Evonne Sims and her two nieces settled into auditorium seats last week to watch the Disney movie "Ratatouille," at the Decatur library. The movie was free.

They even walked to the event. All of this saved money.

Helena Oliviero/holiviero@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Ja'Way Gibson (from left), Arteedra Levitt and Evonne Sims settle in to watch a movie at the Decatur library.

"I got on the Internet last night and did my research," Sims said. "I wanted to do something fun with my nieces, but one that didn't cost a lot."

Beyond books, a slew of free children's activities are also on deck at your neighborhood library — puppet shows, music time and family movie nights (you can bring your blankets and dinner, too).

In a sign of the times, library events are drawing big crowds. Almost 100 people turned out recently to make paper plate portholes.

"We have had busy summers before, but I have never seen anything like this in my 17 years of service to the library," said Patricia Dollisch, youth services manager of the Decatur branch, the main library of the DeKalb County Public Library system.

Activities vary from one library to the next. To find your neighborhood library and a schedule of events, go to www.georgialibraries.org/directories/publiclibdir.php.

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