Library news (Georgia Public Library Service), 2023 Fall

LIBRARY NEWS
Sharing stories of Georgia's libraries transforming lives and communities
Volume 21, Issue 1, Fall 2023
Archivist champions Georgia and Black history
PLAY card connects nearly half a million students to their public library Get more from GALILEO at the library
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Get more from GALILEO at the library:
Build math and reading skills with LearningExpress

This series will explore practical ways to use GALILEO, which people may remember from high school or college research projects. GALILEO also offers many useful tools for lifelong learners, from language learning to job skills to genealogy resources.

Follow the series at georgialibraries.org/use-galileo.

School is back in session, and with it may come the need for extra math or reading practice.
Did you know that with your public library card, you have access to LearningExpress Library, which offers practice and lessons for elementary, middle, and high school students?
LearningExpress Library has tests, tutorials, study guides, and more to help students improve in subjects like math and language arts. Students can use it to learn challenging material without families having to pay for a tutor. LearningExpress makes it easy to find tools based on a student's grade level.
GALILEO also offers access to several ebook collections that can be used to find books for students in any grade level. Students can practice their reading skills, find sources for their next research paper, or find books for casual reading.

BUILD ELEMENTARY FOUNDATIONS
For elementary students, LearningExpress Library offers math and reading skills improvement tools. Students can take practice tests on math topics like geometry and number operations to see how well they know the material and see why they got certain questions wrong. Students can go through guided lessons and watch videos to help them improve.
Through GALILEO, you also can find books for your student to put their reading skills to the test. Users can browse ebook collections like the EBSCO eBook K-8 Collection to find books by categories such as fiction, sports, crafts, and more, or use GALILEO's search function to find books based on a student's needs and interests.
STRENGTHEN MIDDLE SCHOOL SKILLS
Middle school students can watch videos, go through guided lessons, and take tests to improve math, reading, and writing. After completing practice tests, LearningExpress Library will break down students' scores and recommend resources like ebooks or tutorials to improve.

LearningExpress Library also offers skills improvement for math concepts such as algebra, data analysis, and geometry.

Practice tests on reading comprehension skills can help students read and understand different types of writing such as persuasive and informational.

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school's curriculum.

HOW TO ACCESS LEARNING EXPRESS LIBRARY

You can sign on and use LearningExpress Library anywhere using your library card. Here's how to get started.

Go to www.galileo.usg.edu, or look for the link on your local library's website.

On this web page, type and select the name of your public library, then use your library card number and PIN to log in.

ACHIEVE HIGH SCHOOL EXCELLENCE
LearningExpress Library also has skill improvement tools for high school students. If a student encounters a challenging topic in one of their classes and would benefit from extra practice, they can make use of the platform's many tutorials, videos, ebooks, and practice problems.
The program provides resources for math topics such as algebra and calculus, as well as for skills needed for English and language arts topics like reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling, writing, and grammar.
For high school students in need of logic and reasoning skills improvement, LearningExpress Library makes available numerous ebooks with lessons and problems to improve decision-making and problem-solving skills. Students who improve their overall ability to approach and solve challenging problems not only do better in school, but can also apply these skills in their lives beyond high school.

Your pin is the four-digit code that you set up when you received your library card.
PINES cardholders can log into their account at www.gapines.org and select "GALILEO Virtual Library" at the top of the webpage.
To find LearningExpress Library on GALILEO, with "Bento Search" selected on the homepage search bar, type and enter the name of the resource you would like to explore in the search box. The link to LearningExpress Library can be found in the "Databases" column.
Whether you're studying, teaching, or just want to learn something new, GALILEO has something for everyone. Use the suggested tools or explore GALILEO and find resources for your student's specific learning needs. n

PREPARE FOR COLLEGE

For students who are considering college, LearningExpress Library offers study guides and practice tests for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Students planning to take Advanced Placement (AP) exams have access to tools to help them prepare in subjects like biology, English, and statistics. Students can use study guides, flash cards, and practice tests to prepare for their AP exams to score well enough to earn college credit, saving valuable money on tuition.

