FCPL and Master Gardeners Partner to Launch Seed Library

How does your garden grow?

With seeds from the Forsyth County Public Library and Forsyth County Master Gardeners Seed Library and a sprinkling of sunshine, of course!

The Hampton Park Library launched FCPL’s Seed Library this spring with several selections of vegetables, cooking herbs, edible flowers, and pollinator flowers – all generously donated by the Forsyth County Master Gardeners. The seed library offers an alphabet of seeds that are open pollinated, ideal for our local growing conditions, and offer local pollinators generous biodiversity.

Using the Seed Library

When you visit the Seed Library at our Hampton Park branch, simply take a pinch of the seeds you want and put them in a little pouch with a sticker labeling what the seeds are and how they should be handled.

First-time borrowers should fill out a registration form for the Master Gardeners’ records. Then, take the seeds home and start gardening!

In return for the seeds, participants are encouraged (but not required) to either bring a plant from the seeds to add to a community garden or to volunteer for a 30-minute shift in a community garden.

Heirloom Quality Seeds

The Master Gardeners will continue to donate seeds for the Seed Library, rather than exchanging seeds.

“We want to respect the benefits and heirloom quality of the Seed Library by offering only seeds in accordance with the Department of Agriculture Federal Seed Act and Georgia’s Seed Laws. We look forward to community discussions around the important information on the Seed Labels, saving seeds, improving your success with sowing seeds, and caring for seedlings,” says Juliet Foster, Forsyth County Master Gardening Community Garden Coordinator.

Volunteer at Community Garden Days

Cumming Library, Hampton Park Library and Post Road Library offer monthly Community Garden Days and invite patrons and community members to play in the dirt, working on seasonal projects and activities led by a Forsyth County Master Gardener Advisor that help maintain the beauty of these community gardens.

Each month's project will take about an hour to complete and all tools and supplies will be provided.
Be sure to wear sunscreen and clothes appropriate for working outdoors. You might also like to bring your own gloves.

Community Garden Days are family-friendly, so feel free to bring a friend or your children and let them learn about plants and gardening, too!

“I am excited that Hampton Park Library is offering residents a wide variety of heirloom and open pollinated seeds. I look forward to meeting seed library friends that share my passion for growing food and flowers in an environmentally friendly way. We would love to see you in one of our many community gardens,” says Foster.

If you would like to make plans to attend one of the Community Garden Days, you can chose from any of the following:

Cumming Library Secret Garden
Meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the growing season

Hampton Park Library Butterfly Garden
Meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second Friday of each month in the growing season

Post Road Library Poetry Garden
Meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Friday of each month in the growing season

Sexton Hall LiveWell Garden
Meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second Monday of each month in the growing season

For detailed information on Community Garden Days, please refer to the events calendar at www.forsythpl.org.

Adventure Novels Donated in Memory of Library Patron

Forsyth County Public Library will soon receive a generous donation of new books, thanks to the Tony Fico Memorial Fund at the Forsyth County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Tony Fico was a book lover and a dedicated patron of the Post Road Library who passed away last November at the age of 79.

Post Road Library patron Tony Fico loved adventure and suspense novels.

“Mr. Fico was known for his sense of humor and always joked around with our staff while checking out books,” says Kim Ottesen, Information Services Supervisor at the Post Road Library.

In lieu of flowers, Mary, Mr. Fico’s wife of 39 years, and his daughters, Lorraine and Teresa, asked family and friends to make donations to the Tony Fico Memorial Fund to honor his love of reading.

This month, over $2700 in contributions will be given to Forsyth County Public Library for the purchase of nearly 140 books, large type books, and audiobooks.

“He loved adventure and suspense novels, so our family is very pleased to know that the library will honor him by purchasing books by popular authors like James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Greg Illes, Stuart Woods, and C.J. Box,” says Lorraine Fico-White.

All items added to the library’s collection in Mr. Fico’s memory will carry a bookplate that reads, “Donated in memory of Anthony J. Fico by Family and Friends.”

