Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library is a place to grow. The library enlight­ens and enrich­es the peo­ple of DeKalb Coun­ty by pro­vid­ing respon­sive, dynam­ic ser­vices that meet the chang­ing infor­ma­tion­al, edu­ca­tion­al, and recre­ation­al needs of a diverse population.
The library plays a pri­ma­ry role in cul­ti­vat­ing a lit­er­ate and eco­nom­i­cal­ly strong DeKalb Coun­ty, enhanc­ing the qual­i­ty of life for every­one in the community.
The DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library pro­vides excel­lent ser­vice to res­i­dents based on the fol­low­ing values:
Many inequities in our soci­ety have been brought to the fore­front over the last few years in ways that can­not be ignored. Each of us has a role to play in address­ing changes that need to hap­pen. DeKalb Coun­ty Pub­lic Library rec­og­nizes equi­ty, diver­si­ty and inclu­sion as inte­gral to achiev­ing our mis­sion of being a place to grow. That growth can­not hap­pen with­out respect, hard work and com­mu­ni­ty empow­er­ment. We under­stand our com­mu­ni­ties are strength­ened when all are allowed to thrive.
Equi­ty is the qual­i­ty of being fair and impar­tial, with free­dom from bias or favoritism. Diver­si­ty is the vari­ety of things that make us unique includ­ing cul­ture, beliefs, eth­nic­i­ty, gen­der and sex­u­al ori­en­ta­tion. Inclu­sion is feel­ing val­ued and hav­ing a sense of belonging.
Equi­ty, diver­si­ty and inclu­sion are at the root of our deci­sions :

Little 5 Points Halloween Parade

Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra

Family Yoga

Wrestler Storytime

Paint My Drip

General Branch Volunteer

Tutoring Volunteer

Give

September Staff Picks

Grow with Google Career Certificates at Your Library

The Jubilee Reader

August Staff Picks

September Calendars of Events

America250 Resources, Programs, and Events

July Staff Picks

June Staff Picks

Mike Cooper

Hillary Gardner

Kate Pak

William (Ted) Rhinehart

Zachary Williams

Cat's out of the bag! The prize for reaching the 52 book stretch goal in our 26 in '26 reading challenge is a mini version of our iconic tote bag! Clocking in at an adorable 4 by 6 inches, this mini tote is the perfect size to hold a library card, keys, or even a tiny cat found in the library parking lot and rescued by staff. Mini totes are headed to branches today, so if you've logged 52 books for the challenge this year keep an eye on your email or phone notifications for instructions on when to pick yours up at your local branch. Haven't joined the challenge yet? There's still plenty of time! Learn more at dekalblibrary.beanstack.com or via the link in our bio. All books read in 2026 count as long as you can fit them into a challenge category! Just a few books short? No worries! Make sure you're logging your books and we'll distribute more enamel pins and mini tote bags later in the year.

The spooky season fun kept going! A few more amazing staff costumes rolled in after our last post, and they’re simply too good not to share.

Check out these boo-tiful pictures of our staff in their spooky season costumes. The Men in Black, a group of cozy animals, Pete the Cat, some groovy flower children, and many other characters made an appearance this year. Have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone!

Happy National Friends of the Libraries Week! We want to express our gratitude for the work that our Friends of the Library groups do behind the scenes to make our branches thrive. From organizing book sales to funding programs all year long for all ages, their support makes a huge difference across DeKalb. Be sure to look out for their upcoming book sales and meetings listed on our online events calendar to show your support.

September took our Jewelry with Gin classes on a colorful journey around the globe! We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at Northlake-Barbara Loar Library and Hairston Crossing, highlighted Asia with cloisonné beads at Clarkston, showcased recycled glass beads from Africa at Scott Candler, explored tribal-inspired designs at Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library, and traveled back to the 1920s with lively Cha Cha bracelets at Decatur Library. Find our full schedule of Jewelry with Gin classes (both virtual and in person) on our Events page (link in our bio) and join the fun! Also, the last photo depicts a tote made in a new monthly sewing class Gin is teaching at Decatur Library, so keep your eyes out for those as well!

Join us for a family-themed yoga class. Families will enjoy bonding with playful partner poses, engaging mindfulness games, breath work, and useful meditation techniques. To learn more or register please visit the link in our bio!

Heading to the Chamblee Library? Our front entrance is temporarily closed for renovations. Please use the rear entrance to enter the building.

Come see the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra perform at Decatur Library! Saturday, October 17, 2026 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Decatur Library Auditorium Join this relaxed and fun group of musicians as they share their love for classical and popular music. Find more information at the link in our bio.

