Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 13, no. 5 (Apr. 2016)

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

volume 13, issue 5 I April 2016

General Assembly adds four library facilities,

materials funding to state's FY2017 budget

Georgia's General Assembly
endorsed the importance of the state's public libraries in the wee hours of March 25 when it ended the 2016 session with a proposed budget of $23.7 billion for fiscal year 2017.
The appropriations bill retains all funds that were included in Gov. Nathan Deal's initial FY2017 spending plan -- $2 million for major repair and renovation (MRR) projects at public libraries, $2 million for computer and technology replacement and up to $670,421 for merit salary increases for statereimbursed library and GPLS employees.

Staff

budget is a good start and that we could see more money for materials in the future.
"I am encouraged by their appreciation of what libraries are doing for Georgia residents and by their knowledge of how we are staying relevant and growing library services. I greatly appreciate the efforts of our state librarian, Julie Walker, and our legislative liaison, Steve Neff, for the many hours they

spent connecting and communicating with our legislators. All Georgians will share in this success."
"This year has demonstrated the value of library supporters throughout Georgia coming together and speaking with one unified voice in articulating our libraries' needs," Walker said. "We were extremely fortunate this year to have hundreds of library advocates
See Budget, page 2

To that, the Legislature added $7.8 million in bond funds for four major library construction projects and, perhaps most significantly, a 25 cents per capita allocation for library materials, the first so specified apportionment in nearly a decade.

"The 2016 session was not only successful for libraries in that we received this dedicated materials grant, but also for the input we received from legislators regarding the future of libraries," said Jimmy Bass, director of the Coweta County Public Library and current president of the Georgia Council of Public Libraries.
"Several committee chairs and members have commented that this

STEAM engines
Coweta County Public Library employees (from left) Shamika Pearson, Meg Clark, Machelle Hill, Juanna Allen, Linda Robertson, Aime Scarbrough and Jesse Chen participated in a Feb. 17 training session on 3-D printing and innovative library technologies. The system purchased the new equipment using one of the 38 $10,000 Georgia Public Library Service grants awarded last fall to libraries around the state. The aim of the grant program, part of the annual federal Grants to States program that GPLS received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, was to build resources for art education and continue the development of resources in science, technology, engineering and math at the state's public libraries.

Budget
Continued from page 1 and trustees who took the time to write, call and visit their delegations to relate stories about the importance of libraries to families, students, business people and virtually everyone in their communities.
"It's clear that we also have some wonderful library supporters in both houses of the Legislature who strongly believe in the value of having excellent public libraries across the state. We are also grateful to have tremendous supporters of reading and literacy in Gov. and Mrs. Deal."
The governor's recommendation of funds for MRR and computer replacement will address critical needs in every part of the state, Walker said. "The technology money is especially important this year, because we have a unique opportunity to apply for federal E-Rate funds for essential technical infrastructure for anchor institutions, which include public libraries.
"According to the Federal Communications Commission formula, if Georgia can secure funding of $2,137,898, the state will be guaranteed federal funds totaling $11,877,213. Computer replacement funding for public libraries in the governor's request would effectively provide these matching funds, so we are extremely grateful to the governor for including them. This combined $14 million will ensure the continued availability of equipment for Georgians who rely on public libraries for their technological needs to pursue educational resources, apply for jobs and develop and operate small businesses."
In turn, the General Assembly's allocation of materials funding will help address the one lingering result

of the recent economic downturn that began in 2008 -- the lack of state funding for library materials.
"With little materials money to spend, libraries have seen their heavily used children's books become worn and tattered," Walker explained. "Their nonfiction books, especially in the important STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines are becoming outdated, and they are falling far behind in meeting the demand for new best-sellers. In addition, demand for electronic books and downloadable audiobooks is increasing the pressure on libraries to spread their already-thin materials budgets further and further.
"So this year, library directors throughout the state agreed that materials funding would be a top priority in their advocacy efforts."
Library leaders and patrons were met with strong support in the House of Representatives, including that of Rep. Ed Rynders (RLeesburg), Rep. Terry England (RAuburn) and Rep. Earl Ehrhart (RPowder Springs). Colleagues in the Senate -- among them Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) and Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) -- quickly added their endorsement. The result was a materials grant of $2,668,214 (25 cents per capita) to address these critical needs.
"And, of course, library supporters in Carroll, Dougherty, Lowndes and Oconee counties are thrilled with the General Assembly's additional allocations for their muchneeded facilities," Walker said.
The capital grants include: I $2 million to build a new
Valdosta-Lowndes County Library; I $2 million to expand, redesign and
refit the Neva Lomason Memorial