“We’ll miss Tony’s sharp wit here in the library, but we’re so grateful to his family and friends for this outpouring of generosity that will share Tony’s love of reading with our patrons for years to come,” adds Ottesen.

To check out books donated in memory of Mr. Fico, please visit a Forsyth County Public Library branch or use the online catalog.

Staff Picks: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (Adult Fiction)

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

A down-on-her-luck British fortuneteller feels her prospects changing when she’s mistakenly named a beneficiary to a large estate. Fans of Gothic suspense will enjoy the classic elements of this creepy story: moral dilemmas, a rundown mansion with barred windows, and an openly hostile housekeeper who seems to know everyone’s secrets.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Local Families Commit to Six-Week Literacy Program

Forsyth County Public Library received a grant from Georgia Public Library Service, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College to host the first PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME family literacy program in Cumming.

PRIME TIME uses a methodology that encourages a love of reading and lifelong learning in children and families by hosting a special series of focused literacy programs for children age six to ten and their parents.

Children age six to ten, and their parents, join the first Prime Time program in a six-week series at the Cumming Library.

About 15 families will meet at the Cumming Library for six weeks of bilingual reading and discussion programs that include stories about topics such as determination, courage, and fairness. The use of children’s literature with these particular themes and content allows for expanding the teaching of literature, history, and cultural values.

Led by representatives from the library, Forsyth County Schools, and Mentor Me, parents are introduced to the benefits and pleasures of reading and discussing stories with their children.

“The elements of storytelling coupled with the written word provide the foundation for PRIME TIME,” says Tracy Walker, programming manager for Forsyth County Public Library.

“As human beings, speech and storytelling are our oldest forms of communication and they form the basis of the written word. Bringing these elements together enriches the lives of parents and children, and we’re excited to bring this program to our community.”

Through their participation in the PRIME TIME program, families will learn and practice good read-aloud and storytelling techniques and engage in meaningful discussion. Families also learn about the many educational and pleasure reading resources available for free at all branches of the Forsyth County Public Library.

Even younger siblings ages three to five who aren’t yet ready for the PRIME TIME program can get in on the fun as pre-reading activities are available for them while parents and older siblings are participating in PRIME TIME.

For information on this and other reading initiatives for families, including next week’s Leap into Literacy with Peter Rabbit program at Cumming Elementary School, visit www.forsythpl.org.

Library Limelight: Shane Currie, Cataloging Specialist, Library Headquarters

Library Limelight is intended to be a quick read to help FCPL patrons get to know our librarians, staff, and volunteers. We hope you enjoy learning about the people who make our libraries great!

Shane Currie
Cataloging Specialist
Library Headquarters

Where is your hometown?

I was born in Des Moines, Iowa. I’ve been living in Georgia since I was 2, and in the southern part of Forsyth County since I was 10. 

How long have you been at FCPL?

I starting volunteering at FCPL in 2011 and then joined the staff in 2012 

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

After volunteering at Sharon Forks, I worked as a CSA there. After that, I was a materials processor at headquarters, and finally I went into cataloging. 

Why did you choose to work in a library?

I worked a bit for the library at my college; so, I was familiar with how things are organized and decided to continue working in a library.  

Describe your job in five words or less.

Creating bib and item records.

What is unique about your job?

I get to see all of the details about the books that we receive. 

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy working in front of a computer and seeing all the new books as they arrive.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?

I went to Japan back in 2008 for a college trip touring various shrines and temples there for about a week. We stopped in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka.

What are your hobbies?

Playing board and computer games, watching anime, and going to conventions.

What are you reading right now?

I’m listening to the audiobooks of The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. I’m currently on book 12, The Gathering Storm, of 14 in the series.

Paper books, eBooks, or audiobooks?

Right now I’m mainly listening to audiobooks, though I'm still fond of paper books. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m also a big fan of graphic novels, both Western comics and Japanese manga. I mainly prefer fantasy settings, but I’ll read anything that seems interesting.