Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 5, no. 3 (Dec. 2007)

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

volume 5, issue 3 I December 2007

GPLS wins Mellon Award for Technology Collaboration

Courtesy Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Evergreen automation system hailed as milestone in open-source software development

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
has named the Georgia Public Library Service as one of 10 recipients of the second annual Mellon Awards for Technology Collaboration. The $50,000 grant recognizes GPLS for the development and release of the Evergreen open-source library automation system.
The Mellon Awards honor not-for-profit organizations for leadership in the collaborative development of open-source software tools with particular application to higher education and cultural heritage not-for-profit activities. The awards were presented Dec. 10 by Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, director of the World Wide Web Consortium and inventor of the World Wide Web, at the Fall Task Force meeting of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) in Washington, D.C.
Accepting the award on behalf of GPLS were Dr. Lamar Veatch, state librarian; David Singleton, deputy state librarian; Julie Walker, assistant state librarian for support services and strategic initiatives; Elizabeth McKinney de Garcia, PINES program director; and Brad LaJeunesse, consultant and leader of the Evergreen software development team.

From left: LaJeunesse, Singleton, Veatch, Berners-Lee, Garcia and Walker

"Evergreen is a most significant milestone in the life of Georgia's public libraries," said Veatch, "and the Mellon Foundation's award today is high recognition, indeed, for all those involved in its development.
"A cooperative library system like PINES," he explained, "is a miracle of public library collaboration and the realization of a true statewide library card.
"The Evergreen software that now powers PINES is yet another aspect of this shared vision for a sustained, self-directed, library management system. It is one that permits PINES to develop and grow its services in ways that best meet the needs of the libraries and the publics they serve. We are honored and grateful to the Mellon Foundation for recognizing the potential of Evergreen with this award."

After an international public nomination process, the recipients of this year's awards were selected by the MATC Award Committee, which included Berners-Lee; Mitchell Baker, CEO of Mozilla Corp.; John Seely Brown, former chief scientist for Xerox Corp.; Vinton G. Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist of Google Inc.; John Gage, chief researcher and director of the Science Office of Sun Microsystems Inc.; and Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO, O'Reilly Media.
The Mellon Foundation is a notfor-profit philanthropic organization with offices in New York City and Princeton, N.J. For more information on this year's awards, including podcast interviews with some of the recipients and a complete list of awardees, prizes, and projects for which they were recognized, visit the CNI Web site at www.cni.org. I

Staff

PINNACLE Institute a peak experience for new leaders
The inaugural class of PINNACLE --
the Public Library Institute for New and Creative Leadership Education -- began its year of intensive training with a one-week retreat, appropriately set amid the mountains at Unicoi State Park near Helen in November.

The goal of the institute is to ensure the future of high-quality library leadership across Georgia. During its yearlong course, 20 of the best and brightest young leaders in the Georgia library community will receive training in situational leadership, time management, analytical and creative problem solving, financial management and performance measures, human resource management and administrative law, managing conflict and group dynamics, ethics, power, best practices, process improvement, project coaching, media relations, leadership in a political environment and effective presentations.
Each student will also benefit from the individual counsel of 10 mentors, including all five of PINNACLE's steering committee members, each of whom will work with two class members.
"I can't say enough nice things about my experience at the PINNACLE kickoff," said Lecia Eubanks, director of the Cherokee Regional Library in LaFayette. "It's obvious that a lot of time, energy and preparation went into the design and content of the courses. The interaction with my peers in the library community was also a valuable part of the week. Having access to such a wide range of talent and ideas will prove very profitable to me as a new library director."

The inaugural PINNACLE class includes (from left): Lisa MacKinney of the Hall County Library System, Jill Prouty of the Flint River Regional Library System, Ashley Moore of the Dougherty County Public Library, Trudi Green of the Athens Regional Library System, Jimmy Bass of the Coweta County Public Library, Beverly Williams of the Georgia Library for Accessible Services, Lecia Eubanks of the Cherokee Regional Library, Ted Bazemore of the Clayton County Library System (CCLS), Colleen Knight of the Bartow County Library System, Susan Stephens of the Chattooga County Library System, Beata Mengel of CCLS, Gina Jenkins of the DeKalb County Public Library, Karen Odom of Houston County Public Libraries, Anne Bowen of the Ocmulgee Regional Library System, Jeff Tomlinson of the Uncle Remus Regional Library System, Sandy Hester of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library, Sarah Boyd and Brijin Boddy of the Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library, Leigh Wiley of the DeSoto Trail Regional Library and Jo Lahmon of the Cobb County Public Library System.

