A GASHA GO! World Learning Station is now available for community members to enjoy at Pickens County Library! GASHA GO! World is a digital learning platform created by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, FableVision Studios, and Georgia educators to build core computer science (CS), math, and literacy skills in children ages 5-8 through story driven games, animated videos, and hands-on activities. Kids join the Gashlings, a cast of friendly characters who guide them through engaging, developmentally-appropriate challenges such as: • Building paths to fix arcade machines or water plants (computational/algorithmic thinking) • Choosing the right tool to clean up a mess (logical reasoning, problem-solving) • Helping to decode passcodes (digital citizenship, computational thinking) • Designing posters and learning spaces for everyone (creative communication, universal design) Each game is aligned with Georgia Standards, giving children a fun way to build the same skills they are learning in school, whether they are playing at the library or continuing the adventure at home. Content is available in English and Spanish.

Sequoyah Regional Library System is partnering with Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University to host the Winship Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit this September for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The initiative aims to eliminate barriers to healthcare by offering no-cost, on-the-go PSA blood tests, with no physical exam, for men ages 40 to 75. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in Georgia. Winship’s mobile program seeks to raise awareness and close care gaps for men at the highest risk. The prominent "big blue bus" will visit R.T. Jones Memorial Library on Thursday, September 10, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Walk-ins are fully welcome and pre-registration is optional. Participants can secure a timeslot for Winship mobile clinics across Georgia in advance by visiting https://bit.ly/4sJWYjO. Additional Screening Dates in Neighboring Areas Men unable to attend the R.T. Jones Memorial Library event can visit the Winship mobile clinic at several stops in the region over the upcoming weeks, among those locations are: Alpharetta: Thursday, Aug. 27, 9:00am – 3:00pm Men's Health Tailgate hosted by Fulton County District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis at Fulton County Health and Human Services – North, 4700 North Point Parkway Douglasville: Sunday, Sept. 6, 12:00pm – 3:00pm Hosted by West Georgia Board of Realtors at the Stars, Stripes and Service Men’s Health Awareness event at Douglasville Town Green, 6840 Church Street Marietta: Monday, Sept. 14, 10:30am - 3:00pm at the Charles D. Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta Canton: Sunday, Sept. 20, 1:30pm - 4:00pm at the Charlie Ferguson Center, 1398 Reinhardt College Parkway Mableton: Monday, Sept. 28, 10:30am - 3:00pm at the South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton This Emory Winship program is made possible through the generous support of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and in collaboration with the Mount Sinai Health System. The Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, the first mobile clinic of its kind in the United States, launched in New York City in 2022. Overall, the Winship Cancer Institute has set the ambitious three-year goal of the program providing 10,000 tests for prostate cancer across Georgia by September 2028. The program, which launched in September 2025, surpassed the 2,000-men-tested milestone in mid-2026. “More than 100 screening events. 2,000 free screenings,” Emory Winship officials announced. “One mission: bringing prostate cancer screening closer to home.”

What an incredible Summer Discovery with our community! From June 1 through July 31, over 1,500 community members joined the challenge to read all summer long, attend exciting events, and complete fun activities with their local library. Take a look at our 2026 Summer Discovery Snapshot: Total Active Participants 1,559 Literacy Activities Completed 39,144 Number of Summer Discovery Programs 257 Program Attendance 9,708 Literacy Activities per Participant 25.1 Patrons per Program 37.7 Total Minutes Read 762,510 Thank you for helping us make Summer Discovery 2026 one of the best yet. We look forward to seeing you at your next visit to the library!

Sequoyah Regional Library System is proud to announce no-cost access to Google Career Certificates and the Google AI Professional Certificate for cardholders, made available through a partnership between Georgia Public Library Service and Google. These courses will help Georgians build essential job skills in high-growth fields, including flexible, online training to support career advancement and business growth. The Google Career Certificates program enables users to 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. Individuals can secure their free license by completing a registration form on the Georgia Public Library Service website, georgialibraries.org/grow-with-google, which can be accessed directly or through their local library's page. Patrons will be able to check out licenses for up to six months at a time, allowing them to learn at their own pace. Central to this initiative is the Google AI Professional Certificate, which will teach users fluency in foundational AI skills, best practices, and how to use AI responsibly. Learners will move beyond the basics with hands-on practice, gaining the in-demand skills and confidence to apply AI. After completing the course, patrons will earn a certificate from Google to share with their network. The program includes a consortium of over 150 national employers, including AT&T, Deloitte, and Google, that consider graduates from these courses for roles in the certificate fields. According to a 2025 course graduate survey, over 70% of Google Career Certificate graduates in the United States report an improvement in their career trajectory, such as a new job or career, promotion, or raise, within six months of certificate completion. Learn more at georgialibraries.org/grow-with-google.

City of Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell visited the Woodstock Public Library on September 16 as part of the Mayor’s Reading Club initiative. Mayor Caldwell read a storybook aloud and participated in a craft with community members in attendance. The event took place in the Woodstock Public Library Community Room, where community members could meet with Mayor Caldwell and listen to him read The Artist Who Painted A Blue Horse by Eric Carle. Launched in 2022, the goal of the Mayor’s Reading Club is to improve literacy skills and success with early reading in children and youth in Georgia cities. The program is a part of Georgia City Solutions, a Georgia Municipal Association nonprofit. To learn more about offerings and upcoming events with Sequoyah Regional Library System, please visit our website: SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org.

Now available at SRLS - Access local news at no cost with NewsBank! Discover current and archived news from credible sources across the U.S., including the Cherokee Tribune, Times-Courier, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Get started by visiting our eLibrary today!

Join us for Local Author Market 2026 at R.T. Jones Memorial Library on September 14! Meet the authors, learn about their works, and shop the local author marketplace. Grab a sticker card at the event and visit three author tables to be entered to win a SRLS Swag Bag! Don't miss your opportunity to discover your new favorite local read- Local Author Market only happens once a year! Meet This Year's Authors Children's Authors Lydia Kennedy Three Peas in a Pod From the Author: Three Peas in a Pod is a family-created children’s book series written by siblings Liana, Alessandra, and Krue, with the help of their mom, Lydia, bringing their ideas and adventures to life. Together, they create fun, meaningful stories that inspire kindness, teamwork, imagination, and positive choices. Nan Flickinger Ellie J's Apples; Otis the Orchard Cat From the Author: As a former teacher of the year, Nan has always been passionate about creating lessons that can be mastered by every student. When Nan is not writing, she loves spending time with her husband, three children, and six grandchildren, walking in nature, dreaming up stories, and finding magic in everyday moments. Lilia Monteiro Sami the Special Squirrel From the Author: Lilia Monteiro is a dedicated nanny with 25 years of experience, specializing in special needs care. Her extensive background working with children, including experience in play and speech therapy, enhances her ability to connect with young audiences—a passion that drives her storytelling. She is the author of "Sami the Special Squirrel," a book that aims to share uplifting, positive messages about nature and empower young minds. Her inspiration comes from the children in her care as well as her two daughters, Evangeline and Cearra. In her free time, Lilia enjoys cooking and attending Pilates classes. She resides in Woodstock, GA, with her husband, Rob. Diana Baker God Loves to See You Smile; God Loves to Hear You Laugh; God Loves What You Create From the Author: Diana J. Baker is the Co-pastor, Worship Leader, Pianist, and Children’s Ministry Leader at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship in Woodstock, Georgia. She writes children’s books that share God’s great love for children. YA Authors Jessie Latimer Again Behold the Stars From the Author: Jessie Latimer spent her childhood searching for portals to magical worlds like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Camp Half Blood (she never found one, but writing fantasy worlds of her own turned out to be the next best thing). Her debut YA fantasy Again Behold the Stars came out in August with Quill & Flame Publishing House and Tantor Audio. Shelby Hailstone Law Scaleshifter Series; Death Flirts Back; The Supervillians' Therapist; The Mermaids of Europa; Halfsie Series From the Author: Shelby Hailstone Law grew up in Acworth and briefly left the South to attend college before dragging her husband back to live in Georgia. She loves to be part of this community and often attends local festivals and community events with her husband and their two children. Gary Williamson Backyard Dreams From the Author: Dr. Gary Williamson was born in Kenmore, New York, in 1966, is a high school teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and has worked with teenagers for the past 20 years in a variety of capacities. I received my MBA from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, and my DBA from Walden University. In my experience, I have noticed that teens are longing to be creative and make an impact on their communities, and that is what inspired me to write this book. I currently live in Loganville, GA, with my wife Adina. Rory Smith Conquering Social Anxiety in Teens From the Author: Rory Smith is an author who writes practical, encouraging books to help teens navigate anxiety, confidence, and emotional challenges. Her work offers relatable guidance and real-world tools to help teens feel understood and more confident in who they are. Adult Authors C.S. McKinney Right Girl Wrong Time; Four-Thirty Girl; No Wrong Just Write; Pumpkin Spice Love Affair; Summer Coffee; I Am Within; If and Only If; A Ring Within a Field From the Author: Writing romance novels with suspenseful plots is something I greatly enjoy. When I'm not writing, I can be found hiking, playing music, or running. Chuck Storla Murder Two Doors Down From the Author: Edgar Award–nominated author Chuck Storla isn’t what you expect—though he’s curious what you did expect. He’s a mediocre drummer, recovering software geek, and the funniest person he knows. Amanda Cirilli The Starlight Princess; In Your Court From the Author: Amanda Cirilli is a romance author who writes characters with high emotional stakes and the obstacles they must overcome to receive their happy ending. Stephanie Judy Joy: Experiencing Heaven's Delight in Every Season From the Author: Stephanie Judy is a gatherer of people, stories, and recipes. The Georgia Tech alumna transitioned from a career in corporate training and cognitive aging research to motherhood and writes soulful, faith-based encouragement for moms navigating blended families. Marni Pallot A Re-Write for Tess From the Author: Marni Pallot is the author of her debut novel A Re-Write for Tess, a closed door romance. Marni is a writer along with being a wife and mother with six rescue dogs. Allison Bettes Red Flag Warning; Betrayal and New Beginnings; New Roots; Heat Advisory; and others From the Author: Allison is an American romantic suspense author. Her books are a thrilling blend of romance, adventure, and suspense—think Cupid Meets Crime Scene. Leigh Andrews The Ranch Hand; The Ranch Boss From the Author: Leigh Andrews was born and raised in North Georgia where she learned to love hiking and music and dabbled in creative writing. Now, Andrews writes with the goal of publishing fun literature that glorifies God above all else.