Library in Carrollton; I $2 million to complete numerous
additions and upgrades to the Northwest branch of the Dougherty County Public Library (DCPL) in Albany; and I $1.8 million to expand the Bogart branch of the Athens Regional Library System (ARLS).
South Georgia Regional Library System (SGRL) will replace its current overcrowded Valdosta-Lowndes County Library by renovating a recently purchased 35,000-squarefoot building that is capable of supporting modern technology. The new location, which is more centrally located in the community, will also house the SGRL regional office. The energy-efficient facility will include more space for meeting rooms, a significantly larger parking area and exterior space that will be conducive to outdoor programs.
"The new library will be a hub of education, literacy, technology and community engagement," said SGRL Director Miguel Vicente, "and we would like to recognize those who supported our efforts to obtain these funds -- the South Georgia Regional Library board and its chairman, Barry Barr; the SGRL Friends of the Library; Sen. Ellis Black (R-Valdosta); Rep. Amy Carter (R-Valdosta); Rep. Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland); former Sen. Tim Golden; and Rusty Griffin Jr. of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia."
Built in 1967, the Neva Lomason Memorial Library has struggled for years to keep up with the area's huge population growth and to become technologically viable and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility's proposed expansion will begin with the relocation to an off-site location of the administrative offices for the
See Budget, page 3

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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2016

More than 1,000 to take part in training effort

If you broadcast it, they will watch -- and learn. On April
12, in celebration of National Library Week and its theme of "Libraries Transform," GPLS and the Georgia Library Association's Professional and Continuing Education Interest Group will co-sponsor the state's first Virtual Staff
Development Day for library professionals.

Huprich

More than 900 people already have signed up for the event, said Julia Huprich, director of continuing education for GPLS, and more than 1,000 are likely to participate, making it one of the largest single-day library training events in state history.

"I'm really excited to bring this opportunity to Georgia's library staff," she said. "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring a number of library experts to a statewide audience in a way that is much more effective and cost-efficient than traditional library conferences."

The planning committee for the event included the GPLS Continuing Education Advisory Group, whose members helped plan and coordinate the day's events. That group is composed of Christopher Baker of the Gwinnett County Public Library, Katie Burnett of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, Roy Cummings of the Clayton County Library System, Eric Mathis of the South Georgia Regional Library, Justin Nobles of West Georgia Regional Library and Burr Osoinach of the Cobb County Public Library System.

State Librarian Julie Walker will kick off Virtual Staff Development Day at 9:30 a.m. with an introductory session covering updates from the just-concluded session of Georgia's General Assembly and more library-related information from across the state.
She will be followed at 10:30 a.m. with a session on library trends by Miguel Figueroa, executive director of the American Library Association's Center for the Future of Libraries. At noon, R. David Lankes, author of The Atlas of New Librarianship, will present "The Myth of Innovation." This discussion will examine the myths of innovation, how myths can prevent positive change, and will present examples of local innovations in librarianship.
The afternoon's first seminar, "Trends in Customer Service and Customer Service Training for Libraries,"
will begin at 1:30. Andrew Sanderbeck, webinar manger for the People~Connect Institute, will cover library customer service, and the day concludes with a 3:00 p.m. session, "Library Confidential: Understanding the Scope and Reasons for Patron Privacy," presented by librarian and lawyer Marti Minor.
Attendees will earn Continuing Education credits for each session, and certificates will be emailed after the event. Each session will also be archived for future viewing. Virtual Staff Development Day is supported in part by a grant to GPLS from the Library Services and Technology Act through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and is supported by partial funding from the Georgia Library Association. I

Budget
Continued from page 2 West Georgia Regional Library (WGRL) system. This will open roughly 10,000 square feet of additional space for the provision of patron services. According to WGRL Director Roni Tewksbury, the children's department will nearly double in size, and study rooms, a technology lab and an amphitheater for hosting a variety of programs will be added.

