Monday, January 23, 2023

Thank You, Volunteers!

Our group is managed and run by dedicated voolunteers.

Thank you, Atharva, Bill, Charlie, Chris, Dorothy, Ellie, JJ, Kathy, Kiara, Len, Mary Anne, Mickie, and Nancy for working the Winter Book Sale last weekend.

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Successful Winter Book Sale Concludes


Our very successful Winter Book Sale ended at 4 pm today. Thank you, Smyrna, for visiting us this weekend! 

Through your support we raised over $2,100. The sale proceeds will fund new programs and purchases for kids, teens, and adults in 2023. 

Stay tuned for announcements and thanks again.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Recommended Winter 2023 Reading List

 Featured Book

THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich

Other Recommended Reading Selections

DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver

FAIRY TALE by Stephen King

HELL BENT by Leigh Bardugo

HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE by Grady Hendrix

I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

MAD HONEY by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

SPARE by Prince Harry

STRAIGHT SHOOTER by Stephen A. Smith

THE BOYS FROM BILOXI by John Grisham

THE CABINET OF DR. LENG by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes

THE HOUSE OF WOLVES by James Patterson and Mike Lupica

THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave

THE LIGHT WE CARRY by Michelle Obama

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

THE NAZI CONSPIRACY by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

THE SHARDS by Bret Easton Ellis

TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin

WITHOUT A TRACE by Danielle Steel


SOURCE: NY Times Best Seller Lists

Monday, January 9, 2023

Smyrna Public Library Announces Innovative “Food for Fines” Program


The Smyrna Public Library has announced an innovative program named “Food for Fines” to support local Food Banks.

For each can or box of shelf-stable food brought to Smyrna Library, the library will waive $2 in overdue fines. Food will benefit Smyrna and Cobb food pantries.

The program will run from Friday, January 20 - Friday, January 27.  Make your donations at the front desk at the Smyrna Public Library, 100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080.


Sunday, January 8, 2023

Sunday Lecture Presented: The Cherokee Phoenix: 1828-1839


Dr. George Lamplugh presented "The News from Cherokee Country:  Elias Boudinot and the Cherokee Phoenix, 1828-1839" today at the Smyrna Public Library.  The well attended presentation was very informative.    

Presentation Summary:

The Cherokee Phoenix was the first newspaper published by Native Americans in the United States and the first published in a Native American language. The presentation is both a biography of Boudinot, the founding editor of the Phoenix (1828-1832), and a look at the history of the Cherokee tribal newspaper, which survived, for a couple of years following Boudinot's resignation from the paper.  

Presenter:  Dr. George Lamplugh is the former Social Studies Department Chair at Atlanta's Westminster School. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware and has written three books on aspects of Georgia's early political history, including In Pursuit of Dead Georgians: One Historian's Excursions Into the History of His Adopted State.

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


Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Modern Art by Rebecca Bounds-Brown Opens at Smyrna Public Library Art Gallery


The January/February 2023 Art Gallery exhibit has opened – Modern Art by Rebecca Bounds-Brown.  Ms. Bounds-Brown’s exhibit is on display through February 28. The Art Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Public Library.

Art Gallery exhibits are organized by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Artist Statement

An Atlanta native, Rebecca Bounds-Brown graduated from Georgia State University with both a B.A. in fine arts and a M.A.Ed. degree. In 2006 she earned a 10-year National Teaching Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. National Board certified teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. Brown is a practicing photographer and painter whose work has been shown at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, NAEA National Headquarters, the Mable House, and local galleries and shows. She believes that every student has some natural artistic ability which can be developed and refined.

Acrylics & Art Glass by Helen DuBiner Opens at Smyrna Public Library Display Gallery


The January/February 2023 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Acrylics & Art Glass by Helen DuBiner.  Ms. DuBiner’s exhibit is on display through February 28. The Display Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Public Library.

Display Gallery exhibits are organized by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Artist Statement

Helen is the daughter of a Navy officer and grew up in coastal areas including Rhode Island, Virginia, and Southern California. She finished high school in San Diego, completed college in Hawaii and pharmacy school in Atlanta. She, her husband and two children have lived in Smyrna, GA since 1988. Helen works as a research director and part time pharmacist.

Although Helen took a couple of art courses in college, she did not pursue painting until the children had left for college and a visiting friend presented a challenge to do something new in the next chapters of life. Helen began painting by taking basic acrylic landscape classes where she learned composition and the mixing of colors, before moving on to portrait and abstract art classes. She paints in the evenings and on weekends, as time permits.

Water is a familiar and favorite subject of Helen because she is reminded of sailing with her family and husband, walks on the beach, and watching sunsets with friends. She enjoys painting scenes that feel peaceful. This summer, Helen travelled to Provence. Her most recent paintings are all from this region. Many of the scenes were painted in the places Cezanne painted. She stayed in a small town, Banon, which is about 90 minutes north of Aix en Provence and travelled to a variety of locations in the Alpes de Haute-Provence. The Luberon Valley of that region was full of Lavender. Most of the paintings were painted plein air, and two were painted after her return. Plein air painting is idyllic for lighting and perspective, but hiking with an easel, paint supplies, canvasses, standing for hours in the sun, dodging bees and other insects, created unexpected challenges. The paintings are acrylic and a retarder was used to slow drying time. Misting with water was necessary as well.


Sunday, January 1, 2023

January to July 2023 Book Club Selections Announced

The Friends of Smyrna Library sponsors the virtual monthly book club at the Smyrna Public Library.  The 2023 selections for January to August have been announced. 

January 3, 2023
The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

February 7, 2023
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

March 7, 2023
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

April 4, 2023
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

May 2, 2023
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

Tuesday, June 6, 2023
The Measure by Nikki Erlick

July 11, 2023
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

See our website for instructions to obtain the virtual meeting invites and check-out the books.

Sign-Up Instructions