All DCPL branches will be closed on Saturday, October 10, 2026 due to potentially severe weather from Hurricane Isaias. All due dates and hold pick ups have been extended until Monday, October 12. Programs: All Saturday events have been canceled. Please check our online calendar for future rescheduling. And don’t forget: You can always find something to read, watch, learn, or do on our website at dekalblibrary.org. These resources are available 24/7. Stay safe, everyone!

Step into the ring for Wrestler Storytime at Brookhaven Library! This week, library goers enjoyed a storytime with Najasism of Deep South Wrestling. Join us next week for a storytime with DSW Wrestler Deon Summerz featuring books about wrestling and good sportsmanship. Visit the link in our bio for more details.

It's our favorite time of year! Come see the Zombie Librarians at the Little Five Points Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. on Moreland Avenue.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Visit the Lithonia-Davidson Library to see this special display featuring titles on women's health, preventive care, and inspiring stories from breast cancer survivors. Be sure to check our online events calendar for more programs about breast cancer awareness taking place at our branches. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #WomensHealth

Every October, libraries across the nation celebrate TeenTober, a special month dedicated to teens. This year, we are featuring a lineup of special programs for teens to discuss diverse books, explore creative outlets, or just to hang out with friends. Check out the list at the link in our bio.

Join us in Decatur this weekend (Saturday, October 3rd) for the Decatur Book Festival! The Decatur Library will host two stages, one in the Ground Floor Auditorium and one in the Fourth Floor Gallery and Event Space (where you can also check out The Book As Art v.14: Ghosted exhibition). We'll welcome Poets, Emerging Student Writers, and the winners of the 2026 Lillian Smith Book Award! Check out the full schedule of events at the library and around Decatur at DecaturBookFestival.com. @gacntr4thebook

It's finally fall, which means it's time for seasonal drinks, pumpkin patches, and curling up with a great book. Fall Into Reading this season with our all ages 2026 Fall Into Reading Beanstack challenge. Log your reading to earn badges and read 600 minutes (10 hours) between October 1 and November 30, 2026 to complete the challenge. Remember, any book you read for 26 in '26 counts for this challenge too! Sign up using the link in our bio, and may your fall reading be filled with warmth, wonder, and a little bit of magic.

Mark your calendars! The Friends of the Redan-Trotti Library's used book sale will take place in our meeting room. Proceeds support Redan-Trotti Library programs for children, youth, and adults. Friday, October 2, 2026 and Saturday, October 3, 2026 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Meeting Room Shoppers will find fiction. mystery and more titles for all ages as well as a variety of non-fiction categories, including history, biography, sports, health and cooking. Most hardback books are $2; most paperback books are $1. Credit cards, cash and checks are accepted. Please bring your own bags to carry your haul!

New Pass Alert! Check out our new Fernbank Science Center pass. This pass allows up to four guests to enjoy Fernbank's planetarium show, and can be out for up to seven days.

Due to a facilities issue and in-progress repair work, Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library has limited seating the week of September 21.

This September, DeKalb County Public Library invites you to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month and discover how a library card can hit all the right notes. With a library card, you can do more than check out books. From free classes and job resources to homework help, streaming media, and cultural events, today’s libraries connect communities to information, inspiration, and each other. Stop by any DCPL branch to sign up for a card and learn more!

The Decatur Arts Alliance and the Georgia Center for the Book, with support from the DeKalb Library Foundation, present The Book As Art v.14: Ghosted. This exhibition showcases beautifully made volumes, sculptural and conceptual interpretations, and one-of-a-kind approaches to the book format and will be installed on the Fourth Floor of Decatur Library. Join us for an opening reception on Friday, September 11th, from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., or see the show during Gallery Hours (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., from September 12th through October 24th). Learn more at georgiacenterforthebook.org.

For Jewerly with Gin participants, August was filled with beautifully vibrant bracelets that were the perfect way to finish out the summer. Freshwater pearls took center stage at Clarkston, elegant wire-crochet-woven bracelets with crystals sparkled at Decatur, beautiful fused-glass beads dangled from handcrafted abstract links at Scott Candler, and cowrie shells made a striking appearance at Toco Hills. For more information about our Jewelry with Gin classes, both in-person and virtual (pre-recorded), visit the DCPL events page (link in bio).

There's still time before Labor Day to stop in and check out books to learn all about the reason for the season! Use the link on our bio to access librarian curated lists on labor history in the United States of America for both children and adults.

As we begin to plan our third annual, year-long, prompt-based reading challenge, we're seeking your input about previous challenges including 100 Years, 100 Books in 2025 and 26 in '26 in 2026 to strengthen this unique program. Even if you haven't participated before, we want to hear from you! Your answers will help shape future challenges. Use the link in our bio to take our short survey. Thank you for your feedback!