LearningExpress Library and EBSCO ebook collections are some of the many tools available through GALILEO that make a great addition to a student's learning toolkit. They also make a great resource for teachers looking for extra reading or lesson material that works with their

Find m3ore GALILEO tips: georgialibraries.org/use-galileo.

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Archivist champions
Georgia and Black history
"I want to see myself in history, so it's important that the stories and the collections of Black people are documented, preserved, and available."
On the third floor archives at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History in Atlanta (AARL), archivist Derek Mosley unbuckles the clasp on a square cardboard box containing a decades-old reel of film. While it seems ordinary in appearance, its contents are anything but. The circular metal container inside has a handwritten label adhered with tape yellowed from many years, upon which is written in cursive: On this film, Andrew Young is narrating the story of the Civil Rights Movement.
"The Andrew Young collection is our most heavily used, and researchers come from around the world to access it," said Mosley. "People have never been able to access some of these reels, betas, or cassette tapes because we don't have the correct players."
The personal collection of the civil rights movement leader, civic activist, elected official, ambassador, and adviser to presidents includes papers, photos, and more than 300 recordings in various obsolete formats, and it is being digitized in part through a partnership with the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS), which provided funding through the American Rescue Plan Act as well as digital preservation storage for the materials.
"The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History holds vital sources of African American history in the South," said Angela Stanley, assistant state librarian for innovation and collaboration at Georgia Public Library Service. "Derek's leadership helps us understand how GPLS can support the digital preservation of their historical collections as well as those at public libraries across the state."
Through his role managing the archives at AARL, a special library of the Fulton County Library System, Mosley finds ways to make Black history more accessible.
"I want to see myself in history, so it's important that the stories and the collections of Black people are documented, preserved, and available," he said.
AARL is the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African American culture and history and of other peoples of African descent.
"Every day is something new," said Mosley. "I open up a box and fall down a rabbit hole trying to figure out the context of an item. It's a never-ending array of Black history in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Southeast."
He has been a champion for raising awareness and improving access to Black
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Derek Mosley holds an image of

Annie L. McPheeters, one of

Atlanta's first African American

professional librarians and a

champion of African American

culture and history. Her story will be

included in a digital exhibit on the

origins of the Auburn Avenue Branch

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Library, which opened in 1921 and

was the first public library in

Atlanta accessible to Black people.

Photos by Deborah Hakes
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Georgia Public Library Service | georgialibraries.org | Empowering libraries to improve the lives of all Georgians

history and culture throughout his career at AARL, the Ernest J. Gaines Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Atlanta University Center's Archives Research Center. His efforts were recognized in 2023 through an appointment as a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA). This distinction is the highest honor given by SAA and is awarded for outstanding contributions to the archives profession.
"Derek has worked diligently not only on behalf of the preservation of Atlanta African American archival collections but also for the often underappreciated materials held by public libraries more broadly," said Stanley. "We first collaborated to feature AARL in Georgia's Treasures, the first statewide print booklet listing public library archival and special collections repositories in Georgia."
DIGITIZATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FUNERAL PROGRAMS Known for his collaborative spirit and support of allied organizations, Mosley also partnered with the At-

lanta chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society to spearhead a joint project with Georgia Public Library Service to digitize over 11,500 pages of funeral programs from 1886-2019 held by both institutions.
"Funerals are such an important space for African Americans," said Mosley. "The tradition of funerals is not reserved for the wealthy or privileged, but the community. It is that lasting document of someone's life. In the program is the history, and throughout this collection you see the evolution of the stories people left for future generations. I was amazed at the one-pagers from the 1940s, and by the 2000s there were full color, multiple pages, and photographs highlighting the life and love shared by the families. This collection is a public space for legacy."
One of the programs that he found powerful was for Judge Austin Thomas Walden, the first Black municipal judge in Georgia since the Reconstruction era. He also served

