Search Results

About the history of Sequoyah Regional Library System About Your Library History of SRLS In September of 1922, the Canton Woman’s Club put forth the initial plans for a public library in Canton, and in 1923, the club gave a collection of books which established Canton’s first public library. The collection was housed in rent-free space behind Higgins Jewelry Store on Main Street and presided over by the late Miss Malinda Roberts who volunteered to keep it open two days a week. In 1957, the R.T. Jones Foundation bought the old McAfee home on Main Street to house the library, also providing the $25,000 needed to remodel the home for library use. At this time, the library became qualified for State aid which enabled the library to expand its collection. The State also loaned the library a bookmobile in 1957 until the library purchased its own in 1958. In 1932, Pickens County Library had its beginnings when a group of 4-H girls and Home Demonstration Clubs expressed a desire for something to read. Henrietta White Darnell, a Home Demonstration agent, borrowed fifty books at a time from the Georgia State Library Commission and checked them out to her club members. While the present Pickens County courthouse was under construction, the library was housed in the Pickens County High School (now Jasper Middle) until 1949, when the library was given a room in the basement of the newly constructed courthouse. Charter members of the Pickens County Library Board of Trustees were Ruth Adams, Marjorie Floyd Butchart, and Henrietta Darnell. In 1958, the Pickens County Library became affiliated with R.T. Jones Library, creating the Cherokee-Pickens Regional Library. Gilmer County Library was founded in the summer of 1940 as a room inside the Gilmer County Courthouse. Started as a federal W.P.A. project, the library also had local support from J & C Bedspread Company, the City of Ellijay, and the Ellijay Women’s Club. Charter members of the Gilmer County Library Board of Trustees were Mrs. E.T. Hudson, Chairman; Mrs. R.W. Smith, Co-Chairman; Mayor Willard Holden; L.N. Foster, School Superintendent; C.F. Owen, Editor; and Mrs. Joe McCutchen, J & C Bedspread Company representative. The Gilmer County Board of Education and the Library Board of Trustees began to share responsibility and expenses, and during the summer of 1956 the library moved into a building located behind the old Ellijay Elementary School gymnasium and which also housed the old cannery (across from the present location of the First United Methodist Church). This location continued to serve as both a public and elementary school library until the current library building was constructed in 1977, and the two collections were separated. In 1957, a committee was appointed to contact Pickens and Cherokee counties with the idea of joining their regional library, with their report returning favorable if finances could be achieved. At that time, Gilmer County library was funded by a combination of State and County matching funds based on the number of students, money from the State Library Commission, and miscellaneous local donations. In 1959, plans were formalized to join the regional system with the Cherokee and Pickens counties. Commissioner Harold Hefner and Superintendent Everett Weeks agreed to increase their offices’ contributions, making it possible for Gilmer County Library to join the regional library. On July 1, 1961 the Cherokee-Pickens-Gilmer Regional Library was renamed as the Sequoyah Regional Library System. In the late 1980s, the 8,000 square foot R.T. Jones Library at 400 East Main Street was no longer sufficient for the growing population. Chairman of the Board of Trustees W.W. Denney began the search for a site to house a larger facility, and on July 20, 1989 a transaction was completed that would provide three acres for a new 30,000 square foot building. Cherokee County purchased the building on Main Street, making the site on Highway 20 near I-575 available. Groundbreaking was held March 8, 1990, and on May 1, 1991 the building opened to the public. Dedication of the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, was held June 12, 1991 with Chairman Denney giving a warm welcome and Senator Bill Hasty introducing the speaker, Lt. Governor Pierre Howard. In 1964, the Woodstock Public Library was established and as the community’s population grew, additional library space was needed to keep pace with growth. In Cherokee County, three new libraries were added as a response to the exponential growth that was taking place in the 1980s and 1990s: Rose Creek Public Library in 1991, Hickory Flat Public Library in 1993, and Ball Ground Public Library in 1997. In 1996, the Sequoyah Regional Library System signed a contract with the Cherokee County Law Library Board to administer the Law Library located in the Justice Center. More than 100 years after the beginning of R.T. Jones Library in Canton, Sequoyah Regional Library System strives to continue offering new resources, programs, and spaces to keep pace with the community’s need for more services. Pickens County Library, D.B Carrol Street location, 1980-1994 Gilmer County Library, Dalton Street Location, 1977-2007

Calendar of Events at the Sequoyah Regional Library System SRLS Events

The Sequoyah Regional Library System Success Measures Success Measures TITLE 1000+ TITLE 1000+ TITLE 1000+ TITLE 1000+ Events & Programs Cardholders Visitors Total Check Outs 2023-2024 Annual Report 2022-2023 Annual Report 2021-2022 Annual Report 2020-2021 Annual Report 2019-2020 Annual Report

Policies for the Sequoyah Regional Library System. About Your Library Policies Privacy and Disclosures View Policy Internet use View Policy Parent & Teachers View Policy Public Service View Policy Collection View Policy

