Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 13, no. 6 (June 2016)

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

volume 13, issue 6 I June 2016

Staff

Georgia's libraries, national parks partner
to celebrate summer reading, centennial
The state's 405 public libraries are
joining seven Georgia units of the National Park Service (NPS) this summer to celebrate the 100th birthday of America's national parks and the state's 2016 Summer Reading Program. Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) and NPS announced the partnership April 26 at a kickoff event held at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

The goals of the "Find Your Park at Your Library" partnership are many, said Sherri Fields, NPS deputy Southeast regional director. They include enabling Georgians to explore, learn, be inspired by or simply have fun in their local national parks, as well as to help residents understand how the NPS's community-based recreation, conservation and historic preservation programs positively impact Georgia communities. "With this new partnership, we bring together two of Georgia's gems, its national parks and libraries," she said.
Participating parks include:
I Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties, and in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
I Cumberland Island National Seashore in Camden County
I Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island

Welcoming visitors to the NPS-GPLS partnership kickoff event are (from left): Bob Weatherford, Cobb County commissioner; Benita Duling, park ranger; Andrew Bramlett, centennial junior ranger; Julie Walker, state librarian; Sherri Fields, NPS deputy Southeast regional director; and Nancy Walther, superintendent of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

I Fort Pulaski National Monument, located on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island
I Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb County
I Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta
I Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon
Beginning this month, Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) will provide each of the 63 public library systems in the state with a reference collection of approximately 30 books about Georgia's public lands. GPLS will acquire about two dozen of those 30 titles through NPS partner

Eastern National, the nonprofit organization that publishes educational and interpretive publications that provide visitors with additional insights into the cultural, natural and scientific features of America's national parks.
"We will connect children and their families to their national parks through neighborhood libraries," Fields said. "Our hope is that families will take the next step -- to experience firsthand the wonderful outdoors and stories with an actual visit to a park."
The books will showcase the parks mentioned above, as well as
See Parks, page 7

Georgia National Fair to promote summer reading

The Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority (GAEA)

Council, Atlanta Motor Speedway and the Georgia FFA

and Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) are teaming up Foundation," said Diana Sutherland Earwood, vice

with assistance from corporate sponsors to encourage

president of Sutherland's Foodservice and principal of

children to participate in the 2016 Summer Reading

plain.stated., a regional consultation and sales firm.

Program. The organizations announced the statewide

partnership on May 11 at the Georgia National

"When l learned about the potential partnership

Fairgrounds in Perry.

between the fair and public libraries," Earwood said, "I

couldn't help but be involved. In the letter to our

As part of the program, each of the state's 400-plus

sponsors, I wrote that `as a proud mom of a 17-year-old

public libraries will receive a family four-pack of tickets to girl, I can say that every summer I took my daughter to

the Georgia National Fair, coming to Perry Oct. 6-16. The the public library to read books in her elementary years,

Georgia National Fair will provide each library throughout and now she looks forward to the Georgia National Fair

the state with one prize pack to reward a winning reader every October in her high school years.' I am happy to

between the ages of 5

help bring together

Staff

and 12.

these two deserving

partners!"

The program is also

set to include

Jessica

agriculture-related

Everingham, assistant

summer programming

state librarian for

and distribution of

library development

suggested reading lists,

and support, stated:

along with visits from

"Each summer, more

the Georgia National

than half a million

Fair's popular mascot,

children and teens

Fair Bear. Stephen Shimp,

Among the press conference participants announcing the Georgia National Fair's partnership with GPLS are Shimp (seated, third from left), Sutherland (standing, fourth from left) and Everingham (standing, seventh from left).

participate in summer reading at Georgia's public libraries. We

executive director of

hope this partnership

the GAEA, explained to the crowd why the partnership is will encourage even more young readers to join us for

a good fit for the program: "Since the first fair, we have

this year's program, called "On Your Mark, Get Set...

stayed true to our mission: The state of Georgia

READ!" Studies have shown that participation in public

established the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority library summer reading programs leads to academic

to showcase Georgia's agriculture/agribusiness, to

success. We want Georgia children to avoid the summer

promote the agricultural achievements of Georgia's

slide and return to school in the fall ready to learn -- and

young people, to provide a center for diverse activities to also ready to go to the fair."

benefit the state's economy, and to stage and promote a

statewide fair to accomplish one or more of the above.

This is the 10th statewide partnership that public

libraries have begun with organizations dedicated to

"We feel this partnership fits perfectly with the

encouraging continued education and lifelong learning

mission of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and creates for Georgians. Together, Everingham said, these

a strong partnership with GPLS to accomplish its mission programs have educated and entertained hundreds of

as well. In the end, it encourages continuing education

thousands of residents while adding more than $13

for Georgia's youth -- and hopefully educates the state

million in value to the services that Georgia's public

of Georgia about the Georgia National Fair, held each

libraries provide.

October for the past 26 years."

To learn more about these partnerships, which are

The GAEA-GPLS partnership wouldn't be possible

supported in part by a grant to GPLS from the U.S.

without the assistance of corporate partners. "These

Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Georgia

include Kroger, Sutherland's Foodservice -- and

public libraries' Summer Reading Program, ask your local

specifically Gene Sutherland, Georgia Agribusiness

librarian or visit www.georgialibraries.org. I

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Georgia Public Library Service News June 2016

Courtesy Sony Pictures Entertainment

Fayetteville librarian takes

national stage on Jeopardy!

Nearly everyone has at one time
imagined sharing the stage with a celebrity, but only a rare few get the chance. One of them is Sarah Trowbridge, public services librarian at the Flint River Regional Library System's Fayette County Library.
As a contestant on television's long-running game show Jeopardy! on May 25, Trowbridge was reverse quizzed by the show's legendary host, Alex Trebek. "The whole event was truly a peak experience and one of the most fun things I have ever done," said Trowbridge, a longtime fan of the show who often plays trivia games at local venues.
Winning the chance to appear on Jeopardy! is no small feat. Every spring, the show opens to the public an anxiety-inducing, timed online test consisting of 50 clues in 50 categories. Results are evaluated by the show's contestant department, which subsequently invites possible players for in-person auditions.

Trowbridge said. This initial round did not land her a slot on the show, but the wait for another opportunity was short.
"Everybody is told that, for the next 18 months, they are potential contestants and might receive a phone call. I never did receive a phone call after the first audition," she explained. "But when 18 months are up, you can try again and retake the online test. So that's what I did."
In 2015, Atlanta was one of the audition cities, and Trowbridge once again found herself in the pool of candidates. She described the Jeopardy! audition as a mock runthrough of the show, complete with the actual signaling device. After the second audition, events unfolded differently and, before she knew it, Trowbridge was contacted by the show and was zipping out to Los Angeles for her turn behind a podium.

Trebek and Trowbridge on the set
explained. "The clue was about a South Atlantic island with a Napoleon museum. All I could think of was Elba. I knew that was in the Mediterranean, not the South Atlantic, as the clue stated, but truthfully, even if I had been able to think of the correct island -- St. Helena -- I probably would not have said it, because I always thought it was also in the Mediterranean!"
Despite giving it her all, Trowbridge did not manage to beat then-current champion Buzzy Cohen, who was on a seven-show winning streak.

"I first took the online test in March or April 2013, passed it and was invited to an audition in Huntsville, Alabama, that May,"

"The hardest question I attempted to answer was during the `Daily Double' in a category called `It Belongs to the British,'" she

But walking away without a win didn't ruin her experience. "Jeopardy! leaves all other quiz-type shows in the dust!" she said. I

Dollar General awards 13 reading grants to Georgia libraries

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) has
awarded 13 summer reading grants to Georgia public libraries. Recipients are using the DGLF funds to support programs aimed at enhancing summer, family and adult literacy programs.
Receiving grants this year were the Griffin-based Flint River Regional Library System; the Northeast Georgia Regional Library's Cornelia-Habersham County Library; the Okefenokee Regional Library System in Waycross; Peach Public Libraries in Fort Valley; the Piedmont Regional Library System's Statham, Talmo and Winder public libraries; the Satilla Regional Library in Douglas; the

Screven-Jenkins Regional Library in Sylvania; the Statesboro Regional Public Libraries' Evans County and Pembroke branches; the Three Rivers Regional Library System's Long County Library; and the Uncle Remus Regional Library System's Eatonton-Putnam County Library.
DGLF announced this year's winners in late May. Since its inception in 1993, the Goodlettsville, Tennesseebased foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping nearly 6 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education. I

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June 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

Evergreen conference celebrates decade of innovation

Evergreen may have sprouted in
Georgia a decade ago, but its growth has reached nearly 1,800 libraries worldwide. The 2016 Evergreen International Conference, held April 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was a 10th anniversary celebration of the open-source integrated library system (ILS) software.
Representing GPLS and leading sessions at the annual conference were Julie Walker, state librarian; Elizabeth McKinney, PINES program director; Chris Sharp, PINES system administrator; Elaine Hardy, PINES and collaborative projects manager; Dawn Dale, PINES help desk manager; and Terran McCanna, PINES program manager. These and other staff members who attended rubbed elbows and networked with more than 220 Evergreen developers, programmers, end users, third-party partners and others from around the world who work with the ILS software.