DCPL's Northwest Library is housed within a converted furniture store, which currently includes an open, noninsulated warehouse. This 11,000-square-foot area will be built out and finished to include meeting and conference rooms, a more advanced tech center, study rooms and a genealogical department and history room. It will also contain expanded year-round space for children's programming to relieve

the consistent overcrowding that has resulted in potential attendees being turned away from numerous events, said Director Pauline Abidde.
The current 3,700-square-foot Bogart Branch Library was designed and built with future expansion in mind, according to ARLS Director Valerie Bell. As the population of northwestern Oconee County and
See Budget, page 6

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April 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

Summer Reading Program set for May launch

With the theme "On Your Mark,
Get Set... READ!" the 2016 Summer Reading Program (SRP) at Georgia's public libraries will be a celebration of games, sports, health and wellness.
Library staff will encourage readers to explore these subjects through books, science experiments, art projects and numerous other literacy- and fitness-related activities. Parent and caregivers will also have plenty of opportunities to participate in the action and to help children have fun as they continue to learn all summer long.
Each year, public libraries across the country use the SRP to promote family literacy and demonstrate to kids and young adults that reading is fun. Georgia's program enjoyed attendance of 524,524 last year. Circulation of children's materials again topped 16 million items in 2015, and nearly 1.7 million children and young adults attended one of the more than 47,500 programs offered to them by the state's public libraries.
According to Elaine Black, director of youth services for GPLS, indicators in communities that have measured results of summer reading show those students who read during the summer months return to school with far fewer -- or no -- learning losses in reading scores.
"The research shows that when children continue to read and engage in learning during the summer, they can thwart the summer slide and return to school in the fall ready to learn without having repeat lessons from the

previous grade," she said.
The artist for "On Your Mark, Get Set... READ!" is Matt Tavares, the award-winning author-illustrator of Henry Aaron's Dream, a biography of the young life of the Atlanta Braves legend, following his sandlot days through his time in the Negro Leagues to the day he played his first spring training game for the Braves. Tavares' other books include Zachary's Ball, Mudball and Oliver's Game.
Artwork for this year's teen slogan "Get in the Game... READ!" -- was developed by Demco/Upstart. Demco is the Madison, Wisconsinbased company with a 100-year history of providing promotional materials and reading incentives for librarians and educators.
Upstart is a leading supplier of library promotional materials and reading incentives. It offers a wide
variety of library reading themes -- from the serious to the silly -- all designed with the singular purpose of encouraging young readers.
Illustrator Larry Jones, whose clients include Random House, Forbes, Harcourt Brace, National Geographic, Scholastic, Target and Macworld Magazine, created the artwork for 2016's adult slogan "Exercise Your Mind... READ!"
Public libraries across Georgia will support this year's SRP effort by

offering reading logs, bookmarks and stickers -- and by hosting activities such as storytimes, puppet shows and other special events such as arts-and-crafts programs, magic shows and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) projects.
"Once again, this year's themes offer something for everyone," Black said. "And they tie very nicely into our long-running partnerships with the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites -- as well as to the Get Georgia Reading Campaign and our involvement with several Georgia units of the National Park Service.
"We will even help readers' understanding of various sports as they get ready to cheer on Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August!"
This is Georgia's ninth year as a member of the national Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and multiple U.S. territories working
together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.
Beginning in May, readers can visit any branch of Georgia's 63 public library systems to register for SRP, which is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to Georgia Public Library Service under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I

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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2016

Staff

GLASS conference places
accessible services at forefront
of effort to serve all residents
"Make it personal," said conference keynote Mark
Johnson, director of advocacy at the Shepherd Center, a private, not-for-profit hospital in Atlanta. These words encapsulated and emphasized the greater meaning behind the 2016 Georgia Accessibility Conference (GAC), held March 2123 at the Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club in Cordele.

Now in its second year, GAC provides an opportunity for Georgia's public library staff to come together, share ideas and experiences and learn how to serve patrons who are blind or have visual or physical impairments. Approximately 70 attendees, most of them outreach coordinators or library system directors, received two full days of training designed to form a connection between them and patrons who require accessible library services.
"This year was a part two, of sorts, to the 2015 conference," said Pat Herndon, director of the Georgia Library for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS), whose staff organized and planned the conference. "Last year was foundational, in that it was designed to inform librarians about who in their communities might require special services. This year's focus was on the nuts and bolts of how to provide those services."
"We wanted to stir the imagination of the attendees," said Teneka Williams, GLASS Distribution Center manager.
Guest speakers, along with GPLS, GLASS and various library system staff members, lent their expertise and knowledge, leading sessions on how to actively reach patrons who need extra help but may not know services are available. Leaders and attendees discussed specific methodologies and techniques on how to serve those in the library community with vision or hearing loss, mobility impairment, and autism and behavioral disorders.
Guest presenters included Joy Bolt, head librarian of the Dahlonega campus of the University of North Georgia and who is hearing impaired, gave attendees a humorous and intimate view of what life is like for those with hearing loss. Sarah Frampton, behavioral clinical practitioner with Atlanta's Marcus Autism Center, spoke and showed film footage of case studies on how librarians can approach storytimes or other activities that involve children with symptoms, skills and levels of impairment

