Every month, the Southlake Library features new, eye-catching book displays. Some months, the displays highlight specific celebrations, such as Hispanic Heritage Month or Black History Month. Other months, library staff create exhibits designed to intrigue readers and introduce them to something new.
Past displays have included themes like "Graphic Novels: Yes, They Are Still Reading," showcasing the growing popularity of graphic novels, and "Star Wars," where fans could find their next adventure with the Force. This month, visitors will encounter a nautical-themed display, complete with tiny paper boat hats on the spines of books. Other displays feature film adaptations of books, allowing readers to explore stories in both book and movie formats.
We spoke with several staff members to learn more about their creative process behind these displays.
“As a member of the youth team, I'm always thinking about what will appeal to our younger library patrons. I aim to create collections that will pique their interest with fun signs and enhancements while presenting engaging topics that hopefully expose them to new knowledge,” said Library Assistant Alinn.
“When creating a new display for the library, we always make sure to work in teams so we can bounce ideas off each other. It is important for us to create something unique, eye-catching, and hopefully something that introduces our visitors to new topics. We try to find themes that fit the season and go all out on decorations to make it pop,” said Library Assistant Spencer.
Library staff actively engage with the community to discover what interest's local readers and to draw in those who may be unfamiliar with certain genres or formats. Whether highlighting a specific area of the library or offering a unique reading experience, these displays aim to ignite a love of reading in everyone who walks through the door.
If you haven't already, stop by the Southlake Library to check out this month's displays—and be sure to explore all the exciting reading possibilities they offer.
The Summer Reading Program thrived thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. The Southlake Public Library is incredibly grateful to our sponsors who made our 2024 Summer Reading Program a resounding success. Sponsors are truly the backbone of our program, bringing joy and inspiration to the kids of the Southlake Public Library.
Thanks to the incredible donations of Frost Bank and Peppa Pig, we were able to offer some of our most cherished prizes, including a Nintendo Switch and a snow cone machine. These fantastic prizes have become favorites among our participants.
The Library Foundation of Southlake played a pivotal role this summer by sponsoring a visit from New York Times Best Selling author James Ponti. James delighted our young readers with an engaging writing workshop, guiding them through the process of creating their own stories. Additionally, the foundation hosted a two-week writing workshop camp, teaching the principles and guidelines for crafting fun and imaginative stories.
The Friends of the Southlake Library are an indispensable part of our library community. They not only keep our book donations organized and ready for sale but also generously sponsor most of the Summer Reading prizes. Their generous donations make it possible for us to offer both small and large prizes. These prizes bring immense joy and excitement to the faces of our young participants, who absolutely love receiving them!
Thank you to these wonderful sponsors for their contributions, which made our Summer Reading Program such a memorable experience for all the kids and parents who visited the Southlake Public Library. Their support has helped foster a love of reading and learning in the library community.
To learn more about our sponsors and their contributions, visit the following links:
Learn more about the Library Foundation of Southlake
Learn more about the Friends of the Southlake Library
Learn more about Frost Bank
Learn more about Peppa Pig Theme Park
Every summer, the Southlake Library embraces a new theme, and for 2024, it’s all about camping and outdoor adventures with "Adventure Begins at Your Library." When Library Technician Ms. Karen heard about this theme, she eagerly set to work, transforming the library into a magical outdoor experience for both children and parents.
As you step into the library, you'll be greeted by walls adorned with stunning mountain scenery and a meandering river that guides you through the library space. These creative touches by Ms. Karen encourage kids to explore the library, discovering its many offerings along the way. The river starts in the early reader area and winds through various genre sections, leading all the way to the study rooms. You'll even find a charming kayak along the way!
Ms. Karen's creativity didn't stop there. She added delightful details throughout the library, including hidden animals and even alien spaceships, making the adventure even more captivating. Her efforts have truly brought the theme to life, offering a unique and engaging experience for all our visitors.
“Karen is so amazingly creative,” said Deputy Director of Library Services Cynthia Pfledderer, when asked about the designs in the library. “I admire her ability to design beautiful art out of the most random collection of materials. She brings the wow factor to the library space. We are so grateful to have her talent on our team, not just for her artistic skills, but also for the warmth and charm she brings to the library in her service to our Southlake families.”
If you see Ms. Karen in the library, she’s likely surrounded by kids eager to say hello. Be sure to compliment her on the incredible job she’s done transforming the library into a magical adventure space. Her creativity has given the children a place to explore and enjoy, making every visit feel like a new adventure. Karen’s works of art are on display through July 19.
From a reading family, Councilmember Ronell Smith believes the Southlake Summer Reading Program is invaluable. On this week's episode of Southlake City Spotlight, he shares the many benefits to children attending a summer reading program, such as preventing learning loss and increasing their IQ.
The city's librarian, Cynthia Pfledderer, also shares all the exciting activities the reading program has in store this Summer, including weekly challenges, daily scavenger hunts, an art club, a chess club, and even entertainment like animal shows and magic shows.
Click below to view the entire episode.
