FUND A PROGRAM
DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) hosts a variety of skill building programs, and best of all, they are offered free of charge!
Chess
“Remember to shake hands before you begin,” instructs Keith Baldwin, the chess coach at the Decatur Library. In 2023, Keith, a longtime Decatur patron, brought the idea of starting a chess club at the library to Lauren the youth services librarian who loved the idea of offering chess to young patrons. “The Decatur Library was my favorite library as a child, so it was the first place I thought of when I was looking for a place where I could share my love of chess with others,” said Keith. Youngsters from ages 8 – 12 participate in weekly chess instruction. Donations from individuals and a small grant from the Solarium in Decatur help fund the chess sets and fees for the program. One regular player recently participated in a chess competition which featured players from Russia! Keith hopes to expand the program into beginning and intermediate classes and eventually find more tournaments for the players to attend. When asked why they like chess, the players responded, “Because it’s fun!”
Jewelry with Gin
One of DCPL’s most popular programs began after a chance encounter at the Chamblee Library. Virginia Milner of “Jewelry with Gin,” shared a vision of a jewelry travelogue series with the manager, and before she knew it, Gin was researching jewelry styles to create the class series. Five years and a pandemic later, the “Jewelry with Gin” weekly Friday video tutorials garner hundreds and sometimes thousands of views from DeKalb residents and viewers from all over the world. “I can see participants commenting, Hi from Paris or Hi from Canada,” said Gin. Each week, Gin teaches viewers how to make a new piece and she has many regulars. She also teaches in-person classes at a few DeKalb library locations. Regular participants know exactly when the class registration opens up, and they sign up immediately. Gin loves working with wire to make unique bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Her students love them too. A student recently commented, “I enjoy all the projects you do. I always can’t wait to see what is next to make!”
Join us as we raise $25,000 to support library programs such as these. A gift in any amount will help us reach our goal. Thank you.