Johnson (left) and Herndon
consistent with autism spectrum disorder. Another popular lecture came from Johnson, who spoke of his life as a person with mobility impairments; his part in championing the Americans with Disabilities Act; and his work in preserving the history, literature and study of disabilities.
The first full day of sessions started with a panel discussion hosted by Dyana Costello Banks, trainer and outreach librarian from Mountain Regional Library System; Michael Kennedy, senior library assistant with Lee County Public Library; and Casey Wallace, administrative support librarian with Gwinnett County Public Library. The trio spoke about their organizations' efforts to build awareness and provide programming.
Later in the day, Williams joined Tools for Life staff members for an in-depth session on the technologies and devices housed in GLASS assistive kits. These portable cases, filled with assistive technology equipment, are available for Georgia libraries to borrow from GLASS to help train and familiarize staff with many of the methods used in the day-to-day lives of those with visual or physical impairments. "Using the assistive kits, we can promote low-tech solutions in our communities to those who may need them," said Williams.
"This year's conference was very well-received," Herndon said. "People were glad to hear about concrete examples of what libraries can do to assure they are reaching everyone in their communities and particularly those with special needs." I

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April 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



The Fulton County Board of Commissioners have confirmed the appointment of Dr. Gabriel Morley as director of the 34-branch AtlantaFulton Public Library System (AFPL), effective April 20. Morley comes to AFPL from the 13-branch Calcasieu Parish Public Library in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which he has led since 2012. Morley holds a master's degree in library science and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
Mashell Fashion has been named director of the AugustaRichmond County Public Library System. Fashion has been serving as interim director since August and was the system's assistant director before that.
State Librarian Julie Walker and Vailey Oehike, president of the national Public Library Association, joined radio host Celeste Headlee for the March 17 edition of Georgia Public Broadcasting's On Second Thought. Their discussion about the state of Georgia's public libraries can be accessed online at gpbnews.org/

post/worth-checking-out-georgialibraries-make-comeback.
Joe Davich, executive director of the Georgia Center for the Book in the DeKalb County Public Library, will attend and participate in the national Center for the Book's Idea Exchange Day in Washington, D.C., April 25-26.
Tune in to "Jeopardy" the week of May 23-27 to watch Sarah Trowbridge, public services librarian at the Flint River Regional Library's Fayette County Library, compete as a contestant on the Peabody Awardwinning television game show.
The Georgia Peach Book Award for teen readers announced on March 21 that We Were Liars by E. (Emily) Lockhart is the winner of its 2015-16 Peach Award. The organization's Honor Books for 2015-16 are I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson and Jackaby by William Ritter. I

Budget
Continued from page 3 the services and programming provided by the library have grown, the need for additional space has become critical.
In addition to more than doubling the library's size, the proposed expansion project will upgrade all utilities and add a new roof, creating a highly energyefficient facility with a dedicated children's area and a flexible technology center.
Each of the four capital grant projects, as well as the MRR grants, requires matching local funds to complete. The revised FY2017 budget now awaits the governor's approval and signature on or before May 3. I

Staff Courtesy Moultrie-Colquitt County Library Kathryn Sawyer

Panel discussion

Planting happiness
In conjunction with Pebble Hill Plantation, the Thomas County Public Library in February hosted another edition of its monthly lecture series, Enlightening Bites, with Georgia Writers Hall of Fame inductee June Bailey White. White also spoke about the Birdsong Nature Center's Old Timey Plant Sale of Georgia native plants. From left are Bonnie Spann, library board chair; White; and Library Director Nancy Tillinghast.

The Friends of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System purchased a ClearTouch interactive panel for the library and demonstrated the new technology at its latest meeting. According to Director Holly Phillips, the equipment already has added excitement to children's storytimes and will be helpful for future workshops and group meetings. The panel was purchased using proceeds from the Friends' annual used book sale last year. From left are Friends Vice President Sandra Rogers, President Angie Patteson and Phillips.

