Connect Your Community
In our annual survey of hotspot users, 100% of respondents said the Take the Internet Home with You initiative makes a difference in their lives. September’s Connect Your Community campaign raised more than $25,000 to support DeKalb County Public Library’s (DCPL) mobile WiFi devices. Many hotspot borrowers reported having limited or no internet at home and shared their great appreciation for DCPL offering this service. “The internet is quite expensive,” said patron Tonya B. “Especially for people who are on a low or limited income. The hotspot is a win-win for patrons.”
“I don’t have internet at home. The hotspot helps me out at work and in all aspects of my life. It helps me save money.” –Kathy H.
Now in its seventh year, the program provides 300 hotspot devices for checkout, benefitting more than 2,000 patrons annually. Patron Chris W. shared, “Some things just feel like they should be natural to have. The internet is one of those things.”
Summer Reading Makes a Difference
We asked families if DCPL’s Summer Reading Program increased reading at home, and more than 96% of responding participants said it did. One respondent We love the Summer Reading Program! It has helped foster a love of reading for my son who now reads on his own in addition to enjoying our bedtime reading together. I don’t think he would have the same excitement and understanding of how precious the public library is without the Summer Reading Program.”
“We love the summer reading program! It was motivation for my kids to continue reading, and they enjoyed books they wouldn’t have otherwise read.”
Additionally, more than 85% of respondents said the Summer Reading Program helped prepare their child for school. One mom reported, “The Summer Reading Program helped tremendously. My kiddo is currently a third grader. He went from reading at a third grade level at the end of second grade to reading at a fourth grade level at the beginning of third grade!”
Books+Bites Engages
“Books+Bites provides an opportunity to learn about local authors and their books in the unbelievably beautiful Callanwolde mansion.”
—Anne P.
Thanks to a partnership with the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, the DeKalb Library Foundation hosted three Books+Bites author events this year. In June, Lynn Cullen, author of The Woman with the Cure, shared the often overlooked story of Dorothy Horstmann and her role in the race for the polio cure. In August, Sara A. H. Butler recounted an intriguing scandal involving Asa Candler as she talked about her book Fortune and Folly: The Weird and Wonderful Life of the South’s Most Eccentric Millionaire. In October, Kate Kennedy, author of Once Upon a School: A Story of Dreaming Big, Falling Hard, and Bouncing Back, reflected on her time starting a school for the unhoused and the ups and downs associated with that endeavor. More than 50 people attended each event which also featured small bites and drinks. Supporter Beth G. attended all three events and expressed her appreciation for the Foundation hosting such programs. “I enjoy hearing directly from authors about their latest work,” she said. “And these events are always fun with a lively audience who ask insightful questions.”
“Books+Bites at Callanwolde connected me with a large, engaged crowd of serious readers in a gorgeous, iconic Atlanta venue, resulting in an evening I’ll never forget. I’m grateful to the DeKalb Library Foundation and the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for making this career highlight possible.” —Lynn Cullen
Lynn Cullen
Sara A. H. Butler
Kate Kennedy
Engages the Community
Note
from Andrew Keenan,
Executive Director,
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center’s partnership with the DeKalb Library Foundation on the Books+Bites events has been a tremendous success. We have seen many new faces at these events, and some attendees have already become supporters of our organization. As a DeKalb County-owned property and part of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, our vision is for Callanwolde to be a resource that serves as many DeKalb County organizations, community groups, and residents as possible.
In addition to having art classes open to the public—such as pottery, blacksmithing, dance, jewelry-making, and much more—in 2021, Callanwolde expanded our mission to increase arts programming for underserved communities. This includes offering free art classes and workshops to veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, students receiving Title I & III support, adults with behavioral and cognitive disabilities, and providing financial aid for students facing barriers to art participation.
By partnering with the DeKalb Library Foundation for the Books+Bites events and their hosting of a “mini” library and Storytime during our Winter House holiday event, we’ve made our programming even more accessible to the DeKalb County community. We look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.
President’s Message from Tim Martin
In this issue, we proudly provide snapshots of the impact your generous donations make in the lives of our patrons every day. From accessing Wi-Fi at home to improving reading habits and skills, your generous support makes a big difference to so many in our community. I hope you enjoy learning how the Library uses your gifts to provide a “place to grow” for the citizens of DeKalb.
We hope you also enjoy our recap of this year’s Books+Bites events. We plan to have more authors in the new year. Keep a look out for our end-of-year fundraising information which will arrive in your mailboxes and inboxes around the holidays. Your generous support will help the library deliver impactful programs and services in 2025.
2024 Board of Directors
Tim Martin President
Shara Sanders Immediate Past-President
Molly Marrah
Christina McPhillips
Maria Mirabelli
Michele NeSmith
Elisabeth Nark Vice-President
Chad Swanson Treasurer
Charlotte Redo
Pam Ryan
Kiesha Storey
Ex-Officio Members
Carol Morgan Co-Chair of Board of Trustees
DeKalb County Public Library
Deborah Jackson Co-Chair of Board of Trustees
DeKalb County Public Library
Alison Weissinger Library Director
DeKalb County Public Library
Jill Joplin Executive Director
DeKalb Library Foundation
