Clayton County Library System in the Spotlight!

Forest Park Branch

The Clayton County Library System’s (CCLS) mission is to contribute to the success of the citizens of our diverse community by offering a full range of library services that meet their informational, educational and leisure interests, fostering the love of reading in our youth and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge for all. Throughout its six branch locations (Headquarters, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Morrow, Riverdale) the library system offers a wide range of programs, services and classes including children/teen and adult programming, free wireless internet, free computer classes, community outreach programs, print and electronic books, magazines and music, and access to databases such as Mango Languages, Brainfuse, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Chilton Auto Manuals, Learning Express, Galileo, and much more!

At CCLS, librarians believe in the value of connecting with patrons through exciting programming. In 2015, the system was awarded a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This grant “Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise” enables librarians to partner with key organizations in the community to teach financial literacy, home ownership, budgeting, money management, and business ownership.

CCLS also developed STEAM initiatives which include music production, writing, recording and visual media development, and built a makerspace, equipped with 3D printers, music mixing and recording equipment, and other innovative tools.

Many new and exciting changes are happening within CCLS!  In the Fall, community meetings were held for the new College Park location to better understand preferences and needs for the new branch. At the same time, the Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) was implemented to introduce self-service checkout to our community.  CCLS tagged 75% of its collection, set up staff work stations and have begun the installation of the security gates and the automated materials handling system.  When all is completed CCLS will be able to expose its community to a new level of customer engagement.

CCLS partnered with the United Way to develop Learning Spaces for the Tots (a place to prepare kids from 1-4 to learn to read), and recruited a Teen Advisory Board to provide input on what teens in the county want and need from a public library.  CCLS Advisory Board is comprised of eleven members who represent several Clayton County High Schools.

CCLS librarians collaborated with the county IT department to develop and teach computer classes to county employees, partnered with Habitat for Humanities to enlighten the public about their programs to renovate houses. County librarians teamed up with the Extension Service to offer Reality Check for teams (an interactive financial survival exercise), and partnered with Clayton State University’s Primary Care Clinic to help insure our citizens are health literate.

Clayton County Library System strives to build a stronger connection with the community, to create spaces that appeal to its patrons, and to provide FREE resources that make Clayton County a great place in which to live, work and play.

Visit CCLS website at www.claytonpl.org and Rediscover the Library.