Starting today, September 1, DCPL patrons can check out up to 5 items on hoopla each month. Going to 5 checkouts a month lets us keep the options in hoopla that we know are important to you. The new checkout limit does not affect your current checkouts or your saved favorites. Happy reading!

All DeKalb County Library branches will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day. Need something great to read? Check out our eBook and audiobook and magazine collections which are available 24/7. Vist https://dekalb.overdrive.com to take a look.

The first round of 26 in '26 prizes is here! These beautiful, and very exclusive, enamel pins are headed to branches today! If you've completed 26 or more of the challenge categories, keep an eye on your email or phone notifications for instructions on when to pick yours up at your local branch. Haven't joined the challenge yet? There's still plenty of time! Learn more at dekalblibrary.beanstack.com or via the link in our bio. All books read in 2026 count as long as you can fit them into a challenge category! Just a few books short? No worries! Make sure you're logging your books and we'll distribute more pins (and the prize for the stretch goal of 52 books) later in the year. Happy reading!

Check out these online resources for tutoring, studying, homework help, and more! Visit the link in our bio for more information.

URGENT! LAST CALL FOR LOGGING SUMMER READING MINUTES! With just 7 hours to go until the end of the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, we are just over 60,000 minutes short of our community reading goal of 1.2 million minutes. If you've been waiting to log your reading, head over to dekalblibrary.beanstack.org and help us reach our goal. Readers of any age can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at dekalblibrary.beanstack.org to log reading time.

This month, Jewelry with Gin classes were filled with creativity and a little magic! At Clarkston and Decatur, we crafted beautiful bracelets and necklaces using shimmering mother-of-pearl and puka shells. Scott Candler participants created an enchanting “floating pearl” necklace featuring luminous glass pearls that seem to hover along the chain. Toco Hill artisans hand-formed elegant spiral links adorned with sparkling crystals for a bracelet that’s both graceful and eye-catching. Join in the fun by checking out the full schedule of Jewelry with Gin events (both in person and virtual) on our events page (link in bio).

Kids love to protest! Nap time, bed time, vegetables—you name it! Find some inspiration from kids who put that protest energy to good use from this carefully curated list of children’s book recommendations about the history of protest! All books listed are available to check out through DeKalb County Public Library. Link in bio.

Summer Reading at Northlake - Barbara Loar has been amazing! Here is a sneak peak at some of their programs. Stop by for their last program of summer, featuring 8 Legged Scales, on Wednesday, July 29th at 2:30 PM.

Patrons at Decatur's Teen Sewing program in June made quilt blocks based on their reading shelves! There's still time to register for the next Teen Sewing program, starting on Tuesday, July 28 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. where participants will make their own tote bags. Use the link in our bio for more information and to register.

With just 10 days left until the end of the Summer Reading Challenge, we've hit 81% of our reading goal! Thanks to everyone who has logged reading minutes so far, we're at just under 1 million minutes read. We're just a few bedtime stories, lazy days at the pool, or disappearing into a new world on your lunch break away from reaching our goal. As we enter into the final stretch, please help by logging your reading! Readers of any age can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at dekalblibrary.beanstack.org to log reading time. Fingers crossed our next update is a celebration! Happy reading!

The Wish Wall at Chamblee Library has quickly filled with postcards from the community. Library patrons have been responding to the prompt: "Think about the United States in 10, 50, or 100 years. What is your vision?" The Wish Wall will be in place through the end of July. Be sure to stop by Chamblee Library to add your wish or read the postcards others have shared.

The Academy of the Arts dancers are getting ready for their opening night performance at the Fox Theatre Fox in a Box exhibit at Hairston Crossing Library! The festivities start this evening (July 15) at 5:00 p.m. They will be performing "On Broadway: A History of African American Dance in America." Come out and enjoy a great show!

Today in Atlanta, Argentina will take on England in the World Cup semifinal showdown match. Check out this display at the Lithonia-Davidson Library to get into the soccer spirit. It features sporty book selections, a World Cup scarf, and an image of the official tournament trophy.

There's still time to submit your art and writing to Between the Stacks, our teen zine! Teens are invited to submit up to three works of visual art or written work to be included in the zine.� The theme for this issue is History.� Submissions will close on July 31.� Click the link in our bio to learn how to submit and to see past issues!