Bored at home? This summer, dive into everything that the Southlake Public Library has to offer with its programming for kids of all ages!
This year’s summer reading program began on May 26, but it’s not too late to sign up! The free and simple registration is still open for the “All Together Now” program which runs through July 21, 2023. This experience is full of adventures, weekly challenges, prizes, reading, and more.
Prizes this year are better than ever, ranging from toys to technology to encourage all to flip those pages! To see the prize displays, visit the library on the first floor of Town Hall.
However, if you’re looking to get out of the house, consider viewing the events tab on the Southlake Public Library Facebook page. Here, you can find a list of all upcoming events including magic shows, creature features, cultural performances, chalk art, and so much more.
Kids of all ages, and adults young at heart too, can explore the magic of making memories all summer long at the library.
For more information, please contact the Southlake Public Library at 817-748-8243 or visit www.SouthlakePublicLibrary.com.
To watch the full episode of Minute with the Mayor, click below.
Mark your calendars and get WRAPPED up with all the merry activities at the Southlake Public Library. Whether it’s Storytime with Mrs. Claus or a puppet show with Frosty and Friends, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.
Check out our Holiday Schedule:
Following the recent Library Task Force Town Hall meetings, the team will take its next steps regarding a possible new location for the Southlake Public Library.
The Task Force announced three site options at both meetings: Bicentennial Park, Carillon Parc, and Parkwood Drive (near Southlake Boulevard and Byron Nelson). They also shared ideas about facility priorities, complimentary amenities, and funding sources.
You can watch recordings of the Town Hall meetings at https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/332/On-Demand-Video.
“We heard some wonderful and thoughtful ideas and comments from residents,” said Southlake Councilmember and Library Task Force co-chair Ronell Smith. “Now, we will work with the Library Board and then the City Council to see where we can go next.”
Happening this week, the Library Board will meet in the City Council Chamber on Wednesday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting. During the meeting, the board will hear from the Task Force about their work and recommendations. Following the Library Board meeting, the next step for the Task Force is to present their recommendation at the June 7 City Council meeting.
Join the Southlake Public Library and The Great Promise Dancers for American Indians to celebrate their culture and history on Thursday, November 18 at 6 p.m. at Family Park.
This modern-day powwow is an artistic display of American Indians celebrating their heritage through dancing, live singing, drumming and narration. At the end of the event, the audience can participate. Attendees are asked to bring their own powwow or camp chairs.
The Great Promise Dancers are a renowned group and have performed across the state of Texas since 2004.
Take the 2021 Library Survey and tell us what you see for the future of the library.
The Southlake Library opened on September 26, 2001, and since that time it has enjoyed over 2.4 million visitors, offered thousands of programs to over 525,000 participants and circulated over 5.6 million books, movies, audiobooks and more. That’s a savings to Southlake Library cardholders of over $85 million on the cost of those materials. How great is that?!
Now, we’re looking ahead to the future of the Southlake Public Library. How do you want your library to improve? Are there new services you would like to see? What programs are the most important to your family? Are you finding what you need at the library, or would you like to see changes to the collection? It’s time to tell us what you want to see for the future of Southlake Library.
Take the 2021 Library Survey and share your thoughts. The survey will be available online from August 9–30, 2021. We want to hear from you, and your neighbor, and your neighbor’s neighbor. Pass it on!
Take the survey at www.CityofSouthlake.com/2021LibrarySurvey.
The Southlake Library is proud to introduce two new library card designs for patrons, which showcase the artistic talent of Southlake residents.
Carroll High School Senior Bella Hanson and Southlake resident, John P. Denk Jr., were selected by Mayor Laura Hill and the Mayor’s Alliance for Unity & Culture as two of the winners of the “We are Southlake” Poster Contest last September. The contest was held to kick off celebrations for the City’s 64th birthday and encouraged artists to visually represent what they love about Southlake. “We were thrilled to see the creativity of our incredible community,” stated Mayor Hill at the time.
This spring, when the Library decided to order new library cards, two of the winning submissions were selected for the card designs.
“The Southlake Library is very excited to be able to promote the talent of residents and celebrate their gifts by using the winning artwork designs for the two new library card covers,” stated City Librarian Cynthia Pfledderer. “The artwork chosen recognizes the vibrant culture and community pride of Southlake.”
Bella Hanson is a talented artist and is looking forward to attending Texas A&M next year after graduating in May from Carroll High School. Hanson is an AP Art Student and cheerleader, and her artwork has been selected previously by the City as a winning submission for another contest.
John P. Denk Jr. has been a Southlake resident for almost seven years and comes this way most recently by way of Chicago, although he grew up just outside of the DFW metroplex. He is an Art School graduate and has been a commercial and graphic artist.
If you haven’t visited the Southlake Library, or it has been a while, please stop by soon! The Library has exciting upcoming programs for Summer planned, and you can always stay informed of what is going on by following the Southlake Library on social media at Facebook and Instagram.
Artist - Bella Hanson
Artist - John P. Denk Jr.
