"Smyrna Reads" Returns

What if everyone in Smyrna read the same book? Please join us for Smyrna Public Library's annual "one book" project, "Smyrna Reads." 

This year, we are reading the award-winning novel "The One and Only Ivan" by K. A. Applegate.

Full details at smyrnareads.com.

Smyrna Reads is a "One Book" project sponsored by Smyrna Public Library and Advanced Disposal.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee Book Discussion

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's discussion of "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee. And thank you to Adult Services Librarian, Colleen Harris, for the detailed preparation.

The Library hopes to do another "in-depth" discussion like this in the future. Any title suggestions?

First Sunday Lecture Features Documentary Film “The Return of the Violin"

The "First Sunday" lecture at the Smyrna Public Library today featured a viewing of the powerful film "The Return of the Violin". The violin in question, a priceless Stradivarius, was owned by famed violinist Bronislaw Huberman. Before the rise of the Nazis, he was considered one of the most prodigious musicians of all time.

During the war Huberman was a tireless opponent of the Nazis and saved many Jews by bringing them to Palestine to create an orchestra that would become one of the world's foremost ensembles, the Israeli Philharmonic. The violin in question, missing for over 50 years, now belongs to noted Jewish-American violinist Joshua Bell. This is a compelling 1-hour documentary that you can watch on YouTube (click the link).

Kennesaw State University Holocaust Museum guide Zach Berman introduced the documentary. Thank you, Mr. Berman.

The "First Sunday" lecture series is held in the Smyrna Public Library Meeting Room and is sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Summer Reading Program: Congratulations, Grand Prize Winner!

Hey, meet our big winner! Congratulations to Kayleigh B. who won the grand prize in the "Escape the Ordinary" adult summer reading program. The Friends of Smyrna Library purchased GoPro HERO cameras for both the adult and Young Adult reading raffles. Do something epic, Kayleigh, and share the footage with us!

Summer Reading Program: Congratulations to Weekly Winners

Congratulations to weekly winners in the "Escape the Ordinary" Summer Reading program. They won books, flash drives, coffee mugs, and gift cards to local restaurants (courtesy of the Friends of Smyrna Library).

2015 Summer Reading Program Finale

The Friends of Smyrna Library sponsored the 2015 Summer Reading Program finale today to cap off our support of the entire program since late May. The summer theme for the kids’ program was “Every Hero Has a Story” and our reading heroes were out in force!

The Youth Services team put on a wide array of activities that kept the kids busy and entertained.  Activities included hero crafts, face painting, an obstacle course, sidewalk chalk artistry, lots of soap bubble fun and more.

The Friends of Smyrna Library sincerely appreciate all of the great work of the Children’s Service team this summer.         

FOSL passed out the ice cream and had a small book sale of New York Times Bestsellers.  All had a great time!  Click this link to enjoy the photos.

     

FOSL 25th Anniversary Project #2 Completes: 2,000 Photos Organized Into Online Albums

Over the past 25 years we have taken a lot of photos.  The library also had quite a few in old photo albums.  

To commemorate our Silver Anniversary we searched, scanned and organized 2,000 photos into over 150 online photo albums.

The oldest photo is from the 1930s. There is a large assortment of 1970s and 1980s Summer Reading Program photos too. There are around 1,800 photos of Friends of Smyrna Library events over the years. 

Albums are ordered chronologically. If you have scanned photos you can contribute please email jjatlanta@gmail.com.   

Click this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/113792345765857937547