Sunday Lecture: The Liquor Wars

Thank you, Dr. William Marchione, for yesterday’s fascinating lecture about Smyrna's and Cobb County's relationship with alcohol. The presentation covered the production and sale of alcoholic beverages and how it was one of the most divisive political issue Cobb County faced from its foundation in the 1830s to well into the 20th century.  Dr. Marchione also examined the strident and often violent history of liquor regulation in Cobb County, with particular emphasis on Smyrna and vicinity.

Sunday Lectures are sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Impressive 2024 Summer Reading Program Statistics Published

The 2024 Summer Reading Program at the Smyrna Public Library was a resounding success. The Friends of Smyrna Library extend special thanks go to the amazing team at the Smyrna Public Library for their amazing work.  Congrats, Smyrna Readers! 

Here are the impressive statistics:

Author Michell Braxton Appears at Reed House

Thank you, Michelle Braxton, for today’s wonderful author appearance, interview, and cooking demonstration at the Reed House in Smyrna. 

Black-Eyed Pea Salad and Zesty Broccoli Pasta Salad were demonstrated and samples served to the attendees.  Signed copies of Ms. Braxton's cookbook, Supper with Love: Vibrant, Delicious, and Comforting Plant-Forward and Pescatarian Recipes for Every Day, were on sale by A Capella Books.  All attendees received entry tickets for a drawing to win beautiful ceramic bowls from East Fork Atlanta.  

The event was opened by Kate Conner of the Friends of Smyrna Library Board of Directors and Smyrna Public Library Director, Mary Wallace Moore.   

Today’s event was sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library through a grant received from Friends of Georgia Libraries.

FOSL Book Donation Processing Explained

We accept book, magazine, music CD, movie DVD, and puzzle donations at the Smyrna Public Library Circulation Desk during business hours.  Here is some information on how we process book donations and realize the maximum value of your gift:

Step 1: Donated books are first reviewed to see if they can be added to the library’s collection as a new title.  Other popular books are saved for future use as replacements for worn, lost or damaged books.  The donated books in this photo would have cost almost $20,000 to purchase.

Step 2:   If a book cannot be added to the collection, it is then reviewed to determine if it can be used as a reading prize.  Hundreds of books are awarded to kids & teens each year.  The Friends of Smyrna Library also provides funds to purchase additional reading prize books when needed.  Some books are used to stock the “Little Library” book boxes in City of Smyrna Parks.   

Step 3: All other books are sorted for sale with the proceeds benefitting the library.  Some books will be priced for our FOSL Bookstore which holds up to 500 books.  It’s on the way to the meeting room on the left. It’s open every day the library is open and cash, PayPal & Venmo are accepted for payment.  Most items are only 75 cents or $1.  Magazines are only 10 cents each.  

We price, box, and store the rest of the high-quality books (up to 90 boxes) for the meeting room book sales like the big sale last weekend.  Books that don’t sell at the big book sales get a second (and third) chance in the FOSL bookstore.

Step 4:  Books that do not sell in the book sales or bookstore will eventually be put in occasional Atrium Pop-Up Sale for 25 cents to $1.  Most (75% to 95%) of the books in Pop-Up Sales usually sell.

Step 5: If a book does not sell after multiple attempts, it goes in the green bin in the parking lot.  The company that manages the book bin pays us when the bin is full.  

Please do not put your donations in the green bin.  Take them to the Circulation Desk in the library during business hours.  We do not have access to the green bin and cannot realize the value of your donation if placed in it.

Step 6:  Any received books that are damaged or soiled are sent to paper recycling, not the solid waste landfill.

Thanks for your donations!

Record Setting Summer Book Sale

This weekend’s Summer Book Sale is one for the record books. We raised more money this weekend than we have at any other book sale since our first book sale in 1990. WOW!!!

Thank you to all of the friendly & kind shoppers who opened their wallets and patiently navigated the crowd when we were super busy.

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to the 65 volunteers who staffed the 100 available volunteer slots over 9 days (many working multiple shifts).

This incredible turnout allowed us to sort and price over 4,000 books & movies for a nice shopping experience.

Thank You, Volunteers, for Book Sale Preparations

Thanks to FIFTY SEVEN wonderful volunteers we are all set for the book sale.  The sale is on Saturday, August 10 (10 am to 4:30 pm) and Sunday, August 11 (1 pm to 4 pm) in the Smyrna Public Library downstairs meeting room.  100 Village Green Cir SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

The sale area is organized as follows: (Click through photos for details.)

Window Wall Tables & Book Shelves and Left Row of Tables: Biography, Business, Christmas, Cookbooks, Crafts, Education, Gardening, Health & Diet, History, Home Improvement, Reference, Religion, Self Help, Sports, Odd & Ends/Other

Center Row of Tables: Fiction Best Seller Hardback, Fiction Best Seller Hardback, Movie DVDs

Right Row of Tables - Children’s Books: Board Books, Picture Books,        Early Readers, Chapter Books, Magazines, Nonfiction, Middle Grade Books, Teen/Young Adult Paperback, Teen/Young Adult Hardback

The 3,500 Books & Movies in the Meeting Room are priced from $1 to $3.  Puzzles are $3 & $5.  Kiddie Pools $5 Local Scene Note Cards are $6.  FOSL Book Bags are $12,  We also received a donation of new ladies pocketbooks and wallets that are individually priced. Book marks $1.

Our FOSL Bookstore outside the meeting room has been stocked with over 500 Fifty Cent Bargains for this sale.    

Cash, Check, PayPal & Venmo accepted for payment.  We do not accept credit cards. However, you can set up a credit card to use with PayPal & Venmo. 

FOSL Announces Lead Teen Volunteers

Join us as we celebrate 2 of our most active teen volunteers, Brandon (l) and Jaylin (r).  Since we restarted post-pandemic teen volunteer activities in 2022, they have put in several hundred hours of volunteer service!  WOW!

They started their High School Senior Year today.  In recognition of their great volunteer service, they earned a promotion to Lead Teen Volunteer today.  They were also awarded a senior project that will run though the school year and, we hope, help them with their college applications.

Brandon and Jaylin, CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU!