DeKalb County Public Library is one of only 30 library systems in the country, and the only one in Georgia, to win a prestigious American Library Association (ALA) "Building Common Ground" program grant. The announcement was made in December.

The purpose of the "Building Common Ground" initiative is to encourage programs that discuss and contemplate the importance of community, civility and compassion in daily life. The DeKalb system will use its $2,500 grant to fund programs this fall at the Stonecrest Library, focusing on the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia, is located in the preserve and will partner with the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance and students at Arabia Mountain High School on the programs and an exhibit focusing on the area's history, people and the cultural diversity that is bringing change to that community today.

Love Your Library from January 17 to February 29 and support library literacy programs. Donate $1 and post a literacy heart at your local DeKalb County Public Library branch. Or donate online and write Love Your Library in the comment box to have your heart posted at the Decatur Library. Your donation supports literacy programs for underserved adults and children in our community. Thank you for your support!

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) volunteers will provide income tax preparation at many DeKalb County Public Library branches. Click here for a full list of times and locations.

In the original Grimms’ version of Cinderella the rotten step-sister can’t get her foot into the shoe and her mother hands her a knife and tells her to cut off her toes to make it fit.  After all, once she’s queen she won’t need toes.  That works fine until some little birds squeal on her ...