A traveling exhibit of University of Georgia athletics materials and memorabilia. SRLS News UGA athletics coming to R.T. Jones Memorial Library July 5, 2023 A traveling exhibit of University of Georgia athletics materials and memorabilia will be on display at the R. T. Jones Memorial Library on July 14, from 11:00am until 3:00pm. The exhibit is sponsored by The University of Georgia’s Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library and will feature memorabilia from the UGA Athletic Association Archive. Jason Hasty, the UGA Athletics History Specialist for the Hargrett Library, will be touring public libraries around the state during the summer with the exhibit. “We have such a rich athletics history at UGA,” Hasty said. “This traveling exhibit is a great way to take some of the most interesting artifacts we have in the UGA Athletic Association archives out of storage to public libraries around the state for a fun, family friendly event.” These traveling exhibits are free and open to the public. The Hargrett Library, which is located in the Richard B. Russell Special Collections Libraries Building on the University of Georgia campus, is one of three special collections libraries that are part of the University of Georgia Libraries. For more information about these traveling exhibits, please contact Jason Hasty at hasty@uga.edu .

Sequoyah Regional Library System is pleased to provide local authors with the opportunity to have their works placed in the library’s Local Author collection. Local Author Sequoyah Regional Library System is pleased to provide local authors with the opportunity to have their works placed in the library’s Local Author collection. This collection is designed to showcase local writers, especially those whose books are not yet widely-reviewed or stocked by libraries and bookstores. If you are a local author and wish to donate a copy of your book, please complete the Local Author Donation form and take the completed form along with your book to any location of the Sequoyah Regional Library System. Please see the form for complete guidelines. Local Author Donation Form

Contact your library: 116 Brown Industrial Parkway Canton, GA 30114 Contact Us Address 116 Brown Industrial Parkway Canton, GA 30114 Phone 770-479-3090 Contact Form Contact Connect Local Author Information Learn More Suggest A Title Suggest A Title Share A Sequoyah Story Share What To Read Next Get Recommendations Contact Location Ball Ground Public Library 435 Old Canton Roa d Ball Ground, GA 30107 770-735-2025 Gilmer County Library 268 Calvin Jackson Drive Ellijay, GA 30540 706-635-4528 Hickory Flat Library 2740 East Cherokee Drive Canton, GA 30115 770-345-7565 Pickens County Library 100 Library Lane Jasper, GA 30143 706-692-5411 Rose Creek Public Library 4476 Towne Lake Parkway Woodstock, GA 30189 770-591-149 1 R.T. Jones Memorial Library 116 Brown Industrial Parkway Canton, GA 30114 770-479-309 0 Woodstock Public Library 7735 Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188 770-9 26-5859 Law Library 100 North Street Suite 250 Canton, GA 30114 678-493-6175

Support your Library with Materials donations, financial gifts, volunteers, and partnering Support Your Library Community support allows us to thrive. Here are ways you can help. Material Donations SRLS accepts material donations, up to 10 items, based on the following guidelines: Books (hardcover, paperback, trade, board, large print) published 2020 or later audiobooks published 2020 or later DVDs and Blu-rays (no date limit) Games/Puzzles High demand/popular/best-selling series and authors (any publication date) Examples: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dork Diaries Agatha Raisin mysteries Debbie Macomber We do not accept the following: Magazines VHS tapes Audio Cassettes Encyclopedias Textbooks Any item in poor condition or that has writing, personal inscriptions, strong odors, or stains. Patrons wishing to donate more than 10 items and up to 5 boxes or items that do not meet donation guidelines have the following options: The Better World Books drop box in the R.T. Jones parking lot. The Woodstock Public Library, Hickory Flat Public Library, Pickens County Library, and Gilmer County Library will accept large donations on Tuesdays or Thursdays, 11am-5pm. Financial Gifts Financial gifts support our collection, programs and other library services. By making a gift, your money will be used for the greatest need of SRLS, unless otherwise directed. Financial gifts can be made online, via mail or in-person. To gift via mail or in person, please complete the Financial Donation Form (upload form) and mail or drop it off donation to one of our locations. Volunteer We appreciate members of the community that want to support the library through volunteering. Here are the ways those interested can get involved: Friends of the Library Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to join their local Friends of the Library group, which has regular opportunities to get involved through assisting with book sales, advocating for the library, library programs, and more. Click here to learn more about what the Friends of the Library do and how to get involved. Sequoyah Squad Volunteers Sequoyah Squad volunteers must be over the age of 18. Volunteer opportunities can be limited based on availability at our libraries. Sequoyah Squad volunteers are able to assist with shelving books, light cleaning, library programs, and more. Community members can express interest in becoming a Sequoyah Squad volunteer by submitting a Contact Us form. Teen Advisory Board & Auxiliary Teen Advisory Board 6th - 12th grade students who want to volunteer at the library can apply to our Teen Advisory Board or Auxiliary Teen Advisory Board. Click here to visit our Teen page and learn more. Kroger Community Rewards Any transactions using the Shopper’s Card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program, at no added cost to you. Kroger donates annually to participating organizations based on your percentage of spending as it relates to the total spending associated with all participating Kroger Community Rewards organizations. The program is simple. If you shop at Kroger, you probably have a Kroger Plus card. When you register your Kroger Plus Card online, you can then select Sequoyah Regional Library as the organization of your choice. The SRLS Community rewards Account number is MW313. Partners Partnerships are a pathway for the Sequoyah Regional Library System to further support our Mission, Vision, and Values through a mutually beneficial relationship with longevity in mind. SRLS Partnerships can look like creating avenues for collaborating on public services, programming, cross-promoting, sharing resources, etc. The terms are generated by involved parties to ensure that they are mutually beneficial with shared responsibilities, purposeful, and sustainable for years to come. Interested in becoming a library partner? Reach out to us via our Contact Us page. Financial Donation Form Kroger Rewards Information Questions? Anchor FOL Friends Of The Library Each of our counties has a Friends group in operation. These groups are made up of volunteers who organize themselves independently to support our libraries. What does a Friends group do? Advocate for the libraries and library services, spreading the word about libraries and lifelong learning. Raise and contribute funds for supplemental books, materials, equipment and library programs. Volunteer to help with special library events, collaborative community efforts and reading programs for children and adults. Promote the use of the library, reading and literacy programs by all members of the community Join Friends of the Library today and help support your library! Click the links below to learn more about each of our Friends group and become a member. Friends of the Cherokee County Public Libraries Friends of Pickens Library Friends of the Gilmer County Library Friends is a 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

