A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries volume 4, issue 3 I December 2006 Staff Federation honors GLASS, Meadows The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has selected the Georgia Library for Accessible Services (GLASS) to receive a 2006 White Cane Award. The award is the federation's expression of gratitude to individuals and organizations that assist in the mission of achieving equality, opportunity and security for the blind. From left: GLASS employees Desta Tesfai, Beverly Williams, Teneka Taylor, Diane Simms, Ronnie Amey, Vanessa Meadows, Stella Cone and Shari Johnson display the National Federation for the Blind`s White Cane Award. "The efforts of GLASS to make literature and other printed information accessible have assisted countless blind people expand their learning and develop their creativity and imagination," said Anil Lewis, president of NFB of Georgia. Stella Cone, director of GLASS, accepted See GLASS, page 2 Gates Foundation grants will upgrade public library computers The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $1.449 million to the Georgia Public Library Service to upgrade public access computers in public library systems across the state. The goal of the Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Program (PAC HUG) is to encourage libraries to keep equipment and infrastructure up to date, reducing inequities in technology access. Through PAC HUG, the foundation also hopes to encourage businesses, state and local governments, nonprofits and other library supporters to continue their efforts to strengthen public libraries and maintain the public's access to the computers they provide. The foundation has partnered with WebJunction to administer the onetime grant program. Using PAC HUG funds, each of Georgia's libraries that were granted computers by the foundation between 1997 and 2000 will be able to upgrade their systems with hardware that will make them easier to support and upgrade. "The focus of PAC HUG is to maximize the number of library patrons and staff who benefit from public-access computers in those libraries," said Deputy State Librarian David Singleton. "These funds help us level the playing field for libraries in disadvantaged communities." Fifty-one of Georgia's 58 public library systems will receive between $18,000 and $54,000 each from PAC HUG. The remaining seven public library systems received funds directly from the foundation during the first phase of the program. I Staff Evergreen riding wave of positive publicity Evergreen is proving to be white hot. More than 250 PINES public libraries debuted the new computer software program this fall, simultaneously improving service, enhancing security and saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Positive word-of-mouth publicity is now spreading rapidly among patrons and library staff across Georgia, as well as within the library and technology communities across the country and internationally. Dr. Lamar Veatch, state librarian; David Singleton, deputy state librarian; and Julie Walker, assistant state librarian for technology services, have been invited to speak about Evergreen at a number of regional, national and international conferences this fall and winter. So have design team members Brad LaJeunesse, Jason Etheridge, Mike Rylander and Bill Erickson. These events include the Georgia Council of Media Organizations and Code4Lib, a national conference for library programmers, both in Athens; TechConnect in Dublin, Ohio; Netspeed in Edmonton, Alberta; the Integrated Library System Symposium in Windsor, Ontario; the Georgia Library Association's midwinter meeting in Morrow; the Extensible Catalog Partners Conference in Rochester, N.Y.; the Online Computer Library Center Members Council in Quebec City; and the New Jersey Library Association Conference in Long Branch, N.J. "Evergreen is proving not only to be better software for our libraries and customers here in Georgia but a new LaJeunesse, Erickson, Etheridge and Rylander model for the development of software for libraries in general," said Singleton. "It's exciting to see the attention generated by this project and how libraries nationally and internationally are eager to explore Evergreen as an attractive option for library automation," Walker said. "It's also very rewarding that leading thinkers in the field of library technology are taking notice and asking us to tell them more about it." Using new technology to help libraries become more effective and efficient also demonstrates GPLS' commitment to the Governor's Customer Service Initiative, noted Veatch. "PINES and Evergreen exemplify the values of faster, friendlier and easier," he said. The new Evergreen-powered Web-based PINES catalog is available from workstations within all PINES libraries, as well as for users logging in from home, at www.gapines.org. I GLASS Continued from page 1 the award at its Fifth Annual Black Tie -- White Cane Appreciation Banquet in Atlanta on Oct. 7. Vanessa Meadows, a board member of the Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter of NFB and seven-year GLASS employee, also won Georgia's Volunteer of the Year Award. "The White Cane Award is a great honor for us," said Cone, "and we are also so proud of Vanessa's recognition. We call her `The GPLS Navigational System.' She is at her best when she receives a call from someone who is newly blind. She gets them involved and helps them through the adjustment phase." "This year, Vanessa took on the tremendous responsibility of coordinating bus transportation to the National Federation of the Blind convention in Dallas, Texas," Lewis said. "Because of her dedication, more than 50 blind people, their family members and friends were able to attend the largest gathering of blind people in America." "I was so shocked and so pleased," Meadows said. "I was not expecting this award at all. I couldn't have been happier if I had won a million dollars. I'm still stunned." GLASS is funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to GPLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I 2 Georgia Public Library