The Summer Reading Program kicked-off today with a HUGE celebration
at the library. The theme for the event was “Touch-a-Truck” and the kids of all
ages had a great time.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Huge Celebration to Kick-Off Summer Reading Program
Monday, May 25, 2015
ESCAPE THE ORDINARY
WHO: Adults aged 18 and older. Anyone may participate in the program, but only Smyrna Library Cardholders are eligible to win prizes in the drawings.
WHAT: Events and reading incentives to reignite the child reader in all of us.GoPro Hero Camera
WEEKLY PRIZES: Gift bags with free books, mugs, book bags, flash drives and gift cards to local businesses.
GRAND PRIZE: GoPro HERO digital video camera
HOW: Each week, a list of activities will be posted in the Library and on this "Escape the Ordinary Page" webpage. Every activity accomplished is another entry in the Weekly Drawing. Visit the Front Desk on the First Floor to fill out a weekly entry form. All entries throughout the summer will be entered to win the GRAND PRIZE.
Monday, June 22 - Sunday, June 28 Drawing
WIN: Gift Bag containing $20 gift certificate to Mezza Luna (courtesy of the Friends of Smyrna Library), an “I’m Reading” mug, 2GB flash drive (courtesy of Cumberland CID), USB car charger, and romance novels -- packaged in lovely blue and white waterproof book bag .
POWER UP! with
"ESCAPE THE ORDINARY" ACTIVITIES:
* Follow Smyrna Library on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest
* Sign up for a NextReads newsletter
* Check out a Digital Magazine on Zinio
* Check out an eAudiobook on Axis360, hoopla or OneClick
* Visit www.smyrnavision.com
* Check out a fiction genre you have never tried before
* Check out a DVD in a genre you have never tried before
* Visit the numismatic display on the Upper Level
* Read a book in a park
* Check out a travel or armchair travel book (lots in 910-919)
Escape the OrdinaryGrand Prize will be drawn on Monday, July 27, 2015. Employees of Smyrna Library and their relatives are not eligible to win.
Monday, May 18, 2015
FOSL Sponsors Young Adult Summer Reading Program 2015
WHO: Ages 13-18.
WHAT: Events and reading incentives to keep you reading and active all summer.
HOW: Pick up an "Unmask!" punch card starting Friday, May 22, 2015 or print one here.
Accumulate 5 punches and enter your card into a drawing of prizes. Alert a Library staff member whenever you have completed a task, and he/she will punch your card. Pick up another card and start over again for more chances to win! See the complete list of punch-worthy activities below.
For details on TEEN TUESDAY events, visit the Library's online calendar.srp
TEEN TUESDAYS
Tuesday nights in June & July 6:00 p.m.
Smyrna Public Library, Meeting Room
PRIZES:
Grand Prize: GoPro Hero digital video camera
Other prizes include…
Gift cards to Rev Coffee
Barnes and Noble gift cards
Book and movie adaptation gift packs
Library overdue fee waivers
And much more!
WAYS TO EARN PUNCHES:
· Read a spy novel
· Take a selfie in the library and post to Facebook or Instagram– tag us
· Watch an episode of Perry Mason, Matlock, or other detective program
· Help a neighbor for an hour
· Check out an ebook or e-audio to listen to
· Sign up on Zinio to view teen magazines
· Read 2 hours a week
· Attend a Teen Tuesday program (bring a friend for an extra punch!)
· Bring a younger sibling, relative, or neighbor to a kids’ Smyrna Library program
· Write a letter to your hero
· Use our suggestion box to tell us what would make the library a better place for teens
· Help someone in need – open a door, carry groceries, listen
· Learn about a human rights or services organization (UNICEF, SADD, Wounded Warrior Project, Big Brother/Big sister, etc.)
· What makes you tick? Find a book that sounds like you and check it out
· Read a graphic novel, manga, or YA Biography
· Create an entry for the annual Smyrna Library Recycled Art Contest
· Take a course on Lynda.com
· Download some music from Freegal
· Learn how to say “Hello” in three different foreign languages with Mango languages
· Read to a younger child for 20 minutes
· Read a book and watch the movie adaptation, then complete a comparison form
· Complete a book review form. Paper forms are available in the Teen Territory or click here to submit an online form.
· Like “Smyrna Library Teens” on Facebook
Monday, May 11, 2015
FOSL Sponsors Children's Summer Reading Program 2015
Events and reading incentives to keep children, from babies-12 year olds, reading and active all summer. Pick up a reading log and events brochure starting Friday, May 15, 2015.