in World War I as an infantryman and held many leadership positions in Georgia, including with the NAACP. His 1965 benediction was given by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr.
From the funeral program of Judge Austin Thomas Walden: He became a founder and co-chairman of the Atlanta Negro Voters League. His election in 1962 to membership on the State Democratic Party of Georgia and his appointment by Governor Carl E. Sanders as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1964 were firsts in Georgia for members of his race. Also, his appointment in 1964 by Mayor Ivan Allen as an Alternate Judge of the Municipal Courts of Atlanta was the first such appointment in Georgia and the South since the days of Reconstruction.
Documenting both urban and rural areas, the collection provides important information for genealogical research and for understanding African American life during different time periods. For example, you can read how some families migrated to

At right: The personal collection of Ambassador Andrew Young includes papers, photos, and more than 300 recordings in various obsolete formats, including those pictured here. Materials are being digitized in part through a partnership with the Georgia Public Library Service.
Images on right page, top to bottom:
Derek Mosley reshelves a box of archival materials at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History (AARL).
An image of the now demolished Auburn Avenue Branch Library, which opened in 1921 and was the first public library in Atlanta accessible to Black people. AARL is creating a digital exhibit about the library.
Mosley examines the funeral program for Andrew Young's first wife, Jean Childs Young, who died in 1994. Her program was recently digitized.
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the North to cities like Chicago and New York to pursue job opportunities. Some programs document 20 or more names in one family or in a small town, including elders in a community. Individuals can access the collection through the Digital Library of Georgia at dlg.usg.edu/collection/ aarl_afpc.
DIGITAL EXHIBIT ON ATLANTA'S FIRST BLACK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Mosley is currently leading a project to create a digital exhibit on the origins of the Auburn Avenue Branch Library, which opened in 1921 and was the first public library in Atlanta accessible to Black people. The exhibit will explore its origins, including the push for its creation by W.E.B. Dubois and faculty from Atlanta University Center, as well as its programming and benefits to the community.
"This library was the only place in the city where Black citizens could check out books and get resources for many years," said Mosley.
The building was torn down in the 1950s and sat on land now occupied by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center.
The exhibit will incorporate photos, documents, and narrative to tell the story of the branch.
One of the images included is of Annie L. McPheeters, one of Atlanta's first African American professional librarians and a champion of African American culture and history. She is pictured at a desk, smiling with an open book in front of her.
McPheeters provided library resources and services to segregated communities through programs for adults and children, such as book reviews, story hour, and a parent/teen discussion group.
"People everywhere will be able to access this digital exhibit to learn more about influential people like McPheeters and so many others,"

said Mosley. "Placing materials in context as an exhibit allows us to unravel the story so individuals can learn more about this important history of our city."
This will be the first digital exhibit done by AARL, and it is being produced in partnership with GPLS as part of the DigEx Program, which empowers libraries to use their unique digitized materials to tell the stories of their libraries and communities. Through the program, library staff learn how to conceive, plan, design, and refine a digital exhibit. GPLS provides administrative and training support while leaving local site-level control to the libraries to create their digital content.
A LEGACY IN PROGRESS
Mosley has mentored dozens of new archivists, helping them get settled in the field, writing recommendation letters, and serving as a reference. His leadership in Atlanta, Georgia, and nationally have brought attention to overlooked aspects of African American history. His partnership with Georgia Public Library Service has led to digitization of local African American collections that may have otherwise fallen into disrepair or forgotten.
"We want anyone to be able to take their question about history, say it's, `What was a day in the life of an average African American worker in Atlanta during a certain time period?' and there will be a collection where you can get that information and understand the context of living during that time," he said. "We are documenting history. This is what makes our work so impactful, we are documenting everyone's history, not just one color or one class."
Learn more about the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History : www.fulcolibra3ry. org/auburn-avenue-research-library.
Read more about how Georgia Public