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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2016

Angels of Harlem
Mary Lin Maner (left), Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library director, Assistant State Librarian Wendy Cornelisen (center) and Branch Manager Amanda Cash welcomed area leaders to a ground-breaking ceremony March 9 at the site of Columbia County's new Harlem Branch Library. The 13,000square-foot facility, funded through a state capital grant and special purpose local option sales tax funds, will replace the county's oldest library, built in 1981 and unable to keep up with the area's population growth and technology needs.Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross thanked members of the local legislative delegation Rep. Barry Fleming and Sen. Bill Jackson for their work on the grant application process, and Harlem Mayor Bobby Culpepper also addressed the crowd to express his gratitude for the support the project has received from the community and its legislators.

Evelyn Merk

FOGL to honor Friends at annual spring event
The Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) will host its
annual meeting and workshop at the Athens-Clarke County Library on April 22. This year's theme is "Friends Helping Friends." Serving as keynote speaker for the event will be Joshilyn Jackson, best-selling author of six novels, including the just-released The Opposite of Everyone.
"This is a great chance for your library's Friends group to meet and learn from other Friends groups around the state," said FOGL President Kathy Ash, who noted that attendees will also be treated to a ceremony honoring the recipients of FOGL's annual awards.
FOGL's 2016 "Best Friend," Dr. Adrienne Butler from Pierce County, was nominated by local Friends president, David Rollinson. "Dr. Butler took the initiative to use her own resources to establish a Friends' group to assist the library in communicating with local officials on its needs, and the development of programs to help library staff do their jobs," Rollinson said. "She keeps everyone on the same page and in a very gentle way."
The Friends of the Houston County Public Library will be honored as FOGL's 2016 "Fabulous Friends," nominated by Library Director Sara Paulk. "The Houston

The Friends of the Houston County Public Library include (standing, from left): Scott Hoskins, Christine Hoskins, Taylor Peterson, Jan Maxwell, Carolyn Bonner, Pam Yates, Georgette Lipford, Sylvia Harvey, Vicki Lavache, Kathy Mackowski, Barbara Blackburn and Gary Blackburn. Seated are Jeannie Hoag, Lori Peterson and Sharon Sullivan.
County Friends group has thrived as a countywide organization built from several disbanded Friends groups of the various cities in the county," Paulk said. "The group's focus has been to operate as a countywide association to pool resources and successfully enable us to make more money to benefit the patrons of all three county libraries."
The registration fee for the all-day meeting and workshop is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Lunch is included, as is a one-year FOGL membership for those not already part of the organization. Additional information and registration forms are available at www.georgia-friends.org/fogl-events. I

Courtesy Middle Georgia Regional Library

Middle Georgia Regional Library helps celebrate pioneering architect
On March 9, pioneering architect Ellamae Ellis League
was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame. The 25th annual induction ceremony was held at Wesleyan College in Macon. Muriel Jackson, head of the Genealogical and Historical Room at Middle Georgia Regional Library (MGRL) System's Washington Memorial Library and head archivist of the Middle Georgia Archives, nominated League for the honor.

"After attending the 2015 induction ceremony I started thinking of other noteworthy women and I noticed that she was not on the list, and I thought it would be great to nominate her," Jackson said.
League practiced as an architect in Macon for more than 50 years, eventually running her own successful practice from 1934-1975. At the time of her registration as an architect in 1934, only 2 percent of American architects were women. More than 9,200 of League's architectural drawings, including commissions in five

Induction ceremony participants included (from left): Dennis McCreary, current owner of League's house; Carol Robeson, family friend; Dr. Harriett Jardine, MGRL board member; Abit Massey, president of GWA; Cheryl League Dennis, League's granddaughter; James Barfield, local historian; Jackson; Jennifer Lautzenheiser, MGRL director; Hannah Warren, MGRL facilities manager; and Brian Hart, MGRL assistant director.
states and 42 Georgia counties, are among the artifacts available for public viewing at the library's Genealogical and Historical Room. I
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April 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

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Courtesy Cobb County Public Library

CONTACT US

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

Julie Walker, 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

Starting young
The Cobb County Public Library (CCPL) held its first regional 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony Feb. 6 at the Mountain Park Library. After being welcomed by the system's feline mascot Dewey, graduates and their families enjoyed a commencement speech written in their honor. Following an interactive graduation storytime, celebrants received certificates from Mountain View librarian Pam Finley and were treated to cookies and lemonade. Five-year-olds William Lock and Jacob Smith, 4year-old Makenna McMillan and 21-month-old Zoey Detweiler each met their goal of reading 1,000 books, said Lisa Cleary, CCPL's community engagement manager.