Friends of the
East Atlanta Library

About Us

The purposes of the Friends of the East Atlanta Library (FEAL) are to support the East Atlanta library branch: focusing public attention on the library and its resources, programs, volunteers, and legislative needs. As a nonprofit organization, we offer a way for patrons and supporters to give donations and bequests that directly benefit the East Atlanta library branch.

We support the East Atlanta library with funds for children and adult programs (that are free to the public), artist exhibit space and receptions, summer reading program and supplies, other necessary supplies and equipment that are not in the FCLS budget, and staff recognition and hospitality for special days or holidays.

Support Us - Become a Friend

Become a FRIEND of the East Atlanta Library! We make it easy to join online. And your membership and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The Friends of East Atlanta Library Inc is a 501(c)3 organization. You can join for as little as $10-$100 a year. Donations in any amount are always welcome.

Give a gift of membership to the Friends of East Atlanta Library (FEAL)!

Book Lover Membership... We have a newly designed Friends of East Atlanta Library tote (limited supply). Join or renew or gift a membership at the Book Lover level of $50 or more, we will reserve a special tote for you!

Memberships make great gifts for the book lover in your life.

Your donation/gift includes a year-long FEAL membership and a special tote bag!

Membership Levels

Student/Teacher $10
Individual/Family $25
Book Lover $50
Business Supporter $100

Become a FRIEND Now

Events

Annual Meeting & Author Talk

Saturday, November 16,
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
East Atlanta Library Meeting Room

Join us for the FEAL Annual Meeting and Author Talk with Robert Sarwark. After a very brief Annual Membership meeting with updates from the Board of the Friends of the East Atlanta Library, we will turn it over to our guest author and Grant Park resident, Robert M. Sarwark to discuss his book, The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture. He will take you on a journey through the history of dragons and take your questions! He will make books available for purchase to sign or bring your pre-owned copy to sign.

10% of proceeds of book sales support the Friends of the East Atlanta Library.

Guests can then mingle and enjoy light appetizers and beverages provided by the Friends of the East Atlanta Library.

Please RSVP below to give us an idea of how many people to expect.

RSVP HERE

Motivational Fitness for Older Adults

1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesdays of Every Month
11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Join friends and Instructor Rae Rae at the East Atlanta Library Branch for this 45 minute wellness empowerment class. It is suitable for adults who enjoy low impact exercise and conversations! Free and New and returning patrons welcome!

Sponsored by the Friends of the East Atlanta Library

The Friends of the East Atlanta Library are excited to continue our Book Club meeting monthly.

Join the Friends of the East Atlanta Library Book Club meeting. The club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the East Atlanta Library meeting room.

This book club is for adults only and no childcare is available. All are welcome (new and returning participants). Free. Waters and snacks provided.

For 2024, we will be reading/discussing:

January: "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride

February: "The Sentence", Louise Erdrich

March: "Tom Lake", Anne Patchett

April: "The Covenant of Water", Abraham Verghese

May: "Still Life", Sarah Winman

June: "Yellow Face", R. F. Kuang (meeting was cancelled due to library closure)

August: "The Measure", Nikki Erlick

September: "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo", Taylor Jenkins Reid

October: "The Women", Kristin Hannah

November: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Choelho

December: TBD

If you haven't signed up previously, please complete this form, to show your interest.

See the event on our Facebook page!

Previous Book Club Selections (2022-2023)

December 2023: "The Christmas Orphans Club" by Becca Freeman.
November 2023: "Hamnet" by Maggie O’Farrell
October 2023: "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield
September 2023: "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future" by Jean M. Twenge, PhD
August 2023: "Maame" by Jessica George
June 2023: "Trust" by Hernán Díaz
May 2023: "Firekeeper's Daughter" by Angeline Boulley
April 2023: "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee
March 2023: “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks
February 2023: We were supposed to discuss "Horse" at February meeting but many of the members had read "Demon Copperhead" and decided to talk about it.
January 2023: a choice of books by Amor Towles: "A Gentleman in Moscow", "Lincoln Highway" and "Rules of Civility."
October 2022: "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict.
September 2022: "Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress” by Dai Sijie.

News

New Youth Librarian Hired - Meet Benjamin Lynch

The East Atlanta Library has a new Youth Librarian! The library staff, community and the Friends of the East Atlanta Library are so excited to welcome Benjamin Lynch to the East Atlanta Branch after two years without a youth librarian. Mr. Lynch previously served as a media specialist for 14 years out of 21 years in Georgia public education, and holds an MLIS, a Specialist in Instructional Technology, and a BA in English.