City of Jasper Mayor Kirk Raffield visited the Pickens County Library on August 7 as part of the Mayor’s Reading Club initiative. Mayor Raffield along with his team read a storybook aloud and participated in a craft with community members in attendance. The event took place in the Pickens County Library Community Room, where community members could meet with Mayor Raffield and listen to his team read one of the "Waffles the Cat" storybooks. Launched in 2022, the goal of the Mayor’s Reading Club is to improve literacy skills and success with early reading in children and youth in Georgia cities. The program is a part of Georgia City Solutions, a Georgia Municipal Association nonprofit. To learn more about offerings and upcoming events with Sequoyah Regional Library System, please visit our website: SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org.

Sequoyah Regional Library System's current Strategic Plan is coming to an end and we're seeking community input to help create our new one. While the current Strategic Plan was for 2022 through 2026, the new Strategic Plan will be for 2027-2031. SRLS invites all community members, with and without SRLS library cards, to stop by at our upcoming Drop-In Community Input Events. Attendees will move through different stations of information at their own pace, with staff present at each station to help answer questions. Event Dates & Times August 1, 10:00am - 12:00pm | Pickens County Library August 1, 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Gilmer County Library August 4, 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Gilmer County Library August 6, 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Woodstock Public Library August 8, 10:00am - 12:00pm | R.T. Jones Memorial Library August 11, 5:30pm - 7:30pm | Pickens County Library

Did you know we have merchandise for sale at all of our library locations? It's true! You can show your love for the library everywhere you go when you carry our totes or wear our tees. Your purchase of a library shirt or tote directly supports the library, helping us to deliver all of the library programs and services you love. Looking for a certain shirt style or size and don't see it at your home library location? Let us know! Our staff would be happy to reach out to other locations to see if we have your preferred style.

To celebrate Constitution Week, four SRLS locations are hosting special displays curated by local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Started by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1955 and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Constitution Week is observed every year from September 17 through September 23. The aim of Constitution Week is to commemorate the history and importance of the Constitution, while bringing attention to how it serves still today. Community members can visit any of the following SRLS locations to view a Constitution Week display: Pickens County Library Hickory Flat Public Library R.T. Jones Memorial Library Woodstock Public Library

We were delighted to welcome Georgia State Librarian Angela Stanley at our R.T. Jones Memorial Library on Thursday, October 1. Angela spent time with members of our Leadership Team to learn more about our current projects and future goals. She also grabbed some merchandise and signed up for one of our library cards during her visit. We appreciate getting to meet with Angela and discuss the important role that libraries play in our community. We look forward to our continued partnership with Angela and the Georgia Public Library Service.