Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Every April, Smyrna Library hosts a water barrel workshop. The event is co-sponsored by Cobb County Watershed Stewardship Program, Smyrna Library, and Keep Smyrna Beautiful. The waiting list was so long this year that Cobb Watershed agreed to come again in the fall for an additional workshop! Watch for details this fall. Here are some pictures from the April 8 workshop. Enjoy!

Additional Erica Armstrong Dunbar Books Added to Library Collection

The City of Smyrna is hosting author Erica Armstrong Dunbar for a Juneteenth Dinner & Lecture on June 17! The library is ready with lots of copies of her book to check out. The eBook and eAudiobook are also available. 

Friends of Smyrna Library to Sponsor 2022 Summer Reading Program

The Friends of Smyrna Library will continue our longtime sponsorship of the Smyrna Public Library Summer Reading Program.  We have done so since the early 1990s soon after our volunteer group was established.  This year’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities”.  

For 2022 The Library Team has once again put together a fantastic program for kids, teens, and adults that will take place IN THE LIBRARY not virtually.  The 2020 and 2021 Summer Reading Programs were virtual programs as we all adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Smyrna Library Staff did an amazing job delivering 2 very creative and successful virtual summer programs.    

For 2022 students can track their reading minutes on Beanstalk.  Minutes will also count towards Cobb County Public Schools summer reading minutes.  (The two accounts need to be linked.)  

The Friends of Smyrna Library will fund reading incentives, prizes/rewards, and events from late May through July specific to this program.       

Friends of Smyrna Library Announce New Website Address: www.FOSLga.org

We have a new URL for our website address!  www.FOSLga.org  

Due to some unexpected circumstances our old website name (the rather long FriendsOfSmyrnaLibrary dot org) stopped working. So  we bought a new and shorter website name that incorporates our acronym (FOSL – Friends of Smyrna Library – pronounced “fossil”) and our state (GA – FYI: there are Friends of Library groups in Smyrna, Delaware and Smyrna, Tennessee).  We actually looked into getting this same name years ago and it was not available.

Please check out the new website when you get a chance.  

Thanks for your support of the Smyrna Public Library and Friends of Smyrna Public Library, now found online at www.FOSLga.org.

FOSL Funds Reading Bowl Book Purchase

 

The Friends of Smyrna Library recently donated funds used to purchase multiple copies of the 2022/2023 Reading Bowl books for 4th to 8th graders.

Friends of Smyrna Library Supports 2022/2023 Reading Bowl Program

Friends of Smyrna Library recently donated funds which were used to purchase multiple copies of the 2022/2023 Reading Bowl books. This will help give our 4th and 5th grade readers a jump start on these titles for next year's competition. 

Parents: Keep an eye out for Ms. Amy's Reading Bowl book talks where she'll highlight each of the nominated 4th & 5th grade titles. 

FOSL Seeking Candidates to Join our Board of Directors.

We are seeking candidates to apply to join our Board of Directors. 

Friends of Smyrna Library (FOSL) was founded in 1990 and it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.  We support the Smyrna Public Library through fundraising, event sponsorship and volunteer activities.  Board members are unpaid volunteers. 

Our Board of Directors collectively oversees the following areas of responsibility to make our group successful:

• Fundraising: Membership, Book Sales, Donation Appeals, FOSL Logo Retail Sales

• Programs: FOSL Events (ex. Lecture Series), Library Program Sponsorships (ex: Summer Reading Program) 

• Communications: Social Media, Public Relations, Other Online Communication Channels 

• Organization Infrastructure: Member & Volunteer Engagement, Creative Design, Marketing, Technology Platforms

There are immediate opportunities for new Board Members to fill or provide additional support for the following:

Secretary (official record keeper), Individual/Family Memberships, Business Memberships, Quarterly Newsletter Editor (PDF Format), Monthly Blog Manager (Blogger), Social Media Posting, Creative Design, New Website    

If interested please eMail FOSLvols@gmail.com and briefly describe your volunteer experience, prior board experience (if any, it's not required), and the areas of responsibility listed above where you think can help.

Thanks for your interest in volunteering with the Friends of Smyrna Library.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Friends of Smyrna Library Thanks Retiring Board Members Anne & Marvin P.

