Library offering prom dresses
The Saline County Library is offering prom dresses for free to those who need them at its Benton location.
Young Adult Librarian Jennifer Watson said the library partnered with Project Prom in 2019 to get dresses for local girls.
“They were amazing and let us raid their dresses,” she said.
When COVID-19 hit and kept schools from having prom in 2020, the library stored the dresses. Now that schools are holding proms and formal events, the library is making the dresses available.
Watson said students just need to find their size and take it home. The sizes available range from size 2 to 18. There are only a few dresses per size. The dress options range from long to short in a variety of styles.
“I want to make sure everyone who wants to go to prom has the opportunity to do it and isn’t stopped because they do not have the proper attire,” Watson said.
The library started collecting the dresses because it put on its own library prom for home school and other students. Due to the
pandemic, the staff could not put it on in 2020 and 2021. Watson hopes to put it on again in 2022.
Depending on the pandemic, she wants to hold a Christmas dance for the teens.
Sadly, Watson has not been able to collect traditional male attire for prom.
Those interested in the dresses will be able to get one through May 25.
“Prom dresses are one of the unique services we offer at the Saline County Library,” Watson said.
To view the dresses, people must make a browsing appointment through the library website www. salinecountylibrary.org or by calling 501-778-4766.