Benton Public Library
🏢 Illinois Heartland Library System · Benton, Illinois
Benton Public Library
Benton Public Library is the public library of Benton, the Franklin County seat in southern Illinois coal country. At 502 S. Main Street, it holds a collection of roughly 48,000 books, audiobooks, magazines and music CDs and features an outdoor reading garden with hand-painted chairs created by students at the local high school — one of the most distinctive spots for a summer read in southern Illinois.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 502 S Main Street, Benton, IL 62812
Phone: (618) 438-7511
Website: bentonlibrary.com
Plus Code: 869HX3RH+GX (Benton, IL)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Benton Public Library
Benton Public Library serves Benton, Illinois, the county seat of Franklin County and a southern Illinois city of about 6,700 residents. The city takes its name from Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton and gained national attention in 1963 as the first U.S. stop of a young George Harrison on American soil. The library's collection spans roughly 48,000 materials — books, audiobooks, magazines, large-print titles and music CDs — and the building is surrounded by a reading garden where painted chairs made by Benton High School students invite patrons to read outdoors. The library operates as a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), giving cardholders access to a shared Polaris catalog and interlibrary delivery from across southern and central Illinois. Digital resources include Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, hoopla for streaming, Kanopy for film and IRIS, the Illinois State Library's statewide database program. Public computers, free Wi-Fi and meeting rooms are available on-site.
⭐ What makes this library special
- County seat library for Franklin County, holding ~48,000 books, audiobooks, large-print, magazines and music CDs
- Outdoor reading garden with hand-painted chairs crafted by Benton High School students — unique community art installation
- Located in Benton, named for senator Thomas Hart Benton and the city where a young George Harrison made his first U.S. stop in 1963
- Member of Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) — shared catalog and interlibrary delivery across southern/central Illinois
- Digital borrowing through Libby, hoopla and Kanopy, plus IRIS statewide research databases
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Benton cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through Illinois Heartland and statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Circulation of ~48,000 books, DVDs, audiobooks, large-print materials and music CDs
- Outdoor reading garden with hand-painted chairs and donated play equipment
- Public computers with internet access and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and document services
- Study and meeting room space
- Interlibrary loan through Illinois Heartland Library System
- Online catalog for holds and account management
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Summer Reading Program
- Adult learning programs and book discussions
- Teen & STEM workshops
- Career and job-search resources
- Community fundraising: personalized engraved bricks for the library grounds
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern Illinois
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Benton Public Library's reading garden unique?
Behind the library at 502 S. Main Street sits an outdoor reading garden furnished with chairs hand-painted by students at Benton Consolidated High School. The garden also features donated play equipment including a handmade wooden ship, making it a community gathering place unlike any other public library garden in southern Illinois.
Can I borrow items from other Illinois libraries through Benton Public Library?
Yes. Benton Public Library is a member of the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), so cardholders can request items from member libraries through the shared catalog at search.illinoisheartland.org and pick them up at the Benton branch.
Is Benton, Illinois the county seat? What is the city known for?
Yes, Benton is the county seat of Franklin County, Illinois. The city was incorporated in 1841 and is named after Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton. It gained a footnote in music history as the first U.S. destination of George Harrison in 1963, who visited a sister living there — his first time on American soil.
What digital resources are available with a Benton library card?
Cardholders get free access to Libby (eBooks and audiobooks), hoopla (movies, music and comics with no waitlists), Kanopy (documentary film streaming) and IRIS — the Illinois State Library's statewide research databases. All are available 24/7 from any device.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.