Summer Adventure at Sharon Forks

Submitted by Jessica Dillard

Sharon Forks accepts Cumming’s challenge! Similar to Post Road, we went with the outdoors theme for the whole branch. 

As patrons enter through the lobby, they are greeted by our animal friends watching over the book return area. 

The front desk features our “Sharon Forks State Park” sign with vines falling down from the Ask Us sign. There is also a map of the “park” featuring all of the displays throughout the branch.

As you venture into the adult area, you will come across our end caps featuring adventurous reads from travel to recreational boating to camping. One end cap encourages patrons to share what library adventure was their favorite.

IS Arlene made our gorgeous mountainscapes that can be seen as you make your way through the branch. IS Hailey created some humorous “park signs” reminding patrons of “park rules.”

Patrons may notice some furry friends scattered throughout the adult side of the branch. Patrons can follow footprints to silhouettes of Georgia-native wildlife and a fact sheet about the animal. IS Staff Jessica G. and Lacey created silhouettes of a River otter, a Cottontail, a Whitetail deer, a Black bear, a Racoon, a Coyote, an Opossum, a Bobcat, and Grey Fox.

Patrons were invited to view our RA picnic baskets placed at the “picnic sites” around the adult area. IS Staff Alicia and Lola created these wonderful baskets that gave patrons a “bite-size” introduction to some adventurous genres including Eco-Fiction/Green Reads, Spicy/Romance, Classics, Foodie/Cookbooks/Food Fiction, Short Stories, Translated Fiction, and Ability Diverse Fiction.

Now for the children’s side where our wonderful YS team of Steph, Anu, Britt, and Stephani created an interactive campground scene.

Patrons enter the children’s area through either a vine-draped tunnel or the popular smaller tunnel welcoming patrons to the “campground.” As patrons enter the children’s area they are greeted on the left by our postcard engagement display on the desk that encourages kids to “send” us a postcard of their summer adventures. 

To the far right is our SRF Wall of Champions where kids who earn 500 points can write their name on a cloud and add it to the Cloud Forest. Along the back wall, YS staff set up a sunset with a tent that patrons can wander into. It has become a popular reading spot for our smaller patrons.

Then we venture further into the children’s area, patrons are invited to convene in the “campground” area to practice making s’mores and other camp-favorite foods.

YS created eye-catching end caps featuring various adventures.

And lastly our Teen Room was decorated by our lovely T.A.B. members along with YS Page’s guidance.

You can view all photos above and more in this folder. *SRF 2024 Decor*