Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 11, no. 2 (Oct. 2013 )

A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries

volume 11, issue 2 I October 2013

Chromeboxes shine in public library pilot program

A new joint project between Google and Georgia Public resize, re-evaluate and revise the traditional idea of

Library Service is proving that Chrome can shine brightly computing. The box itself is just that: a small, square box

at public libraries.

about the size of an average wireless

router. Manufactured by Samsung, the

As the days of boxy desktop

boxes contain the same inputs and

computers and overheating laptops

outputs as any other computer (VGA/

dwindle to an end, the Rossville Public

DVI, USB, HMDI, etc.), 4GB of RAM, an

Library, a branch of the Cherokee

Intel Celeron processor, an

Regional Library system, is serving as the

Ethernet port, a local area

pilot location for this new initiative. Its

network (LAN) port, wireless

goal is to streamline -- financially and

capabilities and Bluetooth

physically -- public computer availability

compatibility. The space taken

and use in public libraries. Since August,

up by a box, monitor, mouse

Chromeboxes have been occupying the

and keyboard is significantly less

spaces in Rossville that previously were

than most traditional PCs,

tangled with wires and burdened by traditional bulky desktops.
Lecia Eubanks, director of

allowing for more workstations or

Chromebox, monitor, mouse and keyboard take up more breathing room among

significantly less space than most traditional public library computers.

them.

Cherokee Regional, said of the transition: "It is going

So where is the hard drive? It's there, all right; it's just

surprisingly well. We were prepared for all kinds of issues not what people are accustomed to.

to crop up, but they have been few and far between."

All of a Chromebox's software and storage reside in

Chromeboxes are Google products that seek to

See Chromebox, page 8

Houston County 5-year-old
wins Path2College sweepstakes
When Georgia Public Library Service joined Georgia's
Path2College 529 Plan to kick off this year's "Reading Makes Cents!" Sweepstakes in Houston County, few could have guessed the organizations would return four months later to crown the winner.

But those 134-to-1 odds came true, when Warner Robins kindergarten student Natalie Brantley's name was drawn as the winner of the Path2College 529 Plan's 2013 Summer Reading Program Sweepstakes.

Mitch Seabaugh (right) presents a check for $5,529 to the Brantley family -- Amanda (center), Nathan (left), 5-year-old Natalie and 18month-old Jake -- at Houston County Public Library System's Centerville branch on Sept. 10.

With her victory, the 5-year-old took home $5,529 for her college savings plan following a Sept. 10 ceremony at Houston County Public Library System's Centerville branch.
See Sweepstakes, page 2

Staff

Staff

Sweepstakes
Continued from page 1
"As a teacher, I love books and I love to read," said Amanda Brantley, Natalie's mom. "I want to instill those same qualities in my children, and the best way to do that is to immerse them into fun and exciting books. Libraries are filled with great books that open the door to endless learning opportunities and experiences."

For the past four years, GPLS has partnered with Georgia's Path2College 529 Plan to encourage reading over the summer months and remind families about the importance of financially preparing for future educational expenses.
"Our libraries are helping children build a strong academic foundation and a love of learning through the Summer Reading Program, along with the many other programs offered by Georgia's libraries," said Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan. "By partnering with the public libraries, we hope that as families are working with their children to improve their reading skills, we can get them thinking about their children's future and to start building the financial foundation they will need to go to college."
Brantley said that she entered both of her children in the sweepstakes, "because even the smallest chance to win money toward their college education was worth the effort!"
While Natalie's dream is to become a princess and an art teacher, her family knows that having a college savings plan for her will help her with whatever her goals are when she grows up.
"I know that it's never too early to start saving for your child's

Representing this year's winning libraries at the Centerville ceremony were (from left): Gail Evans, manager of the Gwinnett County Public Library's Grayson branch; Sharon Deeds, youth services coordinator for the DeKalb County Public Library; Penelope Stanescu, children's specialist at the Centerville Public Library; Nancy Granger, head librarian at the Centerville Public Library; Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan; Pam Yates, vice president of Houston County Friends of the Library and HCL board member; Elaine Black, director of youth services for GPLS; and Kim James, children's librarian at the Athens-Clarke County Library.

