Two-Part Lecture: A Developmental History of Smyrna

Thank you, Dr. William Marchione, for presenting the two-part lecture entitled “A Developmental History of Smyrna” on September 18 and September 25.  

Your richly illustrated talks described, in detail, the forces that transformed Smyrna from a community of less than 2,000 residents in 1940 into a dynamic community of nearly 60,000 residents of today. Very informative!

Celebrating 10th Anniversaries!

Please join the Friends of Smyrna Library and celebrate the 10th anniversaries for Library Director Mary Moore and Children’s Librarian Rebecca Power.  

They and their team’s innovative programs and commitment to excellence make the Smyrna Public Library a treasured community asset.  

Thank you for everything you do.  It is truly appreciated!   

Congratulations to Alex Rawls

Congratulations to Alex Rawls, Library Associate, in Technical Services, who is celebrating her 5-year work anniversary this week. Thank you for all you do to make the library a wonderful place, Alex!

Annual Fall Book Sale and Volunteer Opportunities Announced

The Friends of Smyrna Library Annual Fall Book sale will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 10:00 am to 4 pm and Sunday, October 22 from 1 pm to 4 pm.  

A large selection of gently used Hardbacks, Paperbacks, Books on CD, Movie DVDs, Music CDs, and Puzzles will be available and priced from $1 to $5.  Cash, Check, PayPal, and Venmo will be accepted for payment.

There are 138 volunteer opportunities available between October 14 and October 23 to support the book sale.  Adults & Teens (age 13 and up) are welcome to volunteer.  

Learn about volunteer book sale duties by clicking here. 

Sign up to volunteer by clicking here. 

KID-CON 2023 Enjoyed By Over 800 Attendees!

Today’s KID-CON at the Smyrna Community Center was a spectacular success!  Over 800 people attended, WOW!  

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for the crafts, games, character appearances, and fun stuff for the whole family.  

A big event like this takes a lot of planning and volunteers.  We want to take this opportunity to pass on kudos and sincere thanks to all who made it happen.
First, we want to recognize the amazing Smyrna Library Team for the months of planning that resulted in today’s wonderful community event.  

In addition to KID-CON 2023 sponsors Smyrna Public Library and Friends of Smyrna Library, we thank 2 additional sponsors: Smyrna Parks & Recreation and the Dairy Queen on Spring Road.  We also thank our adult volunteers from the Cobb Collaborative, the Friends of Smyrna Library, and the Smyrna Education Foundation.     

Lastly we are sending a big “Shout Out” to our local teen leaders from the Campbell High School IB Program and the Friends of Smyrna Library Teen Volunteer Program who staffed all of the craft tables.

Towering Views: Remembering the World Trade Center 20 Years After 9/11 by David Batley Opens In Art Gallery

The September/October 2023 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Towering Views: Remembering the World Trade Center 20 Years After 9/11 by David Batley.  Mr. Batley’s exhibit is on display through October 30.  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:

This gallery represents a portion of an exhibit I first put together to mark the 10th anniversary of the events that took place In New York on September 11, 2001. The photographs were exhibited to the public at a gallery in Marietta, Georgia, followed by another exhibit at a gallery in Kennesaw, Georgia. The exhibit was well-received by those who experienced it in person, and I was encouraged to try to share it with a larger audience. This is my effort to try and share these photos. For those who saw them in person during the two exhibits, much of the reaction was heart rendering, as so many remembered that day in their lives. The perennial question has been, "Do you remember what you were doing on that day?"

My story about 9/11 goes back a few weeks prior to that fateful day. I was in New York City attending a national arts conference and had an opportunity to join a guided tour of significant art locations in Lower Manhattan. The tour concluded at a reception in a studio space on the 92nd floor of the North Tower, World Trade Center.

The studio space was called "World Views," and occupied a corner of the 92nd floor, allowing views from two sides of the tower. Fifteen artists used this space as part of a residency program sponsored by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The idea was that these artists might be inspired to create their art based on the "views" allowed at that height over the city.

I used this opportunity to take some shots out the windows using both Kodak Ektachrome and Kodak infrared film. I was able to capture some of the feeling of being at this great height, looking outward and downward (and occasionally zooming the lens a little).

Pottery & Paintings by Steve Stoichev Opens In Display Gallery

The September/October 2023 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Eclectic Pottery & Paintings by Steve Stoichev.  Mr. Stoichev’s exhibit is on display through October 30. 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:

From a very early age Steve Stoichev's life has been connected with art. At 4 years old he had his first exhibit at his preschool, displaying clay figurines. That was the beginning. Throughout his schooling he began to paint and provided his art to many different community and school exhibits. Throughout the 1980's he concentrated on fashion design, and in 1989 he founded his own fashion design company where he designed and created high-end unique wearable art and accessories.

After over 10 years in the fashion business, Steve returned to his first artistic loves and is realizing an old new dream. Since that time, he has presented his paintings and sculptures in community exhibits in the Atlanta area starting with a 2006 solo show titled �Exhibit of Impressionism�. In 2008 he returned home to Europe for another solo impressionist paintings exhibit . Since then he creates and shows award-winning art through various community and national exhibits.

Steve's current interests alternate between design and creation of sculpture, jewelry and paintings. His sculpture and jewelry are inspired by his heritage and by the artifacts found in Thracian, Greek, and Roman archeological excavations, all of which evoke in him and his art a sense of mysticism and timelessness. His experiences with sculpture and fashion have influenced his painting style. He creates textured and brightly colorful modern or impressionistic paintings that are pleasing both to the sense of touch and to the sense of sight.

Steve currently lives in Smyrna, GA with his wife and three children. He is a member of The Society of Sliven Artists and the South Cobb Art Alliance.

FOSL Salutes Smyrna Eagle Scout Volunteer

Campbell High School Senior, Blair B., achieved the rank of Eagle Scout last February with Troop 220 in Smyrna.  Blair built 10 of the Little Libraries found in Smyrna Parks for one of his Eagle Scout Service Projects.  He spent the weekend stocking Little Libraries with books donated from our recent book sale as he has done several times before.   

Thank you, Blair!  The Friends of Smyrna Library salute your Eagle Scout leadership achievement and your fantastic community service maintaining Little Libraries!

Upcoming Lectures at Smyrna Public Library

Mark your calendar with 5 upcoming lectures in September and October!

Towering Views: Remembering the World Trade Center 20 Years After 9/11
Sunday, September 17 at 3 pm
Presenter: David Batley

A Developmental History of Smyrna, Georgia (2-Part Series)
Monday, September 18 at 6:30 pm
Monday, September 25 at 6:30 pm
Presenter: Dr. William Marchione

Solar Eclipses in America
Sunday, October 1 @ 3 pm
Presenter: NASA Solar System Ambassador Chris Thompson

Notable Women of Smyrna & Vicinity
Monday, October 30 at 6:30 pm
Presenter: Dr. William Marchione

All of the above lectures will be held in the Smyrna Public Library Downstairs Meeting Room and light refreshments will be served.  

Learn more about the lectures at https://foslga.org/_lectureseries.htm 

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