Blog Entries

National Family Literacy Month is celebrated every November and is a way to encourage families to read and learn together.  Use this month to create a bond with your family while improving family members' literacy.  Need some ideas to get started?  Try one (or all) of these!

Cozy up and read a book.  Grab your family, some hot chocolate, and take turns reading.  If you have older children, pick out a chapter book that you can enjoy all month long. Enjoy listening to audiobooks on Library2Go and Hoopla.  Do you have any trips planned?  Chec...

Meet Ellie!  

Ellie is a Page in the Youth Services Department. A Page takes care of putting books back on the shelf and helping others with whatever they need whether that's finding books or answering questions. Ellie is one of best! 

Ellie is a senior at Southside High School, editor of the yearbook, and is a Slytherin (but has some Ravenclaw tendencies). In her spare time, Ellie likes to read, do puzzles, and drive around listening to Taylor Swift with her friends. She also plans to double major in English and History when she goes to...

It's that eery time of the year again!  Come visit the Fort Smith Public Library to pick out some spooky books and videos to put you in the Halloween spirit.  Don't forget to trick-or-treat us!

Trick or Treating at Your Library on October 31st:

Branches: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Main Library: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Below are our spooky book suggestions.  To check availability in our catalog, simply click on the book cover.

Children's:

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The Fort Smith Public Library now offers home access to ABCmouse.com.

ABCmouse.com offers the most comprehensive online curriculum for children ages 2-8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music. 

The ABCmouse curriculum is designed to help young children (ages 2-8+) build a strong foundation for future academic success. ABCmouse is 100% educational, with more than 10,000 learning activities across all major subject areas: reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music—including more than 1,200 of those le...

Sometimes children face huge challenges in life. 

They may not understand why they can't hug their friends the way they used to. They may be placed in a foster home.  They may have an incarcerated parent.  They may experience homelessness.  They may be in a household with abusive behavior.  Although books cannot solve everything, perhaps they can help.  The following titles are highly recommended, and they are available for check-out at the library.  Click on the book to access the title in our online catalog.

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September is LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH! 

Residents of Fort Smith who are aged 5 and older can receive a FREE library card!  Children who are getting their first library card will also receive a free book that they can keep – no returns necessary!  For information on how sign up for a Fort Smith Public Library card, click here.

To celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month, the Miller Branch has reading buddies for children to “adopt” from the library.  The only criteria required is that the child agrees to read to their reading buddy for 20 minutes every day.&nbs...

BORROW, PLANT, HARVEST, & RETURN

The Miller Branch has started a seed catalog.  Every other month, we are offering a different packet of seeds that you can take home and plant.  Earlier this year sunflower and pumpkin seeds were passed out.  Now, during the month of August, we are handing out packets of broccoli seeds.

Don’t know how to grow broccoli?  No problem!  

If you are planning on starting your seeds outdoors, you’ll need to sow the seeds ½ inch deep and 3 inches apart, in a spot with full sun.  Once the seedlings are 2 o...

Happy Independence Day! 

These books will help get you into the Fourth of July spirit!  To check availability of each title, simply click on the book cover or go to our online catalog.  Also, be sure and watch the next episode of What to Read Next on July 3rd, available on our YouTube channel and Facebook page, when we will highlight several of these titles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books for Adults: ...

Do you enjoy a little popcorn with your library?  Check out our new Binge Boxes!  Binge Boxes are 5 – 6 movies grouped by theme into one DVD set.  Binge Boxes are available for both adults and kids. A complete list of “Binge Boxes” available in the library collection is listed below. Please visit our catalog  to place a hold today.

Enjoy a FREE bag of (microwave) popcorn and a popcorn box when you check out your Binge Box, while supplies last!

1) Never Travel with Tom Hanks:

Cast Away, Captain Phillips, Apollo 13, Sully

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Hey Teens! 

Are you ready for summer?  This school year has been a challenge in many ways, but it's almost over.  Don't put down all your books, though. If you like to read (books, e-books, and/or audio books) AND like to win stuff, the Teen Summer Reading Program is for you! Tails & Tales begins June 1st, so make plans to participate.

SRP is Online

Like last year, the teen summer reading program is online! One book equals 100 points.  For every 100 points you earn, you'll be entered into a weekly drawing for a $10 gift card AND earn an entry int...

Are you ready to read and earn prizes?  

Are you ready for the Tails & Tales summer reading program?  It's time to sign up for the library's online reading program!  It's easy and fun!  Kids 12 and under can earn points for time spent reading.  Register, track your reading progress, and earn badges online at  https://fortsmithlibrary.readsquared.com/.  You will also be able to download the READsquared app (available for iOS and Android devices). For more information, watch this Tails & Tales video!

Log the ti...

In the United States, we celebrate Asians and Pacific Islanders during the month of May.  In 1977, two resolutions introducing Asian/Pacific American Heritage Weeks failed to pass Congress.  In June 1978, Representative Frank Horton tried again – this time with a resolution suggesting that the president should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” That resolution passed and President Jimmy Carter signed it into law on October 5, 1978.  Annually, presidents ...

April 4-10, 2021 is National Library Week!

National Library Week is a time to remember how libraries and librarians contribute and promote library use in our communities and is celebrated in libraries across the nation every April.  The week was first sponsored in 1958 by the National Book Committee (a partnership between the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers), with the theme “Wake Up and Read!”  The National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, leaving the American Library Association to assume the full sponsorship.

This year’s theme is “Welc...

It's Women's History Month and what better way to celebrate than with some great books about great women?  I love reading picture book biographies and have learned so much from them. You can too!  

Can You Answer These Questions?

Who was Mary Fields and how did she help settle the American west?

Who thought having a children's room in the library was important?

Who designed the Vietnam War Memorial?

Who are two of the greatest female tennis players of all time?

Who designed the Disney ride "It's a Small World"? Read Full Blog

Women’s History Month celebrates the vast contributions that women have made throughout history.  Beginning as a local festivity in California in 1978, President Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation in 1980 and made it a national celebration.  The week of March 8 was chosen to coincide with International Women’s Day.  In 1987, Congress decided to extend the celebration to a month, creating Women’s History Month. 

The theme for Women's History Month 2022 is Providing Healing, Providing Hope and is a tribute to all of the women who have provided heal...