future," said Brantley. "As a person who currently has student loan debt, I see the importance of planning ahead and saving for an education. My hope for Natalie is that she finishes her college education with no or very little student loan debt."
Brantley said that her family is very excited and thankful for this award. "Natalie expressed her excitement too by saying to everyone, `Guess what, I have money for college!' This award means that we are one step closer in securing Natalie's future so that she can achieve her goals in life."
In addition to Brantley receiving a contribution to her Path2College 529 Plan, the Centerville Library was also awarded $1,529.
"We are ecstatic to be the home library of this summer's Path2College Summer Reading Sweepstakes winner," said Nancy Granger, head librarian at the branch. "This gives us an opportunity to buy the materials we need to improve our children's

services. We deeply appreciate this partnership and what it is doing to support both libraries and the dream of college!"
The statewide sweepstakes also rewards libraries for their efforts to get kids involved in the Summer Reading Program and the sweepstakes. The Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens and the Grayson Library in Gwinnett County had the greatest number of sweepstakes entries, and the DeKalb County Library System had the greatest percentage of registered users entered into the sweepstakes. Each was awarded $1,529.
"Georgia Public Library Service is extremely pleased to help bring the Path2College 529 Plan to our state's 400-plus public libraries. In these past four years, more than 20,000 public library patrons have entered the sweepstakes, and individual winning children have received more than $21,000 toward their college savings," said State Librarian
See Sweepstakes, page 9

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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2013

GPLS staff members lend expertise to COMO conference

The state's library community will
gather in Macon this month to celebrate the Georgia Council of Media Organizations' (COMO) silver anniversary.
The organization's 25th annual convention, "COMO @ 25: Macon It Happen in Georgia's Libraries," will take place Oct. 9-11 at the Macon Marriott City Center.

continuing education goals, Turner explained. "Participants will discover how to access e-learning on the go with mobile devices, ways to use GLEAN to engage in social learning, methods for leveraging the system to maintain individual learning histories and much more," he said.
Chris Sharp, PINES system

administrator, will present "From the PINES Grew a Mighty Forest: The Evolution and Growth of the Evergreen Open Source ILS Community," which will cover the expansive evolution and growth of the opensource Evergreen integrated library system (ILS) software from its created-for-Georgia beginnings to its
See COMO, page 5

Co-hosted by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology, the Georgia Library Association and the Georgia Library Media Association, the event will feature numerous sessions and panel discussions showcasing the talents of GPLS employees.
GPLS will host an all-day Youth Services preconference, facilitated by Youth Services Director Elaine Black, on Oct. 9. "The morning session will be geared toward working with children from birth to age 10, and it will feature a workshop led by the Center for Puppetry Arts," Black explained. "The afternoon session will focus on tweens and teens, with a presentation from the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers committee."
Black will also lead discussions specifically about the Summer Reading 2014 catalog of materials and the 2014 Teen Video Challenge.
Jay Turner, director of continuing education, will lead "GLEANing the Riches," a session highlighting the GLEAN online continuing education program. Short for the Georgia Library Education Access Network, GLEAN allows library staff members throughout the state to take advantage of thousands of e-learning courses, online books, videos, and webinar archives to further their professional development and

Librarians from across the state run, walk to honor former colleague

The Georgia Library Association
(GLA) and Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) will sponsor the third annual Pat Carterette Memorial Run/Walk on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Ocmulgee Heritage River Trail in Bibb County.

research for GPLS. "We want this event to capture her persuasiveness to motivate people, encourage them to participate in COMO and instill in
them a sense of excitement about the great things that are happening at libraries across the state."