The Pickens County Library 100 Library Lane Jasper, GA 30143 Pickens County Library Address 100 Library Lane Jasper, GA 30143 Contact 706-692-5411 Manager: Katie Dobson Opening Hours Monday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM VIEW BRANCH VIRTUAL TOUR COMMUNITY SPACES UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Historic Cherokee County Courthouse, 2nd Floor 90 North Street Canton, GA 30114 Law Library Address 100 North Street Suite 250 Canton, GA 30114 Contact Opening Hours 678-493-6175 Manager: Melissa Kelley Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CLOSED CLOSED

This winter, visit your library, curl up with a good book, and win special prizes along the way by participating with Beanstack. SRLS News Winter Literacy and Holiday Happenings at SRLS November 21, 2024 Holiday Happenings at Sequoyah Regional Library System Sequoyah Regional Library System is excited to announce Winter Literacy 2024: Snow Place Like the Library. Each year, the SRLS Winter Literacy initiative encourages continued reading and community engagement throughout the winter break. From December 1 through January31, community members can participate in an all-ages reading challenge for the chance to win prizes. SRLS will be hosting multiple holiday events and programs at each of its libraries for community members to attend at no cost, including the annual Holiday Open Houses. Holiday Open Houses feature a meet and greet with Santa, local performances and visits, and more. View our Holiday Open House schedule here: - Gilmer County Library | December 2, 5:00 PM - Pickens County Library | December 3, 5:30 PM - Woodstock Public Library | December 5, 5:30 PM - Ball Ground Public Library | December 5, 5:30 PM - Hickory Flat Public Library | December 9, 5:00 PM - Rose Creek Public Library | December 10, 6:00 PM - R.T. Jones Memorial Library | December 11, 5:30 PM To learn more about Winter Literacy and the holiday happenings at SRLS, please visit our Winter Literacy webpage: SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org/Winter-Literacy. Library cards are always available at no cost to community members in Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer counties. We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Local artist Katie May recently donated her time and talents to paint a mural on Hickory Flat Public Library’s retaining wall. Featuring colorful books and vibrant plants, Katie May says the inspiration for the color palette came directly from the library’s interior colors. Latest SRLS News Mural Donation at Hickory Flat Public Library September 4 , 2025 Local artist Katie May recently donated her time and talents to paint a mural on Hickory Flat Public Library’s retaining wall. Featuring colorful books and vibrant plants, Katie May says the inspiration for the color palette came directly from the library’s interior colors. “The color scheme is exactly mirrored from the indoor space of this library,” says Katie. “I really wanted to reflect the same sort of modern, clean-line feel.” The mural was completed over the summer and was inspired by Katie May’s love for reading and desire to give back to the library in her community. The mural also features a few hidden personal touches, such as a blue ribbon honoring a friend of the artist’s who passed and a heart at the request of her youngest daughter. “It is wonderful to see the library reflected in a creative way outside of our four walls,” says Angela Cortellino, Executive Director of Sequoyah Regional Library System. “We really appreciate the time and talent of Katie and are so glad she was willing to share this with the community.” Hickory Flat Public Library is one of seven library locations for Sequoyah Regional Library System. To learn more about SRLS and see a full list of locations, please visit our website: SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org.