We asked Mr. Lynch a few questions for a get to know you article in the Porch Press.

Q: “Finish the sentence: I’m most looking forward to ________ in this new role as the East Atlanta branch youth librarian.”

Lynch: “I am most looking forward to starting a board game collection as the East Atlanta branch youth librarian.

Lynch has two children, ages 5 and 2 ½ and lives in the nearby East Lake

neighborhood. Lynch enjoys reading mostly nonfiction and big science fiction novels. His favorite all time read remains Proust’s "In Search of Lost Time." With youngsters athome, he reads lots of children’s books and has developed an appreciation for Dav Pilkey’s "Dogman", who has quickly become a favorite series of his son. Lynch’s hobbies are reading, 40K and building models, playing board games, and video games.

Please stop in the branch and say hello!

EAV Strut Supports the Friends of East Atlanta Library!

We're so excited to be recipients of a $6,000 grant from the East Atlanta Strut from 2023 Strut! We are so excited about this increased grant - we have increased program support and created a Book Fund to add to our book collection. Thank you for supporting the East Atlanta library branch and its patrons! You're awesome! Thanks to our President, Shannon Sanders for applying for the grant again!

Picture from 2019 when we were awarded $1,000 grant.
Left to right (EAV Strut mbr), Terra Cribbs (EA Library Branch Mgr), Shannon Sanders (FEAL President), Constance Franklin (FEAL VP), Shayla Rose (EAV Strut), Meredith Latta (former EA Library Youth Librarian).

FEAL Annual Meeting - 2023

We had a wonderful FEAL Annual Meeting on Monday, December 4 at the East Atlanta Library conference room. Constance Franklin, FEAL President, welcomed members and guests. Terra Cribbs, EA Branch Manager, provided us with updates on the library activities. Shannon Sanders, FEAL Vice President, gave an overview of the accomplishments of FEAL this year. The members in attendance voted on the slate of Board of Directors. Officers roles will be voted on by the Board of Directors in January.

The music was lovely and provided by Kayla & Steve's Little Jazzy Duo. The refreshment spread was provided by Beverly Turner, the FEAL event hostess/chair extraordinaire!

FEAL Board Members

Meet our returning and new board members! (from Left to right) Brian Page, Lyn Hillman, Sheila Levy, Lashanon Johnson, Constance Franklin, Dennis Burleson, Nancy Mullins, Shannon Sanders, Beverly Turner and Doug Kaye (not pictured).

New FEAL Board Members

Welcome to our two new board members: Lashanon Johnson and Brian Page. We are excited to have these two board members join us!

Ms Pat Retires after 39 Years!

A huge “Best Wishes” to Ms. Patrica Davis-Daniel who is retiring after 39 years (30 at our branch) of library services! We had a wonderful time celebrating with her on October 5, 2023. More about Ms. Pat below.

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Ms. Davis-Daniel started in August 1984 at the Alpharetta Branch and has worked at several locations including Ponce and Kirkwood. Of her 39 years, nearly 30 have been serving the community of East Atlanta! Ms. Davis-Daniel is known for high touch and highly personal delivery of customer service which has kept us open many times after library hours. But that is just the level of attention she gives everyone, from the first person to the last one will be given the same courtesy and respect. The community she serves will miss her smile and warm greetings as we will as well.

Visit Our Bookstore Shelf

Our Friends Book Store is OPEN for business! It's easy - once you find a book you want to purchase, scan the QR code on your mobile from the sign and pay! Simple. Books are $2 - $3. And feel free to add a little extra to your purchase! It's our fundraiser!

If you have any questions, please email us.

Please note, the library branch cannot accept payments for these purchases.

Lobby Book Drop Gift

As the branch opened to in-person services, the Friends of the East Atlanta Library (FEAL) purchased a new book drop located in the lobby of the branch to make it easy for patrons to drop their checked-out books in the lobby before entering the library and allow for social distancing.

Celebrating Library Staff

During the pandemic, FEAL continued to support the library and staff as best we could. We have typically provided a holiday staff lunch towards the end of the year and an appreciation brunch during Library Workers Appreciation Week. Fortunately, the staff was working in the library for curbside and we were able to continue our support of these celebrations.