Library Service supports preservation of local history and genealogy resources at public libraries at georgialibraries.org/archival-services.
GPLS' digitization initiative is supported by funds from the Library Services and Technology Act through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. n

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PLAY card connects
nearly half a million
students to their
public library
By providing digital library cards connected to school IDs, or lunch numbers, PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY) enables students to more easily utilize their local public library's collection to complement school resources. Since the program launched three years ago, 450,000 students across 41 school districts received PLAY cards for their local public library.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY) card provided vital access to digital resources for students who couldn't utilize them through their school during closures.
"The first year saw a great spike in interest as libraries and schools were trying to fill any gaps in access that the COVID-19 closures caused," said Susan Morrison, operations analyst at PINES, who manages the rollout of the PLAY program between school and public library systems.
In a post-pandemic world, PLAY has grown steadily to provide nearly half a million pre-K to 12th grade students in 41 school districts the ability to check out books without late fees, request items at any PINES library to be delivered to their local library, and use online reading and learning programs like eRead Kids, LearningExpress Library, and Mango Languages.

PLAY was developed by Georgia Public Library Service to give more youths access to their local public library and the tools they need to build literacy skills. It's a statewide initiative, but individual libraries and school systems forge local agreements for how to implement the PLAY card in their community. While virtual and distance learning have become less common, PLAY's ability to provide students with more learning resources is still playing an essential role in many students' education.

Teachers are using the program to bridge the gap when their schools do not have certain books or materials.

Cherokee Regional Library System

Two Walker County School students visit the Rossville Public Library to check out books with their PLAY cards. The library is a part of the Cherokee Regional Library System. Chelsea Kovalevskiy, the system's assistant director, believes PLAY can encourage students to become lifelong library users.

Robin Samples, director of curriculum and instruction at Walker County Schools, said, "If they're teaching a particular standard, if there's a small element of the standard that we don't have the resources for, now with that `unlimited library' they're able to find a resource through the

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Georgia Public Library Service | georgialibraries.org | Empowering libraries to improve the lives of all Georgians

value exponentially."

Public library staff connect with families by attending school events like open houses, school registration events, PTA meetings, and other local community events.

"We are able to visit the schools more often, provide more value to the students, and in turn the school system has a better understanding of how their students use the library," said Kovalevskiy.

public library for pretty much every area of the curriculum that they teach."
Walker County Schools partners with Cherokee Regional Library System for PLAY. "Teachers have really appreciated the increase in teaching materials, and PLAY continues to be used in more classrooms throughout the district," said Samples.

The Azalea Regional Library System began its local PLAY card program in 2020. They currently partner with six school districts, with another joining in October 2023. Once that onboarding process is complete, every public school system within the library system's service area will have access. The system recently ran a marketing campaign to promote awareness and usage of PLAY, which was funded through a Georgia Public Library Service grant.

The benefits extend beyond the classroom. Rita Harris, director of community engagement for Live Oak Public Libraries, has witnessed firsthand how PLAY reduces barriers to library usage, such as eliminating late fees so students can check out books worry-free.
"A parent came into Forest City Library with her four children. She wanted to get library cards for them, but she had late fees on her account," said Harris. "The library explained that her children could check out items fines free with their student PLAY accounts. The children were all so excited to be able to check out books again."

To give students a tangible way to remember to use library resources, physical PLAY cards were designed and disseminated to elementary, middle, and high schools. PLAY cards are traditionally offered solely in digital format. During classroom visits, library staff guided students through the sign-up process for Hoopla and Libby, streaming and music platforms, and showcased the wide range of content available for educational endeavors and personal enjoyment.
Library staff also engaged with their communities at

Christine Bartlan has made PLAY a part of her children's and students' learning experience.

"PLAY has been very beneficial to my kindergarten classroom," she said. "The school does not have a library on campus, and we are very thankful to have a PINES library close by. Students have such joy being independent and checking out their own books," said Bartlan.

When school and public library systems agree to partner for the program, they encourage students to use their PLAY cards in the classroom, at the library, and at home.