SUMMER READING KICK-OFF EVENT
When: Saturday, May 30th, 11:00am-1:00pm
Where: Smyrna Library back parking lot
Come celebrate summer reading with our very own Smyrna Community Heroes! We’re hosting a touch-a-truck with representatives from the Smyrna Fire Department, Police Department, and Community Works. We’ll also have face painting, prize drawings, games, and hot dogs courtesy of Dairy Queen.
EARN PRIZES!
1) School Aged Reader Reading Logs - Track every 20 minutes you read. You can now log your minutes online at www.scholastic.com/summer. If you attend a Cobb County or Marietta City school you received a login and password at the end of the school year. If you forgot your login or password, or if you attend a private school or are homeschooled, ask a Youth Service Librarian for your login and password for Scholastic. All kinds of reading counts (even cereal boxes!), and listening to audiobooks counts too. Bring your reading log into the library each week and receive a special prize for reading at least an hour each week.
After participating for 8 hours of reading you will receive a certificate, a free book, your name on the wall, and entry into our drawing for a bag of books and fun!
2) Beginning Reader Logs - Complete the tasks on your log. At the end of summer, bring in your completed log and you will receive a certificate, sticker, restaurant coupon, and a free book.
3) Challenge Sheets - Challenge Sheets will be available every Sunday. Choose the level for your age and complete the sheet at home or in the library. Return your challenge sheet by Saturday and receive a prize for completing it and be entered into our weekly drawing for an “Every Hero Has A Story” prize pack! The weekly winner will be notified on Sunday.
SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS:
Special events include a puppet show, superhero training camp, LEGOs and more. See the program brochure or the Library's online calendar for all the details.
SUMMER STORY TIME SCHEDULE:
Ready Readers (Rising K-2nd Grade)
MONDAYS, 11:00 AM
Tween Time (8-12 year olds)
TUESDAYS, 1:00 PM
Movers and Shakers (1 & 2 year olds)*
WEDNESDAYS, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, & 4:00 PM
*This class is limited to 25 children
Lapsit Story Time (3-5 year olds)
THURSDAYS, 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM
Friday Film Fun (all ages)
FRIDAY, 2:00 PM
Family Story Time (all ages)
SATURDAYS, 2:00 PM
STORY TIME DESCRIPTIONS:
Movers and Shakers (1 & 2 year olds): We share songs, stories, and wrap up each class with a movement activity to allow the children to play while developing their gross motor skills. This class is limited to the first 25 children. We will open the door 15 minutes prior to the start of a program, and we recommend you arrive early to ensure a space in this program. Movers and Shakers will begin when program is full or at start time, whichever is first. Each class lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Lapsit Story Time (3-5 year olds): Each 30 minute thematic story time includes stories, songs, and a related craft activity. This story time is best suited to children who have yet to attend school as we focus on developing literacy skills; however children of all ages are welcome to attend.
Ready Readers (Rising K-2nd grade): Story time for older school aged children with stories to introduce literacy, history, science or math concepts with accompanying activities that reinforce concepts learned in school…and don’t forget the craft!
Tween Time (8-12 year olds): Hands-on, science and art based activities created to reinforce learning and discovery while inspiring creativity and fun! Approximate length of programs are 60-90 minutes. Parents must stay with children at all times.
Smyrna Public Library, Cobb County Libraries, Cobb County School District, and Marietta City Schools are working together to ensure that all children read this summer. Submit your reading log to the Smyrna Library or any Cobb County Library branch for a chance to earn prizes.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
FOSL Celebrates Library Staff Member Anniversary!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
World War II's Women Warriors by Historian Narayan Sengupta
As part of the Smyrna Public Library’s observation of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and its aftermath, the library is featuring a series of World War II-related programs in 2015. Historian and author Narayan Sengupta presented World War II's Women Warriors at the Smyrna Public Library today.
Presentation Overview:
More women participated in World War II than any other war. Whether Allied or Axis, they contributed in droves. They were factory workers, pilots, nurses, scientists, Resistance, snipers, spies, etc. Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter, Anne Frank, WACS and WAVES are household names. Learn about them and others such as Russia’s Lydia Litviak (a triple ace fighter pilot) and Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a sniper with 309 kills, Indo-American spy Noor Inayat Khan, the Manhattan project’s Chinese-born Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu and the scientific exploits of Hollywood bombshell Hedy Lamarr. They and hundreds of thousands of others changed global society and paved the way for Angela Merkel, Golda Meir, Valentina Tereshkova, Mary Barra and countless others since WWII including today's mothers, wives, sisters and daughters.