The event will be part of the 25th annual Georgia Council of Media Organizations (COMO) Conference, which takes place in Macon Oct. 9-11. As many as 800 Carterette librarians and library administrators or staff members are expected for the conference.
Each year since 2011, GLA and GPLS have hosted the Pat Carterette Memorial Run/Walk to honor their beloved colleague, an avid runner who lost her battle with cancer in January of that year. As director of continuing education for GPLS, Carterette's work positively influenced hundreds of librarians across Georgia and, through her involvement with numerous American Library Association initiatives, nationwide.
"Pat was truly one of a kind," said Diana Very, GLA president and director of LSTA, statistics and

Very is coordinating this year's run with assistance from PINES Program Director Elizabeth McKinney.
"The thing I will always remember about Pat is the way she encouraged folks to start small and push themselves," said McKinney. "She inspired everyone to do more than what they had done previously, and she would always congratulate us on our accomplishments."
Participants in the 3.5-mile, outand-back run should meet in the Macon Marriott City Center lobby at 5:55 a.m. on Oct. 10. The runners group will begin the flat-terrain trek at 6:00 a.m., with the walkers group following a few minutes later.
The route is illuminated by streetlights, but flashlights or headlamps could be useful for spots where trees might reduce visibility. I

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October 2013 Georgia Public Library Service News

Nick Joseph/New South Associates

Inventive library programs
spur more summer reading
Summer reading programs have been fixtures at
Georgia's public libraries for many years, but innovative youth services staff members across the state continue to defy the odds by adding new wrinkles to their local lineups each year.

"We expanded our now-two-year-old Baby Music Jam program into Family Music Jam this summer," explained Rebecca Ballard, library assistant in the children's department at the Athens-Clarke County Library. "We had kids of all ages -- and their parents -- jamming out together, discovering that rhyming is a great way to develop early literacy skills."
At each music jam, the library sets up a large display of music and songbooks, books about different kinds of instruments and literature about developing literacy skills through music. The library also maintains a few sets of basic rhythm instruments, such as maracas and ukuleles, but Family Music Jam participants made many of their instruments themselves.
"We used different sizes of decorated coffee cans for drums and used spoons from the dollar store as drumsticks," Ballard said. "We saved water bottles, filled them with a few dried beans and then glued the lids on and

More than 1,000 people visited the ArchaeoBus at a Gwinnett County library "Dig Into Reading" program this summer.
decorated them to use as shakers. Once the program got going, we've had some families donate instruments that were just sitting around their homes, too."
Lauren Knowlton, teen services supervisor at Athens-Clarke, noted that the library also held a cartooning workshop with local comic book artist Kyle Puttkammer for tweens and teens from ages 9 to 18. "Everyone who attended got to take a comic book home with them and learned some valuable lessons on drawing and pointers about how to make it as an artist in the comic book industry," Knowlton said.

Kathy Ransom

At the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library in Bainbridge, children enjoyed creating personal leaves on the library's "Jack and the Beanstalk" vine, which wrapped around the children's department and out into the main areas. "We promised children they would get their picture in the paper if they logged 100 or more books, and delivering on that promise was a big deal for a lot of kids," said Carole Albyn, youth services and community relations librarian for the Southwest Georgia Regional Library System.

No library took this year's Collaborative Summer Reading Program theme more to heart than the Gwinnett County Public Library in Lawrenceville. Expanding on the nationwide "Dig Into Reading" program, Gwinnett County libraries hosted six sessions with "Abby the ArchaeoBus," the Society for Georgia Archaeology's mobile education classroom.

Kelly Webster (kneeling, left) and Nancy Kennedy (standing, back) of the Hancock County Farm Bureau help children with their greenhouses following the library's "Seed Soil Sun" storytime.