"We've taught kids how to check out books from eRead Kids on their school Chromebooks, how to access Mango Languages and LearningExpress Library, and more," said Chelsea Kovalevskiy, assistant director of Cherokee Regional Library System. "While our schools have always appreciated what the public library offers their students, that value has been diminished by the difficulty in accessing it. PLAY enables us to make more easily accessible what we've always brought to the table, increasing its

As part of a rec3ent marketing campaign, the Azalea Regional Library System provided students across six school districts with physical PLAY cards and visited classrooms to share benefits of using it. Photo by Ivy Corder, Azalea Regional Library System.

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"I love to use my PLAY card; I learned about it from the library," said Auriel from Loganville.
With PLAY, students can check out books from the public library with their own account.

programs and events to raise awareness about the PLAY card and its benefits. Outreach activities allowed them to interact with residents, initiating conversations about the PLAY card and encouraging its usage.
"The success of such a program depends on effective communication, a clear understanding of roles, and a shared commitment to enriching students' lives through educational experiences," said Stacy Brown, executive director of Azalea Regional Library System. "Our library system provides valuable resources and learning opportunities to students, and schools support the PLAY student card program by promoting it to students, parents, and staff."

communities, and I think being able to experience all that the library has to offer is so important at a young age," said Morrison.
She is excited about the increase in access to public library resources and services for students, as well as the efforts to improve the program and expand PLAY to more students.
"We are continuously evaluating our process to grow the program with public schools and also seeing how we can offer these same benefits to as many students as possible, including students who attend private or virtual schools," said Morrison.

The program is a great way to strengthen relationships between public libraries and the schools and communities they serve.
"Georgia's public libraries do so much to support their

PLAY is expanding to more schools across the state this fall, including Lowndes County, Lanier County, Valdosta City, Toombs County, and Putnam County. Reach out to your child's school or public library to find out if PLAY is available. n

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Measure the radon level in your home with a kit from the library

New partnership promotes public health by providing electronic radon monitors for checkout at all Georgia public libraries.
The University of Georgia Extension and the Georgia Public Library Service are partnering to promote radon safety and awareness across the state.
By checking out a radon level monitoring kit with their library card, patrons can easily evaluate the radon levels in their living spaces and determine if they are in danger. Radon kills nearly 21,000 people each year, more than 800 of them in Georgia. Radon can affect any home, regardless of construction or age. If found, radon can be fixed by installing a radon mitigation system.

non-smokers. It occurs naturally when uranium breaks down to form radon. Uranium is often found in high concentrations in granite rocky soils, as are common in northern Georgia counties. As radon is released into the soil, it can enter buildings through the foundation and well water, eventually accruing to dangerous levels. As with any safety issue potentially facing your home, always contact a professional for an expert opinion.
The program is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency's State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grants Program. For more information about radon visit radon.uga.edu.

"We're thrilled to see these monitors arriving at libraries around the state," said Derek Cooper, radon educator at the University of Georgia. "Each has the potential to be used hundreds of times and could prevent countless cases of lung cancer. The key to knowing your home is radon safe is to test."

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking and is the leading cause of lung cancer in

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Georgia Public Library Service 2872 Woodcock Blvd, Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30341 (404) 235-7200 www.georgialibraries.org
Julie Walker, state librarian Fabian Munive, contributor Deborah Hakes, editor dhakes@georgialibraries.org
Library News (ISSN 1546-511X) is published by the Georgia Public Library Service, the state agency that empowers public libraries to improve the lives of all Georgians. This publication is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Georgia Public Library Service under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. Information presented in this newsletter will be provided in alternative formats on request. For more information about Georgia's libraries, visit georgialibraries.org.
Cover photo by Deborah Hakes

Your child's reading journey begins with 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Every time you read a book together, you're giving the gifts of language, vocabulary, and the necessary pre-reading skills for kindergarten. Use Beanstack to log your reading, earn badges, and earn fun and exciting prizes along the way.
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