Walk the red carpet and enjoy a thrilling performance at the Fox Theatre's "Fox in a Box" exhibit opening night celebration on July 15 at Hairston Crossing Library. The Academy of the Arts will perform their show "On Broadway: A History of African American Dance in America." The festivities start at 5:00 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through August 18. Check our website or the link in our bio for the schedule of events. Fox in a Box is an immersive exhibit currently touring Georgia public libraries to share the theatre’s rich history and how it intersects with American history, the Civil Rights Movement, economics, and the importance of communities. This exhibit is made possible by Fox Gives and the Georgia Public Library Service. Support is also provided by the Stone Mountain Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and DeKalb Library Foundation. @thefoxtheatre @foxgives_atl #GeorgiaLibraries #FoxTheater

Calling all adults ages 18-29: There's still time to register for Paint My Drip at Covington Library where you can upcycle your clothing into wearable art! Paint My Drip isn't just a workshop; it's a whole experience. Step into your creativity and decorate your own custom clothing piece from start to finish. Art supplies provided but attendees should bring their own jeans, jean jacket, shirt, or sneakers to use as their canvas. Register at the link in our bio!

Jewelry with Gin Live continued its creative journey in June with a wonderful celebration of culture, color, and craftsmanship! At Decatur, participants transformed luminous natural mother-of-pearl shell beads into elegant necklaces. Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams and Scott Candler sparkled with iridescent glass pearls as participants designed an assortment of bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. Northlake-Barbara Loar honored Juneteenth with a bold and vibrant three-strand cuff bracelet, while Clarkston celebrated National Caribbean American Heritage Month with colorful handmade paper beads from Haiti, creating lively jewelry inspired by the rich artistry and traditions of the Caribbean. Visit DCPL’s event page to find live Jewelry with Gin classes and sign up today! Or visit our YouTube page to find Gin’s series of weekly virtual tutorials. Links in bio.

We're half way through the Summer Reading Challenge and over half way to our community goal of reading 1.2 million minutes! Thanks to everyone who has logged reading minutes so far, we're officially at 644,135 or 53% of the way there. Let's keep this energy (and reading!) up to crush our goal. Want to help by logging your reading? Readers of any age can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at dekalblibrary.beanstack.org to log reading time. We'll post progress updates throughout the summer to help us stay motivated. Happy reading!

Today the Geor­gia Pub­lic Library Ser­vice (GPLS) announced no-cost access to Google Career Cer­tifi­cates and the Google AI Pro­fes­sion­al Cer­tifi­cate to Geor­gia pub­lic library cardholders. These cours­es will help you build essen­tial job skills in high-growth fields, includ­ing flex­i­ble, online train­ing to sup­port career advance­ment and busi­ness growth. Earn pro­fes­sion­al cer­tifi­cates in areas such as AI, cyber­se­cu­ri­ty, data ana­lyt­ics, dig­i­tal mar­ket­ing and e‑commerce, IT Sup­port, project man­age­ment, and user expe­ri­ence (UX) design. For more information, including how to sign up, please use the link in our bio!

All DeKalb County Library branches will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. Need something great to read? Our eBook and audiobook collections are available 24/7. Vist https://dekalb.overdrive.com and the Palace Project app https://thepalaceproject.org/app/, for even more great reads.

Have you attended a library program in person or virtually during this year's Summer Reading Challenge? If you have, please take this short survey, linked in our bio, from the Georgia Public Library Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Summer reading programs in Georgia are supported in part by federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In order to continue receiving this vital funding, we're asking patrons who have attended library programs during this year's Summer Reading Challenge to take this very easy, very short 7 question survey. Thank you and we'll see you at the library soon!

There's still time to register for our South DeKalb History Bingo program next Monday at the Scott Candler Library! Whether you want to test your knowledge or just play along, join us for Bingo with the DeKalb History Center.� This fun, interactive game will highlight South DeKalb through retro photos from the DeKalb History Center’s collection.� Register through the link in our bio.�

Did you know you can use your library card to borrow Chromebooks and Hublet tablets? You can keep Chromebooks for three weeks, with the option to renew for another three weeks, as long as no one else is waiting. Chromebooks can be checked out at any DCPL branch based on availability. Hublets are for use in the library and need to be returned to their kiosk before you leave. They’re great for tutoring sessions, use in study rooms, reading eBooks, or accessing any of the library’s digital resources. They can be found at the Chamblee, Clarkston, and Hairston Crossing libraries. A special thank you to the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) for making this possible. The tablets and many of the library’s Chromebooks were purchased with a Digital Connectivity Grant provided by GPLS through a Capital Project Fund grant awarded by the Georgia Technology Authority using American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Beat the heat this summer at a painting or art program at DCPL! Search "paint" on the DCPL event calendar to find a program near you.

