WGRLS Bookmobile Ribbon Cutting

November 16, 2022 by gmg

The West Georgia Regional Library system announces the arrival of its new bookmobile

Last year, WGRLS received funding through a grant from Georgia Public Library Services and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to build a new bookmobile after the last one was retired in the 2010s. This new vehicle will be making appearances at community events, schools, and other locations to provide services for areas that may not have the ability to visit the library in person.

A naming contest for the bookmobile was held at the end of September with the official name of the bookmobile being Bookin’ It West. Andie Brasley, a teacher from Temple Middle School, who came up with the name, shared his thought process, “All in all, the thought process was like this…West Georgia? Hmm. GOOOO WEST. Books? Well, those are amazing. Traveling West for Books? No. We are Bookin’ It (moving quickly) with the bookmobile…So, combine them as a play on words. Bookin’ It West! That’s the winner!”

To celebrate the bookmobile being event-ready, WGRLS will be hosting the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ruth Holder Public Library on Thursday, December 1st at 5:30 pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend and check out all of the exciting new things the bookmobile will be offering!

LeRoy Childs Display

March 25, 2022 by WGRLS Webmaster

Neva Lomason Memorial Library will be unveiling their LeRoy Childs wall display on April 2nd at 11 am. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on Neva Lomason Memorial Library’s Facebook page.

This project honors the life and legacy of the former West Georgia Regional Library System Director, Mr. LeRoy Childs. Mr. Childs was the first Black public library director in Georgia and was honored posthumously with the Georgia Public Library Service’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Childs worked tirelessly to advocate the importance of libraries to state and federal legislators. Before taking the role of Director, he served as the manager of Carrollton’s King Street Branch. In the early 1950s, the National Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (a historically Black sorority founded at Howard University) gifted a bookmobile to the King Street Library.

Mr. Childs relied on strong relationships with the African American schools in the five-county area to secure additional outreach space to bring the library materials and programs where they were most needed. Working with the school libraries, Mr. Childs fostered an environment that also encouraged adults to borrow from King Street’s collection.

A fellow director, Mr. Charles Eames, donated funds towards the display and fondly remembers Mr. Childs:

“I was very gratified to contribute to Mr. Childs’s exhibit and grand unveiling.

Mr. Childs was well respected among his library director peers. He was always very cordial to me and I enjoyed sitting next to him at the library director meetings as well as several committees we were on. A quiet, unassuming man but a leader in the library field.

He was a legend in his time.”

Current WGRLS Director, Stephen Houser, says “Mr. Childs was with WGRLS for over 30 years, and during that time he exemplified the ideal of service to others. From managing the King St. Branch, to driving our bookmobile all over the region, to becoming the first Black public library director in Georgia, Mr. Childs was a true trailblazer. We are honored that Mr. Childs is part of our WGRLS history, and are happy to be able to honor him as an important part of our community’s history.”

It’s National Novel Writing Month!

October 15, 2021 by WGRLS Webmaster

Join us for another Beanstack challenge and finish that novel, short story, essay collection, or whatever writing project you have been working on!

Those who complete the challenge will have the chance to win an Amazon gift card. To help inspire you throughout the challenge, every Friday, we will be posting writing tips on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Happy writing!

Share Your Story During National Library Card Sign-Up Month

September 7, 2021 by WGRLS Webmaster

“A library card provides opportunity for discovery and access to a rich and diverse world. It empowers you to make change and experience new stories.” – Dias, ALA honorary chair 2021

The month of September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month!

There’s nothing more empowering than a library card. Through access to technology, media resources, and educational programs, libraries provide people of all ages the opportunity to pursue their dreams and passions.

WGRLS wants to hear from you on how our libraries have impacted your life. Our goal is to create a documentary or some other tangible product to share with the community to show everyone the value libraries hold.

No story is too mundane for this project. Whether your story is about how the library helped you find a job and other life resources, or simply about the friendships you have built while visiting the library, we would like to hear it!

If you would like to participate, please fill out this form.