Blog Entries

Baby storytime is BACK at the Miller Branch!  Bring your wiggle worms ages 0-24 months to a fun and interactive storytime every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. 

 

Why baby storytime? Reading stories to children helps to grow and nurture imagination.  As you read to them, children can envision the stories in their minds however they choose to!  This builds creativity and their capacity to imagine. Storytimes help to enhance listening, focus, and social skills.  Even if your child doesn’t sit still for the duration of the program, you are h...

Join us for Friday storytimes at 10:00 a.m. at the Miller Branch!  Mrs. Melanie has been teaching children since 1985 and has been leading the Friday storytime at the Miller Branch since 2014.  Children that have attended her storytimes over the years have adored her sweet manner, fun stories, and creative crafts – she always has a fun and interactive storytime to share! 

 

We thought it would be fun for Mrs. Melanie to answer a few questions for us:

What is your favorite children’s book? 

Mrs. Melanie: “My...

What do you think of when you hear the word library? 

You may think of shelves filled with books, computers, or a quiet place to study. What else could the library offer? It may come as a surprise, but libraries are for so much more than just studying and reading! 

Besides books and DVDs, did you know that the Fort Smith Public Library provides access to some amazing digital resources? One of those can even help you pass your upcoming driving test. With the Arkansas Driving Tests database, you have free access to the state driving handbook, practice written tests, tip...

 

 

Are you getting ready to head back to school?  We have a lot of excellent books for you to read that will get you prepared!  If you'd like to check the availability of a book in our catalog, simply click on the book cover below.

 

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Hey Teens! 

Ready to read for fun and prizes?  Whether you like to read books, e-books, or audio books (or all three!) AND like to win stuff, the Teen Summer Reading Program is for you! There are oceans of possibilities for you at the Fort Smith Public Library beginning 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 gift card AND earn an entry into the end-of-summer grand prize drawing....

Are you ready to read for fun and prizes?  

Are you ready for the Oceans of Possibilities summer reading program?  Dive in and sign up for the library's online reading program!  It's easy and fun!  Starfish Listeners can earn points by listening to books, and Dolphin Readers can earn points for time spent reading.  Register, track your reading progress, play games, and earn badges online at https://fortsmithlibrary.readsquared.com/.  Download the READsquared app (available for iOS and Android devices).

For more information,...

Happy Star Wars Day! 

May the 4th – or Star War’s Day - is a special day for Star Wars fans.  The title is a play on the words, “And may the force be with you!” that originated from the first movie, Star Wars: A New Hope.

FUN FACT: Do you know when the first instance of May the 4th being used as a Star Wars pun was?  Margaret Thatcher was elected as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister on May 4, 1979 and her political party took out an advertisement with the London Evening News saying, “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie.”  Since then, the pun and celebration...

National Poetry Month began in April 1966 and was introduced by the Academy of American Poets.  It serves as a reminder of the vast role that poetry plays in our culture and that poetry is important.  The month has grown into the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of people participating!

You can celebrate National Poetry month with children by exploring rhymes, songs, and verse.  Check out some of these recommended books in verse and start engaging your children in poetry.  If you'd like to check the availability of a book in our ...

 

It's the end of 2021!  Take a look at the most circulated juvenile and adult books at the Miller Branch for the year.  To check availability of an item in the library's catalog, click on the book cover.

 

 

 

 

 

Juvenile: Adult: ...

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...

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...

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: ...