There are still spaces available for our Shoebox Dig program at Hairston Crossing Library tomorrow! Practice archaeology by excavating your own shoebox-sized dig site. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Sign up now at the link in our bio. Thursday, June 25 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Hairston Crossing Library Ages 7-12 Registration required; please register each child separately. Support provided by DeKalb Library Foundation.

Come grab your favorite book and strike a paleo pose at the Prehistoric Photo Op at Scott Candler Library! The Dino Photo Op corner features hand-made artwork created by one of our talented staff members. We can't wait to see your fun photos, so don't forget to tag us @dekalblibrary when you post your picture on social media. #SummerReading #UnearthAStory

Whether you want to test your knowledge or just play along, join us for Bingo with the DeKalb History Center.� This fun, interactive game will highlight South DeKalb through retro photos from the DeKalb History Center’s collection.� Register through the link in our bio.�

All DeKalb County Library branches will be closed on Friday, June 19, 2026, in observance of Juneteenth. Need something great to read? Our eBook and audiobook collections are available 24/7. Vist https://dekalb.overdrive.com to read more.

Submit your art and writing to Between the Stacks, our teen zine! Teens are invited to submit up to three works of visual art or written work to be included in the zine.� The theme for this issue is History.� Submissions will close on July 31.� Click the link in our bio to learn how to submit and to see past issues!

Join the Georgia Center for the Book at Decatur Library on Wednesday, June 10th, for an evening with Maurice "Mopreme" Shakur, brother of Tupac, to celebrate the release of his new book, This Thug's Life: An Unapologetically Black Story. He'll be in conversation with Dr. Akinyele Omowale Umoja. Brave & Kind Books will be our bookseller for the evening. Learn more at aftontickets.com/thisthugslife @gacntr4thebook @braveandkindbooks

Celebrate your freedom to read and commemorate America’s 250th birthday with a limited-edition *Georgia Reads for America250* library card. DCPL is joining other libraries across the state in offering this special design while supplies last. The card is available at no cost to both new card applicants and current cardholders who would like to exchange their existing cards. Each branch has a limited number, so be sure to grab yours today. See our special programs for America250 at the link in our bio. #GeorgiaLibraries #GeorgiaReads

In May, Jewelry with Gin Live celebrated Older Americans Month at Decatur Library with natural seashell creations and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library with beautiful porcelain beads. We explored the artistry of the Philippines using buri beads at Scott Candler, combined beads from across Asia to create a stylish corset bangle at the Northlake-Barbara Loar Library, and showcased exquisite cloisonné beads from China at Clarkston. Each project offered participants the opportunity to learn new techniques while discovering the rich cultural traditions behind the materials used. Check out our Events page (link in bio) for all Jewelry with Gin virtual and in-person classes!

Introducing the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge Community Reading Goal! Can DeKalb County read 1.2 million minutes between June 1, 2026 and July 31, 2026? On the first day of June alone we've already logged over 20,000 minutes, so by reading and working together we can definitely achieve our goal. Want to help by logging your reading? Readers of any age can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at dekalblibrary.beanstack.org to log reading time throughout the summer. We'll post progress updates throughout June and July to help us stay motivated. Happy reading!

Teens are invited to join us on June 24 at 4:30 p.m. for a virtual discussion of Heartstopper, Volume 1 by Alice Oseman. **Bonus: All registered attendees will receive a free copy of the book to keep!** Please follow the link in our bio for registration information. When you register, let us know your preferred branch for pickup. Rainbow Reads is an LGBTQ+ book club for high school students. Support for this program is provided by DeKalb Library Foundation. #RainbowReads #LGBTQ #Heartstopper

The Unearth a Story Summer Reading Challenge starts with a roar today! From now until the end of July, children and teens who meet their reading goals will win prizes and books. Adults will be entered into prize drawings. Plus, you can take your pick from among 400 free programs and events planned for the summer. Ready to get started? You can register at the link in our bio, by using the Beanstack mobile app or website, or in person at any DCPL branch. #SummerReading #UnearthAStory

Have you checked out the Palace Project? With your library card, you can access free eBooks and eAudiobooks through the Palace Project app, including titles that have only been available through Audible until now. We recently added a number of eAudiobook titles including Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins, Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir and many more! Use the link in our bio to find out more!

We are so excited to welcome award-winning children’s book author Kelly Starling Lyons. Many of her books have garnered awards, accolades, and honors, including the Caldecott Honor for Going Down Home with Daddy. Attendees will have an opportunity to have a book signed from selected titles by the author provided by DeKalb Library Foundation. Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library Saturday, May 30, 2026 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. Please find more information at the link in our bio.

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2026