July Art And Author Programs!

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is pleased to present a selection of Art and Author programs during the month of July, so come beat the heat with us and participate in any number of our free programs. You are certain to find something for all ages and interests in any of our 34 libraries, so don't miss out! And it's not too late to sign up for the 2015 Summer Reading Program, happening in all of our libraries through August 1st! Contact your local library to see what other events, programs, films, author talks and crafts will be happening all summer long. Come join in the fun!

Art by Way of Series: A Retrospective of the Artwork of Frank Holland

Through Friday, July 31. Library hours.

Opening Reception, Thursday, July 9, 5:00-7:30 p.m.

The exhibit explores artist Frank Holland’s fondness and passion for creating works of art by way of group/series. Featured are mixed media samples from 10 or more series the artist has created over the last twenty years.

Central Library, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta 30303

For information call 404.730.1745

Author: Shonte Press

Thursday, July 2. 10:00 a.m.

Author Shonte Press will share her recipe for making a nice summer entree.

Dogwood Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Atlanta 30318

For information call 404.792.4961 

The Artist’s Way: A Path to Higher Creativity, Step Into Greatness Series

Saturdays, July 11, August 8. 1:30 p.m.

You are an Artist. We all are. We all have Creative Energy! Whether you are ready to write that book, produce your music, paint, design, live more creatively or simply create the life of your dreams this class is for you. Facilitated by Denise Dyer, life coach and host, Hold the Vision Radio. Teens and adults.

Southwest Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

3665 Cascade Road, Atlanta 30331

For information call 404.699.6363

Children’s Author: Nikki Porter

Monday, July 13. 10:30 a.m.

Nikki Porter will read her book, Grandpa Visits London. Ages 4-6. Reservations required.

College Park Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
3647 Main Street, College Park 30337
For information call 404.762.4060

Altered Book Art Workshop for Adults

Wednesday, July 15. 2:00 p.m.

Give discarded library books a new purpose in life! Learn a variety of methods to turn old books into art. Come in and sample the vast possibilities. You’ll leave with a book to alter, ideas, and a new art project. Reservations required. Adults.

Buckhead Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

269 Buckhead Avenue NE, Atlanta 30305

For information call 404.814.3500

Family Night Craft With Children’s Book Author Mona Scott

Monday, July 20. 6:00 p.m.

DIY family night crafts with Sunrae and friends. Fun simple craft project for the whole family. Mona L. Scott children’s book author and crafter will be instructing the workshop. All ages.

West End Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

525 Peeples Street SW, Atlanta 30310

For information call 404.752.8740

Franklin Pond Chamber Music

Thursday, July 23. 11:00 a.m.

Please come and hear classical music played at its finest with Franklin Pond Chamber Music, a unique year-round chamber music program for talented string students. All ages.

Sandy Springs Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System

395 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs 30328

For information call 404.303.6130

Film Screening and Discussion, African Cinema as Art Film Series Featuring the Work of Ousmane Sembene: Mandabi

Saturday, July 25. 3:00 p.m.

As part of the African Cinema as Art Film Series, the Hammonds House Museum, in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library, will host a screening of the feature film, Mandabi (The Money Order) is a 1968 film directed by Ousmane Sembène. Based on his novel of the same name this is Sembène’s first film in his native language, Wolof, and explores themes of neocolonialism, corruption and Senegalese society.

Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples St, Atlanta 30310

Three New Libraries Opening This Summer!

The Atlanta-FultonPublic Library System is preparing to open the next three new libraries as part of Phase I of the Library Building Program this summer.

The new 25,000-square-foot Northwest Library at Scotts Crossing will open on Thursday, July 9 at 11:00 a.m. The library is located at 2489 Perry Boulevard, Atlanta 30318. The Perry Homes and Bowen/Bankhead Libraries permanently closed on May 15, 2015 to prepare for the grand opening of this new library.

The new 25,000-square-foot Milton Library will open on Thursday, July 16 at 11:00 a.m. Located at 855Mayfield Road, Milton 30009, this branch is providing service to an area of the county that was previously unserved by a library.

The new 25,000-square-foot Alpharetta Library

will open on Thursday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. The library is located at 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta 30009, and is part of the new Alpharetta City Center. The existing Alpharetta Library, located at 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta, re-opened on June 3 after closing on May 21 to prepare the collection for the grand opening of the new Alpharetta Library. This library will permanently close approximately two weeks prior to the opening of the new Alpharetta Library. The closing date will be finalized in the coming weeks.

These openings are part of Phase I of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Library BuildingProgram, including construction of 8 new branch libraries and 2 expansion projects. In addition to the Alpharetta, Milton and Northwest libraries opening in July, three libraries have already opened: East Roswell (February 2015), Palmetto (December 2014), and Wolf Creek (September 2014). Two additional new libraries, the Southeast Atlanta and Metropolitan branches, will open later this year. Both the Auburn Avenue Research Library and the South Fulton Library are currently closed and under construction as the two expansion projects.

Green building design and sustainability are priorities for all Phase I library projects, and the Library System expects to achieve LEED Silver on each project. Each library will reflect the culture and interests of its community.

This is a very exciting time for our library system! Thank you to all of our patrons for your continued support of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. We hope you all have a chance to visit your beautiful new libraries very soon!

Library Volunteers Transition To New Roles!

Library volunteers assist throughout the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System with clerical duties, returning items to the shelves and tutoring. Over 500 volunteers a month help strengthen our resources available to patrons, but recently volunteers have impacted our system in other ways. Former Ocee Library teen volunteer, Josh Seides, founded the national nonprofit Technocademy when he was in the 9th grade! Recently he partnered with assistant branch manager Karen Kennedy at the Ocee Library to host the first session of their new segment called CodeKids to teach digital literacy. 

Technocademy has already reached over 150,000 seniors and is excited about expanding their work to help children. Two other former Ocee teen volunteers joined for the first of six computer programming classes for elementary and middle school kids. Seides served as a library volunteer from 2010-2013, Alice Tang served in 2011-2012 and Manu Poruthoor served in 2010-2011, but they are serving the library again to help teach 30 kids ranging from 3rd grade to 9th grade computer coding. Technocademy’s  highly skilled team will be providing hands-on Microsoft Office training for teens and adults this summer in the evening. Ocee staff are delighted to expand the Microsoft Office training sessions to reach additional teen and adult students seeking to enhance their digital literacy skills.

Other volunteers have transitioned to new roles as new part-time staff members. Sohna Harzeez started volunteering in 2014 at the East Atlanta Branch and is now working at the Central Library. Harzeez said, “I am able to see more of the inner workings of the library and am already making things easier for the Librarians.” Stephanie Bottom served as a volunteer at the Central Library and Hapeville Branch, but is now employed again as a part-time Library Associate with the Adamsville/Collier Heights Branch. Ellen Baxter is a library student who started volunteering at the Roswell Branch and transitioned into an internship with Collections Management at the Central Library before starting part-time back at the Roswell Branch. Baxter said, 

I am thrilled to be back in the library as an employee.  Volunteering, which I mainly did before being hired in 2011 and then after being laid off in 2014, has kept me connected to the library and to my love of literacy.  I love having a job where someone's day can be changed in an instant by obtaining a library card.  Working again within the library system also enhances my graduate studies in Library and Information Science and gives me more experience to bring to my studies and vice versa.

Are you interested in joining our wonderful group of volunteers? Visit the website to fill out an application and get started!