Celebrate Black History Month with Matia
Have you seen any of Matia's storytimes? Like a lot of good ideas, it came about almost by accident. When the library staff recorded Happy in Our Skin, Matia did such a wonderful job that she was a natural choice to spotlight many of the diverse books in the library collection. When asked what storytime has meant to her, Matia states, "It has meant a lot to me to be able to read the many diverse stories that I do! Each book I have read as a part of our diverse storytime, I have related to in one way or another. From having famil...
![Cover of Concrete Rose](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2021-01/Concrete%20Rose.jpg?itok=qdTgLDC1)
Celebrate Black History Month with Concrete Rose
Concrete Rose, the prequel to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, is ready for you to check out! Concrete Rose takes place seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give and tells the story of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter. He knows that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad's in prison.
Life's not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav's got ...
![Robin and Fred](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2021-01/Fred.jpeg?itok=3PSGXATO)
We Miss You!
When I first began as the Youth Services Librarian in 2007, I was really nervous about storytime. I'd spent the majority of my 22-year teaching career at Alma Primary School, first teaching Kindergarten then teaching library for many years. But, as you know, there is a WORLD of developmental difference in toddlers and preschoolers and a kindergartner! And there were parents! How was I going to sing in front of parents? After a few months, however, I became more comfortable and grew to truly love my storytime families. ...
![AR Teen Book Award](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-12/AR%20Teen%20Book%20Award.jpeg?itok=m2T9b9Ml)
Arkansas Teen Book Award - It's Your Vote that Counts
Last year, teens across Arkansas voted I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall as the winner of the Level 1 (Grades 7-9) Arkansas Teen Book Award. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was the runner-up. The Level 2 winner (Grades 10-12) was Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, and the runner-up was On the Come Up by Angie Thomas. Voting opened for the 2020-2021 nominees on September 25, 2020 and will run through August 31, 2021. Any Arkansas teen can vote for Level 1, Level 2, or both!
For more information or to nominate a book for a future list, click here. &...
![Teddy bear on books](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-12/Teddy%20Bear%20on%20Books.png?itok=ImFnl4g6)
Books Really Are the Perfect Gift
In this unusual world we're living in right now, there's always something we can count on: books! From Christmas to Hanukkah, animals to space, poetry to sports, there are so many wonderful books to experience. A fun way to share the joy of books is to sponsor one in your loved ones' name through our annual Perfect Gift fundraiser. Our library kiddos love to see the label in the front of the book with their name on it! Since my grandchildren don't live here, I like to sponsor a book in their name then buy them a copy of the book to keep. I tell them that "...
![Tree with cornucopia full of books](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-11/Tree%2C%20Cornucopia%2C%20Books.png?itok=1FExd4Kh)
November is Picture Book Month!
Let’s celebrate Picture Book Month by reading at least one picture book a day. Here are some your librarians’ and library staff member's favorite picture books to get you started.
If YOU have a favorite picture book, let us know. We would like to read your favorites too!
The Color Kittens and Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by David Catrow
The Five-Dog Night by...
![Teens' Top Ten YALSA logo](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-11/TeensTopTen_logo_WM_0.jpg?itok=D2SmvknM)
2020 Teens' Top Ten Announced!
The Teens' Top Ten Award, sponsored by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country help nominate the titles to be voted on. The nominations are posted on the Thursday of National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen vote online between August 15 - October 15 on the Teens' Top Ten si...
![Hispanic Heritage Dancer](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-09/Heritage.dancer_0.png?itok=JEB9gIyx)
Great Books for Hispanic Heritage Month
¡Celebrar!
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of Latino Americans to the United States. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.*
Have you read these? The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Mexi...![Arkansas Diamond Medallion](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-09/diamond-medallion_0.png?itok=Qptcyxrc)
The Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award
There are many wonderful awards that books can earn, but one that is particulary special is the one that is voted on by the children of each state. For younger children, Oklahoma has the Sequoyah Book Award, Wyoming has the Buckaroo Book Award, Arizona has the Grand Canyon Reader Award and Arkansas has the Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award. (You can find a complete list of the state awards here.)
Who Votes?
Arkansas students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade have been casting their vote for the Charlie May...
![photo challenge](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-08/photo%20challenge.jpg?itok=SX1fFOxH)
QuaranTEEN Photo Challenge
Hey everyone! We hope you’re all hanging in there during these strange times. We know a lot of you are participating in virtual schooling this year. When we spend a lot of time at home, random stuff tends to pile up- usually without us even realizing it. With how the past several months have been, there are probably all kinds of things lying around in your homes. So, we have created the QuaranTEEN Photo Challenge!
The rules are simple: Include as many of the items from this list as you can in one single photo. Then, be sure to post your photo in the comments when we post "The...
![fork in the road](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-07/fork.jpg?itok=VJ4X5NkC)
Teens! Pick Your Path Adventure
You awaken in a dark cabin in the woods. It is the middle of the night and you have no memory of why you are there. What do you do?
Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? They were popular back when I was a kid, and they still check out from the library today. During these times, it’s easy to feel like we don’t have much control over our lives and the world around us. Well, this won’t change the global situation, but it’ll help you take back some power! For this virtual event, YOU get to pick your own path to adventure. That’s right -- you call the shots. Every sto...
![Keyhole door](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-06/keyhole%20door.jpg?itok=rvfcAS0G)
YA Virtual Escape Room
President Snow (Hunger Games), Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter), and Jeanine Matthews (Divergent) have banded together to form one master plan to take over and make captives of their subjects, controlling their minds and stealing their wills. Never backing down from a fight, you vow to stop them and restore freedom. However, Simon (One of Us is Lying), secretly working for Snow, sneaks out one night to gather intel on your plan and rats you out. Snow sends out his Great Kami Dragon to capture you, locking you deep inside a maze of five doors. There is no escape. Or is there?
E...![Library Services Currently Available](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-10/Library%20services%20currently%20available.jpg?itok=aRCXTNj9)
Library Services Update
Library Visits
The Main Library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Miller Branch Library and the Windsor Drive Branch Library are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. No appointment is required.
Social distancing is observed. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Dewey’s Café is currently open for drinks only. Meeting rooms are not available.
Please do not enter the library if you have a cough or fever or have tested positive for COVID-19 within the l...
![Summer Events banner](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-06/unnamed.png?itok=rP26ARaS)
Virtual Summer Events for Kids & Teens
We have some great virtual programs for kids and teens this summer. Here are a few of our featured online events ... for more virtual programming of all kinds, please checkout our events calendar, Facebook page, and YouTube Channel.
Animalogy: A Day in the Life of Animalogy Animals!
Wednesday, June 3, 2 PM, Facebook LIVE - Available for viewing on the library's Facebook page through August 31
Imagine your story through the eyes of live animals! Join our friends from Animaloyg/NHECM for a Facebook Live event. You will spend a "day in...
![Imagine Your Story](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured/public/2020-05/teen%20imagine%20your%20story.jpg?itok=LXbC0BZR)
Imagine Your Story -- Summer Reading for Teens!
Hey guys! Miss Leah here. Hopefully, all of you are doing well and hanging in there these days. I really miss hosting Teen Lounge every month and getting to see all of you. I look forward to the day that life can return back to normal! I bet you do, too. Until then, there are still plenty of ways for you to get involved with us at the Fort Smith Public Library. In fact, it’s time for our Summer Reading Program!
The theme this year is Imagine Your Story. In light of current events, the summer reading program and all other programming will be online this summer. Piece of cake for yo...