Mah Jongg Fever at Hampton Park Library

Our community is showing signs of a substantial case of "Mah Jongg Fever." Whenever our libraries have offered a Mah Jongg class or meetup, the community has asked for more, more, more. 

What is Mah Jongg? For those who haven't yet been initiated, Mah Jongg is a popular tile-based game that originated in China. Players work to collect sets and sequences of beautiful tiles that feature bamboo, characters, and circles to build a winning hand. It’s often compared to the card game Rummy, requiring a mix of strategy, skill, and a little bit of luck to win. Beyond the strategy, it’s a wonderful way to sharpen the mind and build lasting friendships. 

Why is everyone so eager to play? Beyond the fun of the tiles, Mah Jongg is a powerhouse for brain health. Studies suggest that the pattern recognition and strategic planning required can help improve memory, mental sharpness, and enhance cognitive flexibility. Mah Jongg also reduces stress through focused, rhythmic play.

Perhaps most importantly, it is a social catalyst. In a world that is increasingly digital, Mah Jongg brings people together around a physical table. It’s a wonderful way to combat social isolation, build lasting friendships, and engage in meaningful conversation while exercising your mind.

When Hampton Park announced our upcoming Mah Jongg classes for April, May, and June, we expected a positive response—but we didn't expect all spots to be claimed in just 48 hours!

We’ve heard your requests for more opportunities to play this captivating game, and we are thrilled to show that we’re listening. Whether you’re a seasoned "Bam" and "Dot" expert or a graduate of our recent classes, we have some exciting news for you. The Hampton Park Library hosts a weekly Mah Jongg Open Play every Thursday afternoon from 1:00–4:00 p.m.!

The open play time is a casual, drop-in environment where you can meet fellow players and enjoy a few rounds in a friendly atmosphere. Can't make it on Thursday afternoons? Our neighbors at the Sharon Forks Library also offer a Mah Jongg Meetup once a month. It’s a great way to connect with the wider Forsyth County gaming community.

If you missed out on the spring classes, don’t worry! Due to the incredible demand, Hampton Park is already working to schedule more classes starting in August 2026. But fair warning, class sign-ups open on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and will fill quickly.

Keep an eye on our event calendar for other class and registration dates. We can’t wait to see you at the tables!

Cynthia Julian-Simmons
Information Services Supervisor
Hampton Park Library

Lions and Tigers and Haikus - Oh my!

April is National Poetry Month, and this year Katie, a Collection Support Aide at the Hampton Park Library, created an endcap in our Juvenile section about animal haikus.

 

A haiku is a style of poetry created in Japan. These short poems consist of three lines, and each line has a required amount of syllables. Typically, the poem is a line with 5 syllables, a line with 7 syllables, and a line with 5 syllables. For example,

Hampton Park, the place
of creativity and
written word wonders.

-Kayla

Katie’s endcap encouraged visitors to take a moment and write a haiku about an animal. We were so delighted by everyone’s haikus that we wanted to share some of our favorites with all of you. 

I love to pet my 

Small furry cute puppy dog

As she snuggles close

The turtle is slow

But it always wins the race

Go, go turtle go

Dragons are [fierce] and powerful

And thats all I have to 

Say

Love Evelyn

Giraffes are the best

Their long necks make them super

Gentle giant friends

-Reagan C.

[Kitty] in the sun

Sleeping, playing, having fun

Fuzzy little one

-Emma

Duck haiku

Ducks are [fantastic].

They like to waddle and bathe

But can’t live in a cave.

-Maggie

The python slithers

Through the forest gleefully

It’s looking for food

We appreciate everyone who wrote a poem or stopped to read a poem from a fellow library patron. We hope it brought a little bit of joy to your day!

Happy Birthday, Hampton Park!

Forsyth County News, March 18, 2015

Can you believe it? Hampton Park Library is turning 16!

Hampton Park Library, January 2010

Hampton Park Library opened on March 15, 2010. Positioned in the north part of Forsyth County, the branch was the third branch opened by the Forsyth County Library system, cost about 6.8 million dollars to build, and was the first to use RFID technology, also known as those spiffy tags that let you check out a stack of books at the OneStops. 

Children's Area; Photo by: Fred S. Gerlich Photography, 2010

When Hampton Park opened, the collection had approximately 60,000 items on its shelves. You may still find some items stamped with 2010, but many of our opening day items have been weeded over time because of damage, age, or circulation statistics. This means the collection has been growing and changing over the years. For instance, the popular juvenile graphic novel series Dog Man was first published in 2016, six years after we opened, so it had to be added later! This is just one of many changes you may have seen if you are a long time library user. Today, we have about 70,000 items. 

Summer Reading Fun Kickoff with Lew-E the Clown, 2025

As many may have noticed, north Forsyth is growing, and the library is seeing it too. During our first year, we had about 88,212 library visitors. Last year, we had 123,184 visitors, and we expect to see even more visitors this year. 

Statue of Joann and Earl, 2026

One of the unique features of Hampton Park is our statue of Joann and Earl. Our young patrons LOVE this statue. Many greet their “friends” on their way in and out. We encourage patrons to take a picture with the statue and submit them to our Ask a Librarian service. Our entry way is peppered with photos, showing just how much love there is for Joann and Earl.

Virginia checks in books, 2024

Another unique feature of Hampton Park is that we are the only FCPL branch without an Automatic Materials Handler. This means we check-in everything by hand! This is a huge task done by our wonderful Collection Support Aides. 

Virginia, 2026

This is Virginia, one of our Collection Support Aides. Branch Manager Ross Gericke often jokes that she is original to the building. She started as a volunteer at Hampton Park before it opened, helping unpack boxes of books. She became a Circulation Support Aide in 2011. She’s one of our most dedicated and experienced staff members!

If you’ve never visited Hampton Park, now’s the time! We invite you to stop by and wish the branch a “Happy Birthday.” Hope to see you there!