"Families were able to tour exhibits on the bus as well as participate in many hands-on activities," explained Amy Billings, the system's events and outreach manager.
See Reading, page 5

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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2013

Reading
Continued from page 4
"Everyone who came out to the ArchaeoBus learned a lot about Georgia history, archaeology and what things archaeologists do. We also had book displays set up in the hosting branches, and kids checked out a lot of those books after the program. It was a great tie-in to `Dig Into Reading.'"
More than 1,000 people visited the ArchaeoBus at a Gwinnett County library in June. "At one stop," Billings said, "I overheard one little boy say to his mother, `The library is the coolest place ever. Can we come back tomorrow for more?' That was a really neat moment in the life of a librarian."
The Madison-based Uncle Remus Regional Library System also hosted theme-specific programs, including a program co-hosted with the Hancock County Farm Bureau, whose employees explained to children the importance of each step involved in the growth of plants, especially those cultivated for food. "Each child was able to create their own greenhouse with either a pea, a carrot or a bean seed," said Kathy Ransom, library associate at the Hancock County Library.

Jean Mead

COMO
Continued from page 3 current international applications and acclaim.
Pat Herndon, director of Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS), will present "GLASS: What Every Librarian Should Know About the Talking Book and Braille Libraries." The session will provide a comprehensive overview of the state's network of regional libraries that provide access to free books and magazines on digital cartridges and in Braille for Georgians with visual and physical impairments.
PINES and Collaborative Services Manager Elaine Hardy will participate in the panel discussion "Two

Years Later The Status of RDA in Our Libraries." Resource Description and Access (RDA) is a revised standard for cataloging that provides instructions and guidelines on formulating and entering data for resource description and discovery.
Master of Library Science certified and licensed librarians can earn contact hours for recertification at COMO by bringing the appropriate continuing education verification forms (available online at www.georgialibraries.org) and completing them at the conference.
For additional conference information and registration materials, visit www.georgiacomo.org. I

"Every summer, I am amazed by the creative programs that the youth services staff members develop around each year's theme, and this year was no exception," said Elaine Black, director of youth services for Georgia Public Library Service.
"Dig into Reading really encouraged staff to develop literature-based programs but they also captured many other subject areas like music, science and history. I am very excited to see what Georgia librarians will plan for 2014's theme of Fizz, Boom, Read." I

Devilish loan
The Hart County Library earned its share of bug-eyed looks when it became the first library in the state to loan a hickory horned devil (left). "Library patron Tammy Emmons (above left) found the caterpillar scooting toward the parking lot and wanted to rescue it, so we checked it out to her on indefinite loan," explained Library Director Richard Sanders. "They look creepy, but they're harmless and are supposed to be very easy to handle." The adult regal moth is the largest moth by mass in the United States, with a wingspan of up to 6 inches. Desk Assistant Carrie Mewborn (above right) completes the unusual circulation.
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October 2013 Georgia Public Library Service News

Henry County Library takes love of reading to camp

Chief among the goals of most campers is to have a

levels, along with activity sheets and a list of ideas for

good time while making as little impact as possible on the incorporating that week's theme into other camp activities.

recreational areas being visiting. The Henry County Library

System's goal this summer was to improve on that idea by

"We selected themes that we thought would be of

leaving behind a love for reading.

the highest interest to campers," Fuller said, "such as `Fun

& Games,' `Wild Animals' and `Weird Science.'"

"The Library Goes to Camp," a literacy initiative

partnership between the library system, Henry County

By moving boxes between camps and adding new

Parks & Recreation and E2, the local Economics & Educa- ones to the fold as needed, Fuller took a new box to each

tion Task Force, enhanced

camp each week from the

Staff

literacy by bringing books to

second week of June

those children participating

through the fourth week of

in camps but who were

July, spending about 30

otherwise unable to partici-

minutes with each group to

pate in the library's Summer

present book-oriented talks

Reading Program.

on subjects such as science,

animals and archaeology to

"We had four camps,

foster excitement about the

held at county parks in

related titles.

