Benson Public Library
At the crossroads of two railroads and three centuries of Cochise County history, Benson Public Library pairs a 35,500-item collection with statewide digital access, Kanopy streaming, and the Cochise County 'One County One Card' — giving residents entry to all 12 county libraries and a gateway to the living caves of Kartchner Caverns just eight miles away.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 300 S. Huachuca Street, Benson, AZ 85602
Phone: (520) 586-9535
Website: bensonaz.gov
Plus Code: 853FXP83+96 (Benson, AZ)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Benson Public Library
Benson Public Library occupies a 5,725-square-foot building at 300 S. Huachuca Street in a city whose history began in 1880 when the Southern Pacific Railroad laid its tracks across the San Pedro River valley. Named for Judge William S. Benson, a friend of railroad president Charles Crocker, the city grew into Arizona's only rail junction served by three independent lines — routing silver and copper ore from Tombstone and Bisbee to markets across the country. Today the library reflects that crossroads heritage, linking a community of about 5,300 to a 35,500-volume collection plus audiobooks, DVDs, and a dedicated Arizona special-collections section. The library is a member of the Cochise County 'One County One Card' program, meaning a single Benson library card is valid at all 12 Cochise County libraries, with items transferable via a shared courier system. Free Kanopy streaming, Libby eBooks, Northstar Digital Literacy, and the statewide Digital Arizona Library complete a robust suite of resources available to every Benson resident.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One County One Card: a single Benson library card is valid at all 12 Cochise County libraries — items can be requested from any branch and picked up in Benson
- Verified 5,725-square-foot facility holding approximately 35,500 volumes plus audiobooks, DVDs, large-print titles, and an Arizona special-collections section
- Free Kanopy streaming — documentaries, world cinema, Kanopy Kids children's content — available 24/7 with a Cochise County library card
- Northstar Digital Literacy assessment site: free self-paced modules in computer basics, Microsoft Office, internet skills, job searching, and telehealth
- Year-round programs including weekly Wednesday Storytime & Crafts, Coloring Club, Dungeons & Dragons Club, and a monthly Adult Speaker Series
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Benson Public Library cardholders access these digital resources free through the Cochise County Library District:
📚 Services
- Physical circulation: 35,500+ volumes, audiobooks, DVDs, large-print titles
- Arizona special-collections section
- Spanish-language materials
- Public computers with internet access (2-hour sessions; guest passes available)
- Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Copying and printing (black-and-white $0.25/page, color $0.50/page, cash only)
- Flatbed scanner with USB output
- E-Resource Card (digital-only card for non-residents or those not checking out physical items)
- Interlibrary loan — request items from any of the 12 Cochise County member libraries via shared courier
- Reference assistance
- Free library cards for Cochise County residents (minimum 4 months residency per year)
🎸 Programs
- Storytime & Crafts — Wednesdays 10:30–11:30 AM (September through May)
- Coloring Club — Fridays 10:30–11:30 AM
- Dungeons & Dragons Club
- Monthly Adult Speaker Series — first meeting at 10:00 AM
- Summer Reading Program (annual, typically June)
- AZ Read 250 Challenge — read 25 books or 250 minutes
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Culture Passes — free admission to participating cultural institutions
- Northstar Digital Literacy workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern Arizona
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Benson library card at Tombstone, Sierra Vista, or other Cochise County libraries?
Yes. Benson Public Library is part of the Cochise County 'One County One Card' program, launched in May 2019. A single card is valid at all 12 member libraries across the county — including Tombstone City Library, Sierra Vista Public Library, the Copper Queen Library in Bisbee, Douglas Public Library, Willcox's Elsie S. Hogan Community Library, and the five rural CCLD branches. Materials from any branch can be requested and picked up in Benson through the shared courier service.
Does the library have materials about Benson's railroad history and Cochise County heritage?
Yes. The library maintains a dedicated Arizona special-collections section with materials relating to Cochise County regional history. Benson was founded in 1880 as a Southern Pacific Railroad junction — the only Arizona town once served by three independent rail lines — and the library's Arizona collection is a starting point for research into that heritage. For digitized historical materials including Benson railroad maps from 1917 and editions of The Benson Signal newspaper, the Arizona Memory Project (azmemory.azlibrary.gov) is a complementary free resource.
Is Benson Public Library near Kartchner Caverns State Park?
Yes — the library is about eight miles from the entrance to Kartchner Caverns State Park, one of the most pristine 'living' cave systems in the world, discovered in 1974 and developed as a state park in 1999. The library's Arizona special collections include materials on the region's natural and geological history. For cave tour reservations, visit azstateparks.com/kartchner directly, as tours book out well in advance.
What digital resources can I access from home with a Benson library card?
With a valid Benson (Cochise County) library card you get free home access to Libby/OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks (ccld.overdrive.com), Kanopy for streaming documentaries and films, Reading Arizona for Arizona-themed eBooks, and the Digital Arizona Library (DAZL) at azlibrary.gov/dazl for magazines, newspapers, and research databases. Non-residents who only need digital access can apply for an E-Resource Card at the library.
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