Milton Residents Think New Library Design Fits the Neighborhood

Traffic remains the biggest concern for the site at the intersection of Charlotte Drive and Mayfield Road at the old Dinsmore farm site.

Milton residents were generally pleased with the new library design that was revealed Thursday night. The new library is expected to open in Fall 2014, with construction starting later this year. The community would get a library section, the central entrance and lobby that resembles a silo and a meeting room section. The design allows for use of the community meeting room even during hours the library is closed, as both sections are accessed through the lobby section and can be locked off separately Architects were charged with saving three massive oak trees on the property. To do that, Todd Dolson of Stevens & Wilkinson, architects for the project, said they wrapped the building around the largest tree, and split the parking lot into two…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (7)

Travis Allen

6:06 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013

The plan is to keep the large tree in the front and split the parking lot in the rear to preserve the two large trees there.   more ›

Public Gets First Look at New Milton Library Design Tonight

The library system will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. today, March 14, at Milton City Hall, for architects and designers to reveal the design and features of the facility.

Residents to Get First Look at New Alpharetta Library Plans

A 25,000-square-foot building will replace the 10,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Mayfield Road and Canton Street.

Alpharetta residents – and other library fans – will get their chance to see what the new Alpharetta Library will look like on Monday, March 18. The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is holding a progress meeting on the new 25,000-square-foot library, planned on 3 acres of land in the City Center development, in Alpharetta City Hall at 6 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. First, residents will get a chance to meet members of this project’s architectural and engineering team from Cooper Carry, in association with Vines Architecture, along with library team members, said Kelly Robinson Vann, public relations and marketing director for the library system. They'll also learn about the progress to date. Architects will be available to answer …

•  2 Comments
• Documents (1)

Public to Get First Look at New Milton Library Design

The library system will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 14, for architects and designers to reveal the design and features of the facility.

Milton residents get their first look at what a new Milton Library will look like next Thursday, March 14. The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is holding a progress meeting on the new library at Milton City Hall, in Council Chambers, starting at 7 p.m. The Milton Library will be built at 855 Mayfield Road, at the corner of Mayfield and Charlotte Drive. The site is close to what the city intends to be its future "downtown" in the Crabapple section of the city. "Based on the input that the library system received from past meetings, now this is the chance for architects to show the design," said Kelly Robinson Vann, the library system's Public Relations and Marketing director. "The Alpharetta meeting is not far behind the Milton meeting…

•  9 Comments
• Photos (2)

Travis Allen

5:16 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013

Okay, so Milton did post a picture of the proposed library design on their website. Unfortunately, it's one of the worst pictures we were shown at the meeting and in no way reflects the grand scope of the design or how the building will look from either Mayfield or Charlotte. I'm honestly REALLY disappointed that this was the picture chosen, so I'll ask that everyone wait until more pictures are …   more ›

Alpharetta Library Using Book, Movie to Promote Literacy

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's Big Read grant is being used to revitalize literature's role in American life.

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System received the 2013 Big Read grant, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest, designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. A library system spokesperson said in a release that the goal of the libraries aligns perfectly with those of the Big Read: to stop the decline of literary reading in America by encouraging reading. This “one book/one community” opportunity offers everyone the chance to read and discuss a single book within their communities and is a wonderful chance for real dialog. Participants throughout Fulton County and Atlanta will read the same book, A …

• Videos (2)

The 2012 Holiday Booklist

Books make great holiday gifts. Give your loved ones these books as stocking stuffers this holiday season.

Editor's Note: Residents in Alpharetta and Milton have two bookstores in addition to online stores: Barnes & Noble and Books for Less, plus additional stores that sell books. When you give a child or a teen a book, you are creating a memory that will last a lifetime. What’s more, books offer so many options. Are you trying to find a book for an early reader? Choose a picture book or a Great Beginner Read. Does your grandchild love non-fiction? Take a look at the Great Family Reads section. Has your niece read every book known to man? There are some brand new books on this list that she may not have seen yet. Do you struggle to find just the right book to entice your child to read? These selections are sure kid-pleasers that will meet any …

• Photos (1)

Ten Magical Children’s Books For Gift-Giving

Patch asked newly-published children's book author Jo Ann Kairys to tell us about the most magical children's book on the shelves this holiday season. Here is her list.

Kids say and do the darndest things, right? And so often, they provide tender or hilarious or wonder-filled inspiration for picture books. One day I heard my granddaughters complaining about the rain as they thumped on the window. Eager to get outdoors, they waited impatiently for the storm to end. Suddenly, they pretended they were the rain. “SWOOSH! SPLAT! SWISH!” Their sounds were innocently poetic, perfect ingredients for a rhyming picture book. Putting it all together in story form is when the magic happens—a sound in just the right place, a vibrant image that brings the story alive, and characters who draw you right into their world. There are so many wonderful children’s picture books. I’d like to share a few that I think have that …

• Photos (11)

Summit Hill Book Fair Kicks Off Thursday

Enjoy Varsity dogs during first night of the PTA sponsored event.

Summit Hill Elementary kicks off its Book Fair on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 4:45-8 p.m. Browse for books and enjoy the food served by The Varsity, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Prepay for food until Wednesday, Oct. 31 (using the flyer sent home in Friday Folders) and the cost will be $6 per person for an entree, side, and soda. Cost for food at the door goes up to $7 per person. Kona Ice will be also there. No need to prepay, just walk up to their truck at the event. Regular shopping hours are Friday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 9 from 7:10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The Book Fair will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 6, Election Day. Volunteers are still needed. Go to www.summithillelementary.my-pta.org and click on the "Volunteers" tab. Don't miss out on the fun!

• Photos (1)

Last Chance: Summer's Must-Reads

Sure, school is back in session, but the kids don't have to be the only ones hitting the books this month.

Although Labor Day marks the last hurrah for white pants, barbeques and kids up late on a Sunday night, it is not the end of the season. Until the clock strikes midnight on Sept. 21, it's still summer. And that means there's just enough time to squeeze in another good book atop your favorite lounge chair. Not sure what to read for your last hurrah of summer? Fear not, we've cobbled together some best-sellers from The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, along with a few staff favorites from summers past. All you need to make your experience complete is a nice cold glass of iced tea lemonade. Fiction Non-fiction Be sure to tell us in your comments about your favorite summer read.

• Photos (1)

Top Books are Listed for 2011

Reviewers name their favorite books of last year.

  The new year has begun, and with it, a chance to brush up on some of the best books of last year. Some of the world's most noteable book reviewers have listed their favorites. Just click on the following links to find out what they had to say: More reviews and top book lists can be found at The Washington Post and National Public Radio. To check out one of these or other favorite books, visit the Alpharetta Library or purchase a hard copy at Barnes and Noble or Books For Less.

• Photos (1)