Friends of Smyrna Library Sponsor a Local Authors’ Discussion Panel and Book Signing

Friends of Smyrna Library will sponsor a local authors’ discussion panel and book signing on Sunday April 15th at 3:00 in the first floor meeting room at the library. The following participants will be discussing family and school influence and early writing experiences:

Margaret Johnson-Hodge is the author of several books that have received national acclaim. She is a winner of the 1998 Reviewer’s Choice Award for “The Real Deal”. “Butterscotch Blues”, made the Blackboard Bestsellers List, the Essence Magazine’s Bestsellers List and Black Expressions Book Club Book of the year in 2000.

Patricia Sprinkle’s roots lie deep in southern soil and form the background for her work. Since 1988 she has written 30 southern mysteries and four southern novels. Her latest novel is Friday’s Daughter, set in a small college town in the North Georgia Mountains.

Award winning children's author Diane Z. Shore says that her short attention span, limited vocabulary, and immaturity prepared her well to be a children's writer.

Deborah Elizabeth Merriman was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1949. As a child she lived with many families due to unlovely circumstances. She recently completed her first book: Hiding Places, a memoir of her childhood.
 

Smyrna Public Library Publishes April Children's Program Calendar

The featured event this month is:

Family Matinee Movie

“HOP” Rated PG
Tuesday April 3
3:30 PM, ALL AGES
Running time is 95 minutes

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAGNIFICENT MAY EVENTS!

Muffins with Mom

Have a special morning out at the library with your little ones and enjoy Mother’s Day stories and fun! Join us on Saturday, May 5th at 11 AM. This program is for children, ages 2 and up, and their mothers or grandmothers. Register now to attend.

Meet Curious George

Our favorite curious monkey is visiting the library in celebration of National Children’s Book Week! Join us on Saturday, May 12th at 11 AM. We expect a large turnout for this program, so please register your family to attend as soon as possible before the program fills up.
 

Spring 2012 Reading List Published by Friends of Smyrna Library

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is the featured book in recognition of April's designation as National Poetry Month. Other recommended selections include New York Times fiction and non-fiction bestsellers that were recently added to the library's collection.

Other Recommended Reading Selections

11/22/63 by Stephen King
A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
Abyss by Troy Denning
Another Piece Of My Heart by Jane Green
Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman
Betrayal by Danielle Steel
Celebrity In Death by J. D. Robb
Chasing Midnight by Randy Wayne White
Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
Death Comes To Pemberley by P. D. James
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Fair Game by Valerie Wilson
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
Letter From a Stranger by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Monday Mornings by Sanjay Gupta
Selling Sunshine by Tony Hartl
Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
The Art Of Fielding by Chad Harbach
The Best Of Me by Nicholas Sparks
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
The Expats by Chris Pavone
The House I Loved by Tatiana De Rosnay
The Irish Americans by Jay P. Dolan
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer
The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain
The Perfect Soldier by Ralph Peters
The Sense Of An Ending by Julian Barnes
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Thief by Clive Cussler And Justin Scott
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Victims by Jonathan Kellerman

Beautiful New Children's Area Reading Rug!

We want to send out a BIG thank you to our Smyrna supporters!  

Through your donations to the Friends of Smyrna Library and book sale purchases at our book sales we were able to buy this beautiful new reading rug for the children's area. 

Stop by the Smyrna Public Library soon and check it out! 

March-April Art Gallery Exhibit Now on Display at Smyrna Public Library

Art by Betty Laygn on display through April.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art and books are two of my loves and go hand in hand.

I majored in Art at Agnes Scott College and then graduated from Emory’s Division of Librarianship. My career has been as an elementary school librarian and I’ve loved presenting literature with beautiful illustrations to children.

When my husband, Bill, and I moved to Smyrna almost seven years ago, one of the first things we did was join the Friends of the Smyrna Library. We enjoy the benefits of living nearby. Our children are grown, but we’re the parents of Lily, a West Highland white terrier who loves her walks around the Library.

After not doing any art for a number of years, my friend, the accomplished Beverly Key, handed me some watercolors. When I asked her where to start, she said, “Paint what you like best first.” It’s been fun ever since. My subjects are my dogs, my garden, and my travels.

I’ve had wonderful teachers. I studied figure painting in pastels with Kate Fetterolf at Callanwolde. Now I’m enjoying my watercolor classes at the Chastain Art Center from my excellent teachers Kathy Rennell Forbes and Marie Matthews and being with a fun group of fellow students.

March-April Display Gallery Exhibit Announced by Smyrna Public Library

Imagine That! by Kevin Rucker on display through April.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Ever since I can remember, I have always loved to draw. In one of my earliest memories as a child, I drew a 'friend' on the garage wall with green chalk. At a very early age, my mother encouraged me to create. In the summers of my youth, she would provide me with reams of notebook paper to draw on. My life has been devoted to art."

Kevin Rucker’s remarkable, imaginative illustrations have gained this award-winning Atlanta artist an enthusiastic following. By combining detailed 2-D and 3-D images with abstract concepts, Kevin creates illustrations that appeal to traditionalists and modernists alike. As Kevin says, "Art evokes emotion. When I am creating, I am at my best."

Originally from New York, Kevin began his formal art education with a degree in Commercial Design and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree (with a minor in Visual Arts) from the State University of New York at New Paltz. After moving to Atlanta in 1997, Kevin earned a degree in Computer Animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta, achieving many honors as a student. He was then invited to join the faculty as a 2-D and 3-D animation instructor.

Kevin went on to a distinguished career as a Graphic Artist, Illustrator, and Creative Director. The quality and creativity of his work has attracted numerous public and private commissions, with past clients including Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, and Visa.

As an artist, Kevin has won numerous excellence awards and produced illustrations that have had global influence. Working as a commercial designer for over 20 years has now afforded him the opportunity to pursue his creative passions full-time. Kevin reflects:

"...I have considered myself extremely lucky to have had such talented and patient art teachers and invaluable opportunities to make a living doing what I love. I feel very privileged that God has given me such a gift. Of course, I give Him all the credit."

In addition to his expertise in illustration and graphic arts, Kevin Rucker is an avid woodworker and accomplished 3-D mural artist.