McDonough, Locust Grove,

Stockbridge and Fairview,"

Camp schedules also

explained Library Director

included an independent

Carolyn Fuller.

reading time each day,

"McDonough usually had

when campers could select

three groups, and the others had one each. The program enabled the library to reach

Children in Locust Grove turned out in force for the Henry County Library System's summer camps.

a book from the box, then read quietly or share it with a friend.

about 350 children from

ages 5 through 12. So many kids attended that, even

At the end of the summer, those campers who read

though we tried, we didn't have a chance to learn

10 hours or 20 books received a free book.

everyone's names."

"This was a wonderful program for us, and it helped

Led by Fuller and Assistant Director Kathy Pillatzki,

make this one of the best summers that I have had in a

Henry County library staff developed eight themed story

long time," Fuller said.

boxes, each with enough books -- approximately 100 --

for every child at each facility to be able to read one book

The project was funded in part by a grant from

a day. Each box contained books for a variety of reading

Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. I

Atlanta Hawks set dates for ninth year of Georgia Public Libraries Nights

The Atlanta Hawks and Georgia's
public libraries concluded the 2013 Check-It-Out Reading Challenge on Aug. 17. Now in its ninth year, the program enables participating children to have fun reading while earning free tickets to a Hawks game during the 2013-14 regular season.
More than 1,000 Georgia families registered their children

online for this summer's program.
As part of the Hawks' partnership with GPLS, four "Georgia Public Libraries Nights" will take place at Philips Arena this coming season. Those games will include Nov. 1 versus the Toronto Raptors, Nov. 29 versus the Dallas Mavericks, Dec. 18 versus the Sacramento Kings and Dec. 28 versus the Charlotte Bobcats.

Registered families will receive detailed information via email from checkitout.reading@hawks.com. Employees of the state's public libraries and their friends and families will also receive discounted admission for any of the four "Georgia Public Libraries Nights." Contact the Hawks' Amy Janus at amy.janus@hawks.com for more information. I

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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2013

Courtesy Atlanta Braves

Courtesy Laura Williams/The Albany Herald

Qualities and attributes
Lee County Library users Meadow Bass (center) and Lexi Anthony present an honorary PINES card to Carly Mathis, Miss Georgia 2013, at a welcome-home reception held in her honor at the Oakland Library in Leesburg this summer. Mathis represented Georgia in the annual Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., Sept. 15. Mathis became the first Georgian since 2009 to advance to the top 10 semifinals.

Home run for young readers
As part of this summer's Atlanta Braves Home Run Readers program, representatives of the Renaissance Family Foundation (RFF) presented a check for $10,000 to GPLS at a Turner Field ceremony in July. State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch and Deputy State Librarian Julie Walker accepted the grant, which will be used to support early childhood (birthto-4) reading initiatives. "We commend the work being done by Georgia Public Library Service and look forward to our continued partnership," said RFF Director Teri Battaglieri. Home Run Readers was sponsored by the Braves, GPLS, RFF and the National Education Association. The program enabled hundreds of Georgia youngsters to earn free Braves tickets through reading.

Kristen Milton

Daina Lloyd

Brick by brick
The Crossroads Public Library, part of the West Georgia Regional Library system, held the inaugural meeting of its new LEGO Club on Sept. 3. Organized by Kristen Milton, library assistant and acting children's specialist, the first meeting's theme was "Buildings." More than 20 children, along with many parents, attended, and sign-up sheets for future dates are filling quickly. "Kids really do learn more than just playing with LEGO bricks here," Milton said. "They learn to use and express their creativity, they build communication skills, and they learn how to work together. I think this is going to be a really great monthly event for our library."