McCanna was also delighted by

the reception of her presentation,

which unveiled new code for PINES

Quick Reports. "It's not only been

well-received by our libraries, but it

has attracted interest from other

Evergreen

systems," she

said. "In fact, by

the time I

completed my

short

presentation on

it, an attendee

from the Sage

McCanna

Library System in Oregon already

had our code installed and running

on a test server!"

GPLS staff members weren't the only representatives from Georgia to return from Raleigh with memorable moments, stories and insights. This year, GPLS awarded nine scholarships to Georgia library staff, each covering up to $700 worth of conference expenditures.

"It was so gratifying to see representatives of libraries from around the world that are successfully deploying what began as our little homegrown ILS," said Walker, who joined McKinney and former Deputy State Library Director David Singleton, now director of libraries for the Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Library, to present Fireside Chat: Pioneering and Early Development of Evergreen. Each served on the original Evergreen development team and all were instrumental in its launch and in much of its success.
"I especially enjoyed that fireside chat with David and Elizabeth, as we reminisced about our adventures in software development," Walker said. "It's hard to believe 10 years have passed since those early days."

The recipients were: Kimberly Clayton, branch manager/PINES administrator at Clayton County Library System; Alisa Claytor, computer specialist with Athens Regional Library System; Jennifer Durham, director of Statesboro Regional Public Libraries; Chantal Gunn, reference administrative assistant with Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System; Sam Link, system services librarian for Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library System; Tangela McKibbens, branch manager, Henry County Library System; Ceil Smith, assistant director for Three Rivers Regional Library System; Linh Uong, collection management/PINES operations librarian at Northeast Georgia Regional Library System; and Belle Reynoso, assistant director of access services with

Clayton County Library System.
"I found attending the conference an invaluable opportunity to learn more about the software that serves as the backbone of many library systems throughout the U.S. and world," said Gunn. "I was able to make connections, learn more about interacting with the software and gained a better understanding of how my system fits into the future of the Evergreen community."
"We were so pleased to be able to offer these scholarships and to have greater PINES representation at the conference this year," said McKinney. "Based on the positive feedback from all of the scholarship winners, we are hoping to leverage their experiences into new ideas for PINES and spur more direct participation in the Evergreen community from PINES member libraries."
Attending an event honoring the 10th anniversary of Evergreen also evoked a sense of nostalgia for some, especially in Bin Lin, PINES cataloging specialist. Lin is, in fact, the person who originally suggested the software be named Evergreen as a nod to the trees that provide the beloved year-round greenery across the American South and in her native China.
"An evergreen pine tree is a symbol for longevity in my culture, and it is one of the favorite subjects for watercolor paintings by Chinese artists," said Lin. "They don't wither in winter; they can always weather harsh conditions."
Ten years on, the name still promises the continued growth that Evergreen's originators envisioned for the homegrown software. I

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Georgia Public Library Service News June 2016

Staff Staff

Technology

boot camp

earns praise

For the fifth consecutive year, Unicoi
State Lodge in Helen opened its doors and welcomed the GPLS Technology Boot Camp. Held April 2628, tech experts representing Georgia's public libraries came together to share and compare tricks of the trade and enjoy the company of their colleagues.
"The Technology Boot Camp started out as a place where tech managers could come to learn about emerging technologies, which was great in and of itself," said Emily Almond, GPLS IT director. "But it has grown to be a touchstone meeting where we come together to
Summer fun begun
Georgia's State School Superintendent Richard Woods joined State Librarian Julie Walker, System Director Jennifer Lautzenheiser and other guests to celebrate the start of Middle Georgia Regional Library's summer reading program on June 2. To encourage students and parents to read this year, the superintendent has teamed with Change 4 Georgia, Better World Books and Scholastic to donate more than 100,000 books to Georgia community libraries. From left are Lautzenheiser; Walker; Jim McLendon, development coordinator for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (GSHF); Woods; Candice Hall, GSHF director of education and communications; and Dr. Curtis Jones Jr., superintendent of Bibb County Schools.