Service News December 2006 Patron visits, circulations, cost savings up this year Despite rumors and predictions to the contrary, public libraries across the country are alive, well and serving more citizens than ever before. For Georgia's fiscal year 2006 (July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006), patron visits to public libraries set a new record of 31,952,301, up nearly 400,000 from the previous year. Loans reached an all-time high of more than 41.2 million items. Users of electronic resources grew by nearly 12 percent in FY06, to approximately 13.4 million. The most impressive gains, however, came in the area of interlibrary loans, which more than doubled, from 364,000 to 891,000 during the year -- one interlibrary loan for every 10 citizens in Georgia. Interlibrary loans are materials lent between libraries to fulfill customer requests. According to Susan Roberts, director of library grants, research and planning for GPLS, "This means we are sharing resources across the state at an unprecedented rate. If you average the cost of the books that were loaned between libraries rather than purchased, we saved taxpayers more than $22 million this year in materials alone. "If you consider that each of the 13 million users of Roberts electronic resources might have otherwise had to spend the national average of $5 for each hour spent online at an Internet caf, the savings are even more impressive," Roberts said. The chief providers of cost savings in materials are the Georgia Online Database (GOLD) and PINES. GOLD promotes interlibrary lending among public, school, academic, technical college and special libraries in the state. PINES, the public library automation and lending network for 252 libraries in 123 counties, creates a statewide "borderless library" that provides equal access to information for all Georgians. "Resource sharing programs like GOLD and PINES ensure that all Georgians have access to millions of materials in collections across the state," said Deputy State Librarian David Singleton. The PINES program's annual operating costs are approximately $1.6 million. "With slightly more than 1.6 million Georgians currently holding a PINES card," Singleton said, "that means we are able to provide this service for only $1 per cardholder. This is just one example of how public libraries provide a phenomenal return on investment for the state." I GPLS publishes `Tools for Trustees' Library Day with For the first time in more than a decade, Georgia's public library trustees have a new manual to assist them in fulfilling their duties to the state's 58 library systems. Tools for Trustees: The Georgia Public Library Trustee Manual began arriving in trustees' hands in October, complete with 22 appendices, a glossary of library terms, a list of helpful resources and a complemen- tary CD to make the information easy to transport and update. The manual was written by Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library develop- ment and designed by David Baker, director of marketing and Hopper communications for GPLS. The publi- cation was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to GPLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I Legislature Feb. 13 On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Georgia Library Association and GPLS will sponsor Georgia Library Day with the state Legislature. Registration information will be available in January at gla.georgialibraries.org. According to State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch, the event "will provide a great opportunity for friends and supporters of public libraries to tune up their advocacy skills and speak directly with legislators about the need for their continued support of the state's public libraries." I 3 December 2006 Georgia Public Library Service News Saralyn Ingram Kids read almost 1 million books in `06 Vacation Reading Program It's no fantasy that when the final results were tallied this fall, the 2006 Vacation Reading Program, "Once Upon a Time," proved a winner with youngsters and families in all regions of the state. Jim Cooper According to Bobbie Morgan, children's services director for GPLS, nearly 215,000 people participated in the program, checking out a record-breaking 4.1 million books and other materials. More than 415,000 people attended programs at 381 public library facilities, including 26 bookmobiles. In the traditional Vacation Reading Program, Morgan said, participants counted either hours read or books read. "Libraries set goals or allowed participants to set individual goals. Depending on the Teresa Jones, a storyteller at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library in Carrollton, baked a cake to help attendees at the Children's Services Northwest Quadrant Meeting get a head start on the 2007 VRP. Twins Kennedy (left) and Chandler Rouse celebrated their 7th birthday this summer at the Augusta Public Library. The girls read 20 books each as part of this summer's Vacation Reading Program in the East Central Georgia Regional Library system. Kennedy's favorite books are the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park. Chandler loves books about the solar system and outer space. goal chosen, people read for nearly 320,000 hours and read more than 900,000 books." This was also the second year of a Vacation Reading Program pilot program that encouraged participants to count the number of literacy activities they engaged in during the summer. "In only 14 library systems, we counted a record 169,434 literacy activities," Morgan said. "People seemed to be ready for a change, and it was exciting to try something new. The game board people used to track their activities attracted considerable attention and helped make the activities even more fun." Michael White, a noted local author and artist known for illustrating the books The Library Dragon and Harriet's Horrible Hair Day, designed the artwork for the 2006 Vacation Reading Program. "Michael's whimsical style is immediately recognized nationwide," Morgan said. "He produced numerous characters to illustrate his unique ideas of `Once Upon a Time.' "From the `Moo-F-O' cow in outer space to a bookmobile dragon delivering books throughout the universe, the characters he created for us were enthusiastically embraced by children and adults alike and earned us many favorable comments at this year's National Book Festival in Washington, D.C." More than 2,500 volunteers supported the program this year, Morgan noted, donating 20,330 hours to help children improve their literacy skills. The Vacation Reading Program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to GPLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I 4 Georgia Public Library Service News December 2006 Thomas Sperling Children's Services Conference set for February The 2007 Children's Services Annual Conference (CSAC) is set for Friday, Feb. 9 at the Macon Centreplex. "The annual event provides opportunities for professional staff members from public libraries and school media centers throughout the state to exchange ideas and pick up some of the latest information about the field of children's services," said David Singleton, deputy state librarian. Fifteen breakout sessions will be offered throughout the day, covering a wide variety of topics, such as building preliteracy skills, using Web pages to promote children's services, providing homework help and an introduction to the "Georgia Read More" program. This keynote speaker will be Carmen Agra Deedy, author of numerous children's books, including The Yellow Star, Treeman and The Library Dragon. She is a regular contributor to National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and "Latino USA" and has performed throughout the country, including appearances at the Disney Institute, the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Born in Havana, Cuba, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1963 and lives in Decatur. CSAC will also mark the unveiling of the full range of 2007 Vacation Reading Program artwork by Thomas Sperling, an award-winning illustrator of more than 40 books in the United States and Great Britain. CSAC 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. Registration is free but will be limited to a maximum of 450 participants. Lunch is included and free parking will be provided. Additional information, including breakout session descriptions, a full schedule and registration forms, should be available in January at www.georgialibraries.org. I Bears and pirates will be among the central characters in Georgia's 2007 Vacation Reading Program, "Reading Takes You Everywhere." Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers to give 20,000 tickets to young readers In the second year of their partnership with GPLS, the than 100 participants, led by the Cobb County Central Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers again sponsored a Library in Marietta with 402 and the Nancy Guinn supplemental vacation reading program at public libraries Memorial Library in Conyers with 261. in eight metro Atlanta counties. As part of their partnership with GPLS, the Hawks Designed to enhance this year's "Once Upon a Time" and Thrashers will also sponsor two Georgia Public Vacation Reading Program, the 2006 Thrashers-Hawks Library Nights with each team this season, with Check-It-Out Reading Challenge targeted young readers discounted tickets for all public library employees, entering classes from pre-K to grade 12 for the 2006-07 Friends, volunteers and family members. The dates for school year, allowing participants to earn basketball- and the Hawks games are Friday, Dec. 1 against the Cleveland hockey-related rewards by reading and participating in Cavaliers and Sunday, Feb. 25 against the Phoenix Suns. other literacy activities. Thrashers nights will be Friday, Jan. 5 against the Phoenix Coyotes and Sunday, March 4 against the defending The number of participants nearly doubled this year. Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. As a result, the teams will give away nearly 20,000 tickets for the coming season to young readers in Clayton, For additional information and to order tickets, Cobb, Fulton, Gilmer, Henry, Newton, Pickens and contact Carrie Neville, Group Sales & Service executive Rockdale counties. Eighteen libraries each reported more with Atlanta Spirit, LLC at 404-878-3936. I 5 December 2006 Georgia Public Library Service News NEWS IN BRIEF Alan Harkness, currently staff development manager with the Gwinnett County Library, has been appointed director of the Piedmont Harkness Regional Library, based in Winder, effective Jan. 1. Harkness will replace Nancy Ray, who has retired. Susan Stephens has been appointed director of that system, which is based in Summerville. Stephens' appointment is effective Jan. 1. She will replace Barbara Hutsell, who will retire at the end of December. Jeff Tomlinson has been named assistant director at the Uncle Remus Regional Library System, based in Madison. He was previously public services librarian for the Ohoopee Regional Library System in Vidalia. Ames, ARLS director, and Judy Atwood, assistant director for extensions, received grants from the American Library Association to attend the Guadalajara International Book Festival in Mexico. Trudi Green has joined the AthensClarke County Library as manager of adult services. Martha Francis Powers has joined the Ohoopee Regional Library System as public services librarian. Claudia Gibson has been named director of the Chestatee Regional Library System, serving Dawson and Lumpkin counties. She previously served Gibson as associate director and interim director for the Dawsonville-based system. The Chatooga County Library board of trustees has announced that GPLS has announced that Julie Walker is the new assistant state librarian for technology services. She was previously director of the PINES program. Bill Erickson has joined GPLS as server applications developer for the Evergreen program. Clare Auwarter has assumed the position of Oconee County Librarian, supervising the Watkinsville and Bogart branches of the Athens Regional Library System (ARLS). Auwarter, along with