Icing on the cake
From left: Sandra Wright, Marilyn Knight and former branch manager, now patron, Wilma Gainey discuss the technique of "piping" during a cake- and cupcake-decorating workshop at the Jenkins County Memorial Library on Sept. 7. The event, taught by a professional pastry chef, was part of the library's series of free workshops on topics of interest to the community. Previous and future workshop topics include a how-to course in homemade cleansers, basic crochet and basic home repair and maintenance.
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October 2013 Georgia Public Library Service News

Chromebox
Continued from page 1
"the cloud," that mysterious space on a server in some far-off place, where every bit and byte of data that the machine needs to run are housed. That includes its operating system (OS), the Chrome Web browser, virus protection, mutiple gigabytes of storage space and the Google Web applications that most Chrome users probably already are familiar with.
The lack of hard drive provides numerous benefits to the library and its staff.
First, it is unnecessary for library staff to manually upgrade the machines. When they are powered down for the night, the Chromeboxes upgrade themselves. Google is ardently developing and sending out biweekly updates to the machines -- for every single application, the OS and the virus protection software.
"Converting the majority of our PCs to Chromeboxes has made such a difference in the workload of my IT staff person," Eubanks said, noting that when funds from the state's 2014 Major Repair and Renovation Technology Grant are received, she plans to replace the PCs in her

system's three other branches with Chromeboxes. "Once we do that, we will have 60 devices that no longer need to be locked down, protected from viruses or updated weekly. That is huge. It is game changing!"
Chromebox-equipped libraries no longer have to pay multiple license fees for multiple programs and their respective upgrades. Instead, they pay only a one-time $30 remote administration fee per unit. Although Microsoft's popular Word will not be available to patrons via a Chromebox-supported computer, Google Docs provides a simpler word processor that is often easier to grasp by the average patron than the more intricate Word.
Says Eubanks, "Of course, there have been complaints about having to learn a new way to save and print their documents, but our patrons are realizing they are much better off and have less to learn in the long run on a Chromebox."
Lack of traditional hard drive allows the new device to be smaller and lighter, and they have achieved an Energy Star rating lauding their superior energy efficiency. It also makes them much less expensive.

Where traditional desktops and laptops can cost libraries anywhere from $600 to $1,000 each, plus programs and licenses, Chromeboxes cost about $360 inclusive. Facilities can also lower their power bills, due to the machines using less electricity and producing less heat than more conventional computers.
Chromeboxes require only 20 watts of electricity while in use, while a typical PC requires 150 watts. Emily Almond, IT director for GPLS, noted that those numbers were obtained by using one of Georgia's Kill-a-Watt meters, which are available for loan at all of the state's public libraries.
Almond and the GPLS technology team spearheaded Georgia's Chromebox initiative. They saw the problem of outdated computers -- with little or no money to maintain and upgrade them --as a challenge that could be met by applying the adage "less is more."
"Part of the mission of the State Library is to help libraries provide their patrons access to online information," says Almond. "Our hope is that the flexibility and price point of the Google Chromeboxes will help us increase the public computing footprint in Georgia and help our libraries better meet the public's demand for free Internet access."

Staff

The Rossville Public Library's computer area, before (left) and after the Chromebox installations.
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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2013

For three months this spring, Almond and her staff met, planned and worked diligently with Google staff to develop a proof-of-concept project for Georgia's public libraries. Once it was determined that the idea's practical application stood a good chance for success, implementation began at the trial library in Rossville.
See Chromebox, page 11

Staff

Georgia Literary Festival heads for Milledgeville Nov. 9
Historic Milledgeville will serve as host of the 2013
Georgia Literary Festival on Nov. 9.

Barry Reese, director of the Twin Lakes Library System, is serving as chairman of the planning committee for the free event, which will honor writers Frances Ann "Fanny" Kemble, Eugene O'Neill and Eugenia Price. Now in its 15th year, the festival is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book.

Scout's honor
On. Aug. 22, the Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library honored Stephen Galamba, whose multiple years of volunteering at the library helped earn him a community service merit badge en route to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award attainable from the Boy Scouts of America. From left are: Galamba; his mom, Penny Galamba, who is also a library volunteer; Gail Zeeb, library store volunteer chairwoman; Marilyn Deal, friends volunteer chairwoman; Dan Aldridge, president of the Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library.