GPLS staff hosted more than 120 participants at this year's IT Boot Camp.

share expertise in technology implementation, strategy and management."
Boot camp saw its highest turnout yet this year, with more than 120 participants. For the first time, attendees, guests and GPLS staff filled the lodge's 4,300-square-foot Masters Hall. Another first was the inclusion of representatives outside public libraries and outside Georgia, with academic library representatives from Valdosta State University and library techies from the South Carolina State Library.
"This year helped me check in with the bigger picture: what I've done in the past and what to focus on in the future," said Kathleen McClure, systems librarian with Okefenokee Regional Library System. "I was inspired to revamp our website, plan an information security assessment for our system and investigate the possibility of library kiosks embedded in the community," said McClure, who was also a presenter.
Sharing and learning are sentiments largely shared by many of the attendees. David Daniels, technology support specialist for the Sara Hightower Regional Library System and a regular Boot Camp presenter, said, "Throughout the year, we all tend to adopt different items for which we try to excel. Mine is on the newer Google platform in which I have created many new innovations I share with all our tech employees and administrators. We

also use the opportunity to keep up to date on projects and work together to develop better ones for the next camp."
Other presenters this year included: Steve Thomas, branch manager for the Gwinnett County Public Library; Casey Hergett, executive director of operations and infrastructure for Columbus State University's Information and Technology Services department; Curtis Spiva, technology librarian at Mountain Regional Library System; Charles Ellis, director with Webbased application LibData; Burr Osinach, digital services librarian, and Wanda Dallas, system administrator, of the Cobb County Public Library System; George Tuttle, IT librarian for Piedmont Regional Library System; Dr. W. Todd Watson Sr., information security officer at the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; and Candice Hall, E-rate analyst at the Board of Regents.
In addition to Almond, GPLS staff members leading sessions this year were Pat Herndon, director of the Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services; Terran McCanna, PINES program manager; Chris Sharp, PINES system administrator; Darin Givens, webmaster; and Julia Huprich, director of continuing education.
"The Boot Camp is everevolving," stated Almond. "There is amazing tech being offered in libraries across our state." I

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June 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



GPLS conducted its 12th annual PINES User Satisfaction Survey from April 17-23. Nearly 1,700 patrons participated this year, with the vast majority (94.8 percent) of them confirming a high degree of satisfaction with the service. More than 97 percent of respondents would recommend the PINES system to their friends.
As part of the Knight Cities Challenge, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded the Milledgeville-based Twin Lakes Library System a $25,000 grant for The Democracy Lab. The project, submitted by the system's director, Stephen Houser, will create a shared space in downtown Milledgeville, next to City Hall and near a makerspace and the library, that will foster civic engagement through public events, meetings and problem-solving sessions. The proposal is one of only 37 winners from a pool of more than 4,500 nationwide applicants.
The American Library Association's Washington office named Dan Aldridge of Winterville this year's winner of the 2016 White House Conference on Library and

Information Services Award. Given to a nonlibrarian participant attending National Library Legislative Day in May, the award covers hotel fees and includes a $300 stipend to defray the cost of attending the event. A longtime library advocate and patron, Aldridge began his term as president of the Friends of Georgia Libraries in April.

Julia Huprich, director of

training and continuing education

for GPLS, will begin her term as

president of the American Library

Association's (ALA) Learning Round

Table in July. The

organization

serves as a

national source

for staff

development,

continuing

education

assistance,

Glowcheski

publications, materials,

training and other activities. The

Round Table also selected Angela

Glowcheski, public services director

for the Canton-based Sequoyah

Regional Library System, as the

recipient of its 2016-2017 Pat Carterette Professional Grant. Glowcheski will receive a $1,000 grant to attend ALA's 2017 Annual Conference in Chicago.
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) has named Tamika Strong, IT program manager for GPLS, to be one of eight 2016 DPLA Community Strong Reps for Georgia. Based on their creative ideas, experience and geographic distribution, these volunteers help spread the word in local communities about open access, digital collections and the potential of a future national digital library.
The Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services will sponsor its second annual "GLASS Has Talent and Friends Variety Show" June 8 between 2-4 p.m. in the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library auditorium. I

Courtesy Athens-Clarke County Library Staff

Light in the plaza

Aldridge with ALA President Sari Feldman

Dozens of friends and colleagues of retired Athens Regional Library Director Kathryn Ames (third from left) gathered at the Athens-Clarke County Library on June 4 to celebrate as the city renamed the plaza in front of the library in her honor. Led by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson (fourth from left), officials unveiled a plaque beneath the area's Robert Clements sculpture "The Muse of Learning" proclaiming the space will henceforth be called Kathryn S. Ames Plaza. Ames retired in December 2014, following 42 years of service to the library system and 29 years as its director. "When I think of the library, I think of Kathryn Ames," said Denson.

