You know you could get 100 pounds of books from the library — if you’re really strong! — but what about getting 100 pounds of produce? For staff and visitors at North Cobb Regional Library, summertime means working in North Cobb Community Garden. The library’s garden produced more than 100 pounds of tomatoes, jalapeños, peppers and onions during its first growing season last summer, with help from community members who participated in the Family Garden Club on Monday nights.
For Mary Byram, the garden club was the highlight of her family’s summer. “One of the best aspects of the program is that it involves the whole family,” she said. “Side by side, we weeded, planted and eventually harvested a variety of vegetables, learning each step of the gardening process together.” At the end of the season, families even made salsa from the vegetables they grew — a fresh and tasty reward for their labor.
“We always strive to create unique experiences like this at the library by connecting learning to fun activities,” said Vidhya Jagannathan, makerspace coordinator and head gardener at North Cobb. “Libraries are a lot more than just books these days. We used to be like the grocery store — people came to libraries to get ‘ingredients’ for whatever they wanted to learn on their own. Now we’re also the kitchen where you can experiment with the ingredients and learn with others.”
The garden club will return this summer, and Cobb County public libraries have cooked up a robust menu of other unique events for all ages. Check us out!
– Kate Jacobson is the assistant branch manager at North Cobb Regional Library. She firmly believes audiobooks count toward your reading goal!
Kemp Memorial Library
4029 Due West Road, Marietta, 770-528-2527
• Summer Reading Science Lab, June 7, 21, July 5 and 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Explore science concepts with hands-on activities. Ages 6-12.
• Craft Club, third Thursday of the month, 1-2 p.m. Experiment with different types of art. Upcoming themes include Soft Pastels and Color Comfort. Ages 18 and older.
North Cobb Regional Library
3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw, 770-801-5320
• Family Garden Club, Mondays in June and July, 5-6 p.m. Help us grow our garden and learn about environmental science along the way. Ages 5 and older.
Stratton Library
1100 Powder Springs Road, Marietta, 770-528-2522
• Soldier Stories, June 6, 11 a.m.-noon. Honor Memorial Day and D-Day by learning more about veteran Tony Dooley, who served in the U.S. Army. Ages 10 and older.
• Warhammer Alliance, June 9, 16, 23 and July 7, 14, 21, 10 a.m.-noon. Build, paint and play this tabletop strategy game. Ages 11 and older.
West Cobb Regional Library
1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw, 770-528-4699
• Community Fairy House Exhibit, June 17, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Build a fairy house at your home and install it in our outdoor exhibit that will stay up all summer. Register online at cobbcat.org, build at home and install your house June 17. All ages.
• Adult Tabletop Role-Playing Game Meetup, July 15, 2-3 p.m. Play games like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder with a group. Ages 18 and older.
Vision to Learn: Returning for Summer Break 2023
Free vision exams for ages 5-18 will be provided for families in need by the nonprofit Vision To Learn. Dates are June 5, 6 and 16 for West Cobb, June 9, 15 and 16 for North Cobb and June 12 for Stratton. Appointment slots are available 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. If your child needs a prescription, glasses are free and will be delivered at a later date. Registration is required, and space is limited.
bit.ly/vtlcobblibrary
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