Author and vendor information is available online at www.georgiacenterforthebook.org. I
Stonecrest Library to highlight America's civil rights struggle
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has
awarded the Stonecrest Library of the DeKalb County Public Library system a set of four documentary screenings about the history of the civil rights movement in America. The four documentaries are "The Abolitionists," "Slavery by Another Name," "Freedom Riders" and "The Loving Story." Together, they make up Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle, an initiative of the NEH that tells stories of people who challenged the social and legal status quo of deeply rooted institutions from slavery to segregation. Screenings and discussions will begin in spring 2014.

Staff

"We are very excited to present these films to our patrons," said Stonecrest Library Branch Manager Teresa Totten. "They chronicle the long and sometimes dangerous struggle in dramatic and moving footage. They offer such an amazing way to engender discussion, understanding and appreciation for this period of U.S. history." I

Conned again
Burr Osoinach, Stephen Brock and Julia Huprich of the Cobb County Public Library System were among the many volunteers who staffed the Georgia Public Libraries table at the 27th annual Dragon*Con, held Labor Day weekend in Atlanta. Approximately 57,000 people attended this year's event, billed as the world's largest multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. Richard Sanders, director of the Hart County Library, coordinated the display table on behalf of the state's public libraries.

Sweepstakes
Continued from page 2 Dr. Lamar Veatch. "Additionally, approximately $20,000 has been donated to a number of outstanding participating libraries to help enhance their collections and programs. This is truly a winning collaboration."
Seabaugh said that rewarding the libraries' hard work is a good way for the Path2College 529 Plan to give back and help the libraries continue their efforts and outreach to Georgia's children. I
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October 2013 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



Courtesy Cobb County Public Library System

The board of trustees of the Catoosa County Library system has selected Darla Chambliss as the Ringgold-based system's new director. Chambliss previously served as assistant director of the Cherokee Regional Library in LaFayette. She holds a master's Chambliss degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina.
Jay Turner, director of continuing education and training for GPLS, was among the 40 librarians selected from a highly competitive national pool to participate in Leading to the Future, a four-day immersive leadership development program for future library leaders that was hosted by the American Library Association Aug. 12-15 in Chicago.
The Forsyth County Public Library

system celebrated the grand opening of its fourth branch on Aug. 24. The Post Road Library in Cumming is a 23,500-square-foot facility that will house 96,000 volumes. The structure, which earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, features a 100-seat meeting room, 38 computer workstations and free WiFi access. Funding for the $7.2 million library was made possible by a specialpurpose local-option sales tax that passed in 2008, supplemented by a $2 million state construction grant.
The Gwinnett County Public Library will celebrate its 10th annual Gwinnett Reads countywide reading program on Nov. 4. with an appearance by best-selling author Lisa Scottoline.
Friends of Georgia Libraries held its annual fall workshop Sept. 27 at the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers. This year's program was entitled "How to Win Friends and Influence Libraries." I

Look at me NOW!
Beth Silzle (left), library assistant for the Cobb County Public Library System (CCPLS), welcomes Daniel Summers Jr., marketing director for the Center for Puppetry Arts, to "The Library Show" on TV23, Cobb County's public-access channel. The two discussed the mission of the center and its summer production of "Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat." The center and GPLS are co-sponsors of the Passport to Puppetry loan program, which offers free puppetry museum passes at public libraries across the state. In addition to broadcasts on TV23, full episodes of "The Library Show" are available on the CCPLS website at www.cobbcat.org/ library-show, as well as from the county's website and on YouTube.

