Happy Birthday, East Atlanta Library!

The East Atlanta Library is growing up!  The “youngest” of all the 34 Atlanta-Fulton public libraries is turning 6 and will celebrate with a birthday party this Saturday, complete with cake, punch and a surprise puppet show by puppeteer Gina Root and her students.

The library is one of those landmarks that truly exemplifies how the East Atlanta Village rallies to better the neighborhood.

“The East Atlanta library branch is a great example of how the community got together and said, ‘We love our library now but need a bigger space that better suits our needs,’” said Kelly Robinson, public relations and marketing director of Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.

Robinson is also an East Atlanta resident.

Like all public libraries, the East Atlanta branch offers a number of free programs, such as the summer reading program and series of story times throughout the year for children.

“It’s important for every public library to serve its community, especially for children in the summer months,” said Kenneth Wayne Thompson, manager at East Atlanta library.

When you walk in, something may catch your attention, aside from the sparkling facility and friendly staff. The library has a permanent art installation of quilted pieces that neighborhood members and artists contributed to. 

Other community art installations come and go. In May, the library displayed artwork created by students from Burgess-Peterson Academy in East Atlanta (from kindergarten to fifth grade).

“Everything about the East Atlanta branch was developed with community needs in mind,” Robinson said.

The branch is also the only LEED-certified building of the 34 branches and was the very first LEED-certified Fulton County facility when it opened in 2005.

There's a lot to celebrate.

Birthday party, Sat., June 25; 1pm; free and open to the public