Fulton County Library System’s Summer Reading Program – Virtual
The Fulton County Library System’s Summer Reading Program is going online in 2020! FCLS has a number of fun and engaging ways for readers of all ages to get involved with this year’s program which will run from June 1st through August 1st.
This year’s theme is, “Imagine Your Story” and FCLS wants to imagine that story with each and every reader in Fulton County. To register for summer reading, visit https://fultoncounty.beanstack.org and get started right away!
Each week, the library will host a full week of programming that will include everything from Virtual Storytimes for Children and Adults, to Digital Library tutorials and Author Talks.
During the week of June 1-5 the library system will host special guest readers during their Streaming Storytime Live on Facebook each day at 11 a.m. The following special guests will share their favorite books with Facebook viewers:
Stay tuned for more special guest readers and check the Library website at www.fulcolibrary.org for updates and programs every week! While the Library remains closed, the Digital Library is always open! Log in and download all your favorite titles with your library card and join us in “Imagining Your Story” this summer.
Fulton County Library System Prepares to Open for Curbside Pick-up
Beginning Monday, July 1, 2020, the Fulton County Library System will begin curbside pickup services and allow patrons with library books and materials at home to begin returning those materials to their local library branches.
County libraries will remain closed for typical in-branch library services, but items placed on hold by library patrons will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To pick-up library materials on hold, residents are asked to:
- Bring their library or photo ID to the branch where their items are being held
- Follow signs to designated parking spaces for curbside service (or to designated tables for walk-up services)
- Call the number on signs to alert a staff member that they have arrived and provide their name
- Show the staff member photo ID or library card through closed window
- Open/unlock trunk or back seat door to allow library staff to place items in their vehicle
- Walk-up patrons will use social distancing to provide ID and receive materials in front of branches
To return library materials, residents are asked to:
- Bring their books or other materials to any library branch open for curbside services
- Place items in designated bins in front of the library
- All items returned to the library will be placed in quarantine and will not be checked out to any library patron for a minimum of 24 hours
All items picked up will be checked out for a period of 14 days for new books/materials, 7 days for DVDs and 28 days for all other materials. A very limited selection of passes will be available for checkout during curbside service. Residents are asked not to donate books at this time.
“Our patrons have been so gracious during this challenging time, quickly adapting to the digital services only model of library services during COVID-19. Our staff has jumped in and created virtual programming, expanded our Ask a Librarian hours, implemented virtual book clubs, taught countless patrons how to use digital library services, but now, we are ready to get back to our branches and get books in hands,” said Library Director Gayle Holloman. “Patrons who wish to check out physical materials will be able to do so using the library’s new curbside model beginning July 1st.”
In addition to curbside services, the Library System’s Ask a Librarian live assistance site will remain available for extended hours, Monday –Thursday 10 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 6 p.m., Sunday 2 – 6 pm. Virtual Programming will continue on the Library’s social media channels by following @fulcolibrary. For more information about library services, visit www.fulcolibrary.org.
Residents who do not currently have a library card can apply for one online and have a temporary library card issued on the library website at www.fulcolibrary.org under the header “services.” The card will allow access to one of our most popular digital resources, OverDrive, as well as the Libby app for downloading of ebooks and audiobooks.
All recently “expired” or “expiring soon” library cards have automatically been extended to allow full access to library resources for patrons.
Library staff is online and ready to answer questions, troubleshoot issues with library cards, answer questions about digital services Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through the Ask A Librarian service at: https://afpls.libanswers.com/.
Storytime – LIVE! – Join Fulton County Library staff for a special storytime, Monday- Friday at 11 a.m. on Facebook and listen to special stories with your little ones, while they are home from school, daycare or just in need of some mid-morning fun! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fulcolibrary.
Please monitor our Facebook page for daily posts about library digital resources and how to use them. The library is featuring new resources every day along with instructions on how to use the digital library. Follow @fulcolibrary on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all online library activities.
The Library has officially kicked off the Big Library Read (one week early) for readers ages 16 and up. Library patrons are encouraged to download Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic via OverDrive (or the Libby app) and read/listen to this title. Readers can then login to Beanstack at https://fultoncounty.beanstack.org/ to complete some activities, including writing a review of the book. The Big Library Read is known as the first global ebook club and is a great way for adults to engage with readers from around the world. More information about the Big Library Read is available here: https://biglibraryread.com/.
As always, the Library is ready to help residents through this challenging time in any way possible. If you have any questions not answered here, please reach out to our Ask A Librarian staff with your specific question at https://afpls.libanswers.com/.
Forsyth County Public Libraries
LIBRARY’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM BEGINS ONLINE MAY 22
Advance registration for Forsyth County Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Fun program is now open and participants of all ages can register online. Participants may begin tracking reading and activities to earn badges and points. Watch a Video here!
Based on current recommendations for social distancing in the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, Summer Reading Fun will take place online only.
The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Fun program is “Imagine Your Story.”
All summer programs for kids and adults will be presented online and advance registration will be required for select events. Participation in all online events will be free.
Registration Now Open
Library patrons can register to participate in Summer Reading Fun through July 31.
Patrons with questions about creating an account or registering for Summer Reading Fun 2020, please call 770-781-9840, Ask a Librarian, or try the Live Chat service on the library’s website.
Earn Points May 22 – July 31
Summer Reading Fun participants can use the Beanstack app for Apple or Android devices, or log into Beanstack on a desktop or laptop computer, to track books read, activities completed, and badges earned from May 22 to July 31.
Kids Earn 500 Points to Claim Prizes
Summer Reading Fun participants in the Preschool, Elementary, and Teen programs who earn 500 or more points will earn prizes such as a window decal and treats from local sponsors.
When kids reach 500 points, Beanstack will send an email with instructions to call the library to pick up their prize via an appointment with the library’s Contact-Free Curbside Pickup service. Families with more than one registered participant in the Preschool, Elementary, and Teen programs should, if possible, schedule one appointment when all participants in the household have earned 500 points.
Prize choices for preschoolers include a shaky egg or storytime scarf. Prize choices for elementary, middle, and high school students include a Zaxby’s Kidz Meal, a small Wendy’s Frosty, a Fun for Free pass from Stars and Strikes, a McDonald’s ice cream cone, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers treat (available only at Hampton Park Library), or a Chick-fil-A treat (available only at Hampton Park Library.
- All participants who reach 500 points, including adults, will also receive a Super Reader window decal.
- Prizes will be available through July 31 or while supplies last.
- Earn Entries for Grand Prize Drawings
- All participants will earn one entry into grand prize drawings for every 500 points earned.
Preschool-aged participants could win an Imagine Your Story Grand Prize Book Basket, a Family Games Grand Prize Basket, or Family Passes to INK. Elementary-aged participants could win a Unicorns Grand Prize Gift Basket, a Dragons Grand Prize Gift Basket, a Harry Potter Grand Prize Gift Basket, Gwinnett Stripers baseball tickets, or an Amazon Kindle Fire 7 Kids Edition. Teens could win a Book Lovers Grand Prize Basket, a Harry Potter Grand Prize Basket, or a Starbucks Grand Prize Basket. Adult participants could win an Amazon Kindle Fire 10 or gift certificates to Tam’s Backstage, Costco, or YMCA.
For more information about Summer Reading Fun 2020, getting a library card, using online Library services, or to learn about Contact-Free Curbside Pickup, please visit www.forsythpl.org.
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