BARD Mobile app now available for talking book users

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (NLS) released its new BARD Mobile app through Apple's iTunes store in September. The free app provides access to braille and talking books directly from the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). BARD contains nearly 50,000 books, magazines and music scores in audio and braille formats, with new selections added daily.
"This wonderful tool brings a new level of convenience to library customers by allowing them to listen to books or read refreshable braille on devices that they use for other activities," said Pat Herndon, director of Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS).
"And the timing of the BARD Mobile release could not be better. The app arrives just as NLS has reached agreement with a leading commercial audiobook pro-
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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2013

ducer and is negotiating with several others, allowing for titles to be added to the digital collection more quickly than ever before."
With BARD Mobile, users can play audio materials on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Users must be registered with a talking book library in the NLS network of cooperating libraries, which includes all members of the GLASS network. If you aren't registered but think you qualify for this service because you cannot read regular print as a result of a visual or physical disability, visit GLASS online at www.georgialibraries.org/glass or call 1-800-248-6701 to apply for service.
Once you have an account, you are ready to download the free app and sign in with your BARD user name and password.
The app's Help feature contains a full user manual. I

More than 70 staff attend GPLS Catalogers Summit

More than 70 library staff members
attended the 2013 GPLS Catalogers Summit, held Sept. 17-19 at the Unicoi State Park and Lodge in Helen.
According to Elaine Hardy, PINES & Collaborative Projects Manager for GPLS, the goal of this year's summit was to prepare the cataloging community for the implementation of new Resource Description and Access (RDA) standards.
"Because RDA is an international initiative, its implementation in the United States will result in more and better access to and sharing of international and nonlibrary-based resources," Hardy said, noting that it will also benefit library patrons. "Search results will be delivered faster and the information displayed will be easier to understand. Library catalog interfaces will more closely resemble other Internet applications, providing an additional level of comfort."

Staff

Cooperative and Instructional Programs Division at the Library of Congress (LC), and Kate James, a Cooperative Cataloging Program specialist in the LC's Policy and Standards Division, conducted the sessions.
Nancy Holmes, head of technical services at the Piedmont Regional Library in Winder, described the summit as extremely helpful in her understanding of RDA. "I'm looking forward to what will be used for the core elements for PINES and for Georgia in general -- especially

for original, as opposed to copied, RDA records," she explained.
Thelma Glover, associate director for the Cobb County Public Library system in Marietta, agreed. "Since searching with computers is the norm," she said, "going over to RDA will be a good change for libraries and for Georgia."
GPLS funded the summit through a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I

Summit sessions included those on RDA original cataloging, RDA copy cataloging and hybrid records in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC).

Paul Frank, a Cooperative Cataloging Program specialist in the

Nancy Holmes and Library Services Manager Jean Mead of the Hart County Library discuss the Catalogers Summit's Thursday morning session.

Chromebox
Continued from page 8 Thus far, the concept seems to be proving itself.

and its initial success, attention and interest from other system directors became readily apparent.

"Our patrons have transitioned very well to Chromeboxes," Eubanks said. "They love the speed of them, for sure."

Almond hopes the project will give many of Georgia's public libraries a viable option for stretching their technology dollars in providing public-access computers.

Almond and Eubanks presented a report on the project at the September library directors meeting in Augusta, hosted by the East Central Georgia Regional Library System. Upon hearing about the project, its scope

"We can envision Chromeboxes saving millions of dollars on an annual basis for libraries while providing the public with more service and better Internet access than ever before," she said. I
11
October 2013 Georgia Public Library Service News

Staff

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Georgia Public Library Service 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 404.235.7200 404.235.7201 fax www.georgialibraries.org

Lamar Veatch, state librarian David Baker, editor Dustin Landrum, assistant

Georgia Public Library Service News (ISSN 1546-511X) is published bimonthly by the Georgia Public Library Service, the state agency that supports public libraries and works with them to improve the quality and variety of library services available to Georgia citizens of all ages.
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 and literary events, or to post an event, visit our online calendar at www.georgialibraries.org

Well versed
U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey (center) visited Georgia's table at the 13th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, held Sept. 21-22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. A resident of Decatur, Trethewey is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of four acclaimed poetry collections. Her second term as U.S. poet laureate began in September. David Baker, director of communications and strategic partnerships, and Elaine Black, director of youth services, represented GPLS in the festival's Pavilion of the States.

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