Speaker Bio: Narayan Sengupta
Narayan has had ten veterans on the French side of his family, seven of whom were in combat. One died in action, one was wounded, one was captured, one was an occupier and one was in the Resistance. Two received the Croix de Guerre. On August 27, 1944, his mother’s family was liberated by brave Americans of the US 3rd Armored Division. On the Indian side of his family, both great uncles were noted historians, and one was head of the All India Historical Society. Consequently, he is very passionate about America’s military accomplishments and its veterans.
Narayan speaks several languages, loves to travel and has visited about 20 countries. He was Star Student at North Fulton High School (which was America’s first International Baccalaureate School), majored in History at Emory and earned an MBA from Georgia State. He worked at places like IBM, Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, MCI and Alltel before starting NFI (www.nfiweb.com), a website, search engine optimization and database development firm in Atlanta, Georgia.
He is in the Smyrna Rotary Club and served as President in 2008-2009. He started Smyrna’s annual Veterans Day event in 2008. He is on the Smyrna Veterans Committee and in SuperSmyrna. In 2010, the Smyrna Rotary Club named him “Smyrna Citizen of the Year.” He is the very proud father of two young daughters.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Oils & Acrylics by Joe Loehr Opens in Art Gallery
The May and June art gallery exhibit opened today - Oils & Acrylics by Joe Loehr. Mr. Loehr's work is on display until June 30. The display gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Library. The display gallery exhibits are sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.
Artist Statement:
Joe is an emerging artist currently residing in the town of Woodstock in Northwest Georgia. His early education included the study of pencil and charcoal drawing, as well as architectural drafting.
In recent years, after pursuing a career in computer science, he has refocused his creative efforts on the study of oil painting and the creation of art works in a style that can best be classified as impressionistic realism. Although he has produced some earlier work using acrylics, his most recent works have focused on the use of oils on both canvas and panels supports. In addition, he creates numerous studies of portraits and figures using graphite pencil on paper. He has studied with Atlanta artists Kathy Rennell Forbes and Ernest Varner.
His recent works have been primarily portraits and the depiction of figures in a variety of places and events. However, he occasionally will create seascapes and landscapes, mostly depicting city streets and architectural structures.
Pottery by Pat Gresham Opens in Display Gallery
Artist Statement:
My name is Pat Gresham and I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Scott, for 40 years. I have a great family, Zachary and his wife, Caroline, who are the parents of my adorable grandchildren, Henry and Hazel, and my son, Taylor, who lives in NC. Most of my life has been spent taking care of my family and later, my parents as they were aging. I found myself struggling in my mid-life after both of my parents had passed away and my children were grown and out of the house. My husband traveled with his job and I spent a lot of time alone, not sure what to do with myself. I was in my early 50s and in a pretty deep depression. My doctor encouraged me to find something to do with my hands; painting, pottery, etc. I had taken some painting classes earlier in life and thought I would try my hand at pottery. I loved my class and my teacher and it became very therapeutic for me as I was dealing with so many life changes.
There’s something very spiritual about taking a piece of clay and making it into something beautiful and useful. The clay has to be soft and workable and the potter knows how much pressure to put on the clay to get it centered on the wheel before the process begins. If the clay isn’t soft and workable and the potter isn’t patient in centering the clay the whole process is a frustrating struggle (very similar to life!) The creation is useless and fragile until it goes through the first fire which removes the impurities from the clay and gives it strength. There’s glazing to add beauty and strength, re-firing, and the result is a beautiful vessel. Each piece is unique and impossible to duplicate and is a prize creation of the potter.
Getting involved with pottery and adding a little studio in my home has been so rewarding and life affirming and keeps me centered in my own life. It has taught me many lessons and opened doors for me to share my pottery with others. I am thankful that I listened and found something creative to do with my time. When I’m not playing in my studio, I love spending time with my family, especially my adorable Henry and Hazel. My husband and I love to travel and we both enjoy photography. We love visiting the National and State Parks and plan to see as many as we can before we get too old to travel. If I had my way, we would be seeing the country in a little Airstream camper but for right now, I’m enjoying every aspect of my life and appreciate every day to the fullest!