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Georgia Public Library Service News June 2016

Parks
Continued from page 1 the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine; the Andersonville National Historic Site; the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which preserves a series of sites along scenic trails between Atlanta and Lake Sidney Lanier; the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains; and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, which passes through northern Georgia as it winds its way between North Carolina and Oklahoma.
"Public libraries are uniquely positioned to help educate residents about our national parks and to encourage Georgia readers to have fun as they use that knowledge to connect with the nature, history and culture of the state," said State Librarian Julie Walker.

Depending on the resources of each park, libraries may co-host programs led by park rangers; borrow traveling educational trunks or exhibits from their nearest parks; and distribute book lists highlighting the plants, animals, habitats, geology and history of those Georgia public lands administered by the NPS.
At summer reading events this year, libraries and parks will encourage children to "Be a Centennial Reader" by completing five parks-related books this summer and to participate -- and earn prizes -- in each other's youth-oriented activities. These include the NPS Junior Ranger and Every Kid in the Park programs and public libraries' 2016 Summer Reading Program, Atlanta Braves Home Run Readers Program and Atlanta Hawks CheckIt-Out Reading Challenge.
Participating libraries will promote NPS's popular Find Your

Park movement, which inspires all people to connect with, enjoy and support America's national parks. And, in time for the Aug. 25 centennial, many libraries will offer children's craft sessions to make birthday cards for the National Park Service, which GPLS will send to the parks for display.
In September, parks will participate in National Library Card Sign-Up Month. No fees are charged to enter and visit most of Georgia's national parks. Those that do, Fort Pulaski and Cumberland Island, will waive their entrance fees on the NPS birthday and following weekend, Aug. 25-28, and again on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24.
The NPS-GPLS partnership is supported in part by a grant to GPLS from the Library Services and Technology Act through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For additional information, visit www.georgialibraries.org. I

Staff Angel Tuggle

Benchmarked
The Piedmont Regional Library System's Commerce Public Library formally dedicated its new Memorial Garden at a public ceremony on April 16. The garden's signature benches -- each spotlighting 12 books by Georgia authors -- were created by sculptor Mike Jones. The Julia Jones bench pictured features Jackson County authors and illustrators. Among those attending the ceremony were (bottom row, from left) Ben Litke, Zachary Loden, Emma Willis and Lucy Wright; and (top row, from left) library assistant Matt Davis, Chandler Sacik, Christian Sacik, Arya Stapp, Xander Jones and library and public relations assistant Kelley Nicholson.

Culture club
More than 150 people attended the April 12 groundbreaking for the 28,000-square-foot East Marietta Library and Cultural Center. The $10.6 million project is being funded through the 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and a $2 million state capital grant. Cobb County Library Director Helen Poyer said the new facility will offer traditional library services and feature creative spaces for all ages, including classrooms, art gallery, black box theater, outdoor amphitheater and music practice rooms. "East Marietta will be transformed into a `knowledge library' for discovery and 21st century skills development," she said. "This will be a unique facility and destination for all of Cobb County."
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June 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News

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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

Georgia's own Transformers
A delegation of Georgia librarians traveled to Washington, D.C., from May 34, to discuss key library issues with members of Congress during the American Library Association's 42nd annual National Library Legislative Day. Representing the state's public library systems, GPLS and Friends of Georgia Libraries, the group joined several hundred other librarians and library supporters to champion federal funding for our nation's libraries. Among those attending this year's event were: (front row, from left) Geri Lynn Mullis, director of the Marshes of Glynn Libraries (MOGL); Julia Huprich, director of training and continuing education for GPLS; Elizabeth McKinney, PINES program director; (back row, from left) Julie Walker, state librarian; Jane Lafferty, chair of the MOGL board of trustees; and Wendy Cornelisen, assistant state librarian for library innovation and collaboration.