Friends of Smyrna Library Vice-President Marvin P. and Secretary Anne B-P. retired from the board after serving more than a combined 20 years. They were responsible for many great contributions while serving on the board.

They coordinated the production of a documentary celebrating the library’s 75th anniversary, established an internship with Valdosta State University’s Department of Library and Information Studies, and planned very successful programs that celebrated Black History Month. One program in 2014 featured Martin Luther King’s sister Christine King Farris. They also were instrumental in making our book sales and many other projects over the years a success.

Anne also was great sport at Kid*Con a few years ago wearing a really hot crayon costume to entertain the kids. We appreciate all of the great work you did while serving on the board.

Friends of Smyrna Library Thanks Retiring Board Member Louisa C.

 Friends of Smyrna Library Board Member Louisa C. retired from the board after serving for more than 10 years.

Before the pandemic Louisa volunteered twice weekly in the library to stock the discount book sale shelves and she worked at all of our book sales. She helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to support library programs. She also supported over 75 art gallery & display gallery installations. Thank you for all of your contributions.

Annual Spring Book Sale Announced - May 20 to May 22

Join us for our first Spring Book Sale since before the pandemic. We will have a large selection of hardback books priced from $1 to $5. We will update our Facebook page with more info once we complete the inventory before the sale.

The sale will be held in the large meeting room. We accept cash, check, and PayPal. All proceeds will benefit the 2022 Summer Reading Program.

Sale Dates:
Friday, May 20: 11 am to 4 pm
Saturday, May 21: 11 am to 4 pm
Sunday, May 22: 1 pm to 4 pm.

Volunteer opportunities will be posted to our social media accounts in Early May.

Friends of Smyrna Library Resumes In-Person Board of Directors Meetings in Library

We held our first in-person Board Meeting last night at the library since the start of the pandemic. Though we did not have in-person volunteer events for 2 years, we still met virtually and supported the library with limited fundraising that was backfilled with our cash reserves (which we need to replenish). Last night we defined our plan of record for the rest of year. Stay tuned for more information on the following topics as well as other announcements:

1) Board Member Retirements: Several of our Board Members have decided to retire and pass the baton to new recruits. Look for tribute posts this week to recognize their volunteer service.

2) Board of Directors Expansion: We are actively recruiting candidates to expand the Board of Directors to fill many roles. Message this page if interested in learning more.

3) May Book Sale: A book sale will be held in the library from May 20 to May 22. Proceeds will support the 2022 Summer Reading Program. Adult volunteer opportunities will be available.

4) Book Donations: Effective May 18, Book, Music CD, Movie DVD, Magazine, and Puzzle donations will be accepted again at the Circulation Desk.

5) Cash Donations: Supporters will soon be able to donate online with PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.

6) Updated Online Presence: Look for a new website with mobile capabilities, expanded social media communication, and quarterly newsletters once new Board Members join. Creative & Technical Volunteers are also needed.

7) Teen Volunteers: The Teen Volunteer Program will resume later this year.

We are excited to resume in-person volunteer activities!

First Sunday Lecture: Before There Was No Commuter Rail, There Was Commuter Rail

We had a fantastic crowd for the First Sunday Lecture yesterday. Several attendees had memories of discussing the railway with their parents when they were children. It was like time traveling. Thank you, Todd DeFeo a wonderful presentation on the 2 cummer rails that once ran between Atlanta and Marietta.

Speaker: Todd DeFeo, author of Images of Rail: The Northeast Corridor

Presentation: The Commuter Connection: Before There Was No Commuter Rail, There Was Commuter Rail

For years, the Atlanta region has discussed expanding its public rail system, so imagine a commuter rail line running between Atlanta and Marietta. Once, there were two: the Western & Atlantic Railroad and the lesser-known Atlanta Northern Railway. For more than four decades, Atlanta Northern interurban cars connected downtown Atlanta and downtown Marietta, helping commuters reach their jobs at places like Glover Machine Works and the Bell Bomber Plant. The line closed in 1947, but a few traces of the line remain.

Author Todd DeFeo has written books on the Western & Atlantic, the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville and the Indiana, Alabama & Texas railroads and works on streetcars in Clarksville, Tennessee, and the Northeast Corridor.

The First Sunday Lecture Series is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.