Kathryn Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) presented Lianne Keeney with its first Best Friend Award at the group's Nov. 17 business meeting and workshop, held in Decatur. Keeney, who hails from Dahlonega, served as the Keeney group's steering committee president during its organization in 2004 and 2005. Scout wins Bronze Award for work with library Twelve-year-old Lauren McDonald chose the VidaliaToombs County Library as her service project to win a Girl Scouts Bronze Award. By writing letters and talking to neighbors, Lauren raised enough money to purchase the entire Dear America and Royal Diary series of books about young McDonald people in American and world history. She placed one set in the library and worked with the library to have another set of the books placed in the Family Crisis Center for the children who are living there. According to Ohoopee Regional Library System Director Dusty Gres, McDonald's work added almost 100 books to the system's collection for young adults. "Lauren's hard work proves that young people today are dedicated to making their communities a better place," said Gres. I 6 Georgia Public Library Service News December 2006 At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 28, the Gwinnett County Library opened its 14th branch. The new Grayson Library features 20,000 square feet of space stocked with approximately 65,000 books, CDs and other items. It also features 23 public-access computers. According to Manager Kerry Montz, the library loaned more than 5,000 books and issued 177 new library cards during its first weekend of operation. Nancy Stanbery-Kellam, interim executive director of the system, said: "The Grayson community has been watching for several months how the building has come to life from the outside. Now they are finally able to see what we have to offer on the inside." I Staff Staff TOP: The Braselton Library features a wraparound porch with rocking chairs. BOTTOM: Benton, Hoover and England share a laugh at the facility's dedication ceremony. Piedmont Regional Library System opens new Braselton facility The Piedmont Regional Library welcomed dozens of friends and dignitaries to the dedication ceremony of its new Braselton Library on Nov. 8. "It was an exciting day for us," said Interim Director Anna Hoover. "The look of this library is so welcoming and inviting." Designed by Red Thunder Studio to look more like a stately Southern home than is typical of many public facilities, the 6,800-square-foot building features a wraparound porch with numerous chairs for patrons. It replaces an outdated, 600-square-foot, limited-operation facility. "The library is absolutely beautiful," said former Director Nancy Ray, who retired in September. "I think our architect was inspired by the community to come up with an unusually creative design, and everyone here is justifiably proud of what's been done here. We want everyone to see it." Among those who turned out for the ceremony were Braselton Mayor Pat Graham and state representatives Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) and Terry England (RAuburn). From its headquarters library in Winder and 11 branches, the Piedmont system serves the population of Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties. I Feathered friends make every day seem like Thanksgiving at Woodstock Library Nick Fogarty, director of the Sequoyah Regional Library System, has a favorite new riddle this year: "Why did the turkey cross the road? To visit the library, of course!" Since the new Woodstock Public Library was completed this year, it has drawn an impressive number of patrons, but none as unique as the flock of turkeys that makes a trip to the library part of their routine. According to Children's Coordinator Vicki Sellers, kids come early for story times in hopes of spotting the birds. "The turkeys provide an excellent learning opportunity," she said. "Most of our Maggie Edlund littlest patrons now know that the word to decribe those shiny feathers is `iridescent.'" Children are not alone in their fascination with the feathered patrons. Adults often jockey for Nick Fogarty talks turkey with one of the Woodstock Library's feathered patrons. position to read in one of the windowed alcoves that overlook the turkey-trot area. "One gentleman now visits the library daily on his morning walks," said Branch Manager Pat Bull. "The turkeys have turned several inconsistent library goers into regulars." Although the flock members don't hold library cards, Bull said, they are valued patrons. "Books referencing turkeys, from The Cat Who Talked Turkey by Lilian Jackson Braun to Thelonius Turkey Lives by Lynn Rowe Reed, have experienced a sudden popularity." I 7 December 2006 Georgia Public Library Service News PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 213 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 Lamar Veatch, state librarian David Baker, editor 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 Staff FOGL workshop a resounding success More than 50 library advocates and supporters attended the Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) fall workshop, "Libraries Can't Live on Love Alone." The event was held Nov. 17 at the DeKalb County Public Library in Decatur. According to State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch, representatives from more than one-third of all library systems in the state attended. Sally Gardner Reed, executive director of Friends of Libraries U.S.A., led the workshop, teaching friends how to turn their love for libraries Dr, Lamar Veatch (right) welcomed Sally Reed to a reception in her honor. into effective advocacy and help their communities get the library funding they need to be successful. Approximately two dozen attendees also attended a networking event and welcome reception on the evening of Nov. 16. "Sally's presentation was a wonderful success for us," said FOGL President Jenny McCurdy. "We hope that everyone who came out will go and tell others about the workshop and about FOGL." I 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 www.georgialibraries.org A Unit of the University System of Georgia