"The session on developing a vision was particularly helpful to me, because I just started a new job," said Sarah Boyd, technology advocate/popular materials department head at the Columbus Public Library. "I want to be a good leader, and I believe that the PINNACLE Institute will help me develop the skills I need to become one."
Jimmy Bass, head of the Newnan-Coweta Public Library, noted that he has already "benefited greatly from the open, insightful discussions" that the Pinnacle class engaged in during its first week. "The diversity in our backgrounds and experiences is a real springboard for lively and engaging input," he said. "I came away from Helen with a sharper focus and a much broader mindset."

Kate Nevins, SOLINET executive director, was a featured speaker at the retreat. "She did an amazing job of sharing her thoughts about leadership and the challenges that today's libraries face," said Deputy State Librarian David Singleton.
According to Dusty Gres, director of the Ohoopee Regional Library System in Vidalia, even the institute's mentors, who have more than 200 combined years of experience in the library profession, came away from PINNACLE with a renewed sense of purpose. "I not only was able to meet and work with energetic new leaders but also was able to network with other mentors and be newly inspired and refreshed," she said. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the program as a learning experience for me as well as for the class participants." I

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Georgia Public Library Service News December 2007

Staff Joe Byrne

Georgia Library Association honors Singleton

The Georgia Library Association (GLA) has honored
David Singleton of the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) with the 2007 Nix-Jones Award.
GLA's highest honor, the Nix-Jones Award honors a practicing librarian who has made substantial contributions to the library profession and who has provided both leadership in library programs and outstanding support to Georgia's libraries. Established in 1968, the award is named for Georgia library pioneers Lucille Nix and Sarah Lewis Jones. GLA currently has more than 800 members -- librarians, trustees, paraprofessionals, friends, students and others -- representing libraries of all sizes and types, such as school, public, academic and special.

Singleton received the award Oct. 18 at the Georgia Council of Media Organizations Conference on Jekyll Island. He joined GPLS in June 1998 and has served as deputy state librarian since June 2002. I

"We at GPLS are thrilled that David was chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award," said State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch. "Not only does it honor David's many accomplishments and his deep commitment to our profession, but it also recognizes the important role that the state library agency plays in the life of Georgia's public libraries. In no small measure, this role has been developed and continues to be nurtured by David's thoughtful and imaginative leadership."

West Georgia College and State University's Lorene Flanders (left), chair of the GLA Awards Committee, presents the 2007 Nix-Jones Award to David Singleton.

Construction effort begins for new public library in Euharlee

The Bartow County Library System
held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Emmie Nelson Public Library on Oct. 29. Instead of renovating its current 1,500-square-foot library, the

city of Euharlee gave the library system the land for a new 7,000square-foot facility and pledged $300,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds toward its

construction. According to Director Carmen Sims, construction of the new building should take approximately one year.
Euharlee City Councilman Lance Jacobs spoke at the ceremony, calling it "due time" for a larger library to take shape in the thriving town. "I look forward to [seeing] the growing population use it through the next generation," he said.

Breaking ground for the new library are (from left): Don Kordecki, trustee; Bill Pinson, contractor; Sterling Pettifer, architect; Frankie Harris, city manager; Dr. Wes Dickey, trustee; Jamie McLemore, branch manager; Rep. Bill Cummings (D-Rockmart); Carmen Sims, library director; Lance Jacobs, Euharlee City Council; Kate Dougherty, vice chair, board of trustees; and Lamar Barnes, chair, Euharlee Library Building Committee.

Sims said she was extremely pleased with the ceremony's attendance, which totaled about three dozen. "I think the large turnout reflects very well on the support of this library system," she said, "and it shows how much importance the community places on the public library." I

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December 2007 Georgia Public Library Service News

Staff Susan Cooley

Rome library makes mark in public broadcasting
Georgia public libraries serve their communities in
hundreds of ways, but the Rome-Floyd County Library (RFCL) does so in one of the most public ways possible: television.

RFCL is the only public library in the state to include a full television studio and to offer its own five-and-a-halfhour slate of prime-time, public-access programming through the local cable television system's Public Education and Government Channel, Channel 4.

According to Channel 4 Coordinator Randy Allen, the library has been involved with local-access television since the late 1970s. "In 1988," he said, "we became the state's first 24-hour literacy channel. We still broadcast 24 hours a day, but over the years, we scaled back our original programming to a more manageable five and a half hours."

The broadcast studio is equipped with three professional-quality cameras that record direct to disc, tripods, light kit, and both boom and lavalier microphones. In addition, the city of Rome has installed three robotic cameras for use in filming the meetings of the Rome City Commission. The editing studio contains two computers for image and effects processing, a third that runs background imagery and a server that broadcasts direct to the cable network. "Every Wednesday morning, we load equipment into a library van and go out to shoot location footage for the following week," Allen said.

According to Susan Cooley,

Allen in the studio

director of the Sara Hightower

Regional Library System, at 5 p.m. each evening, the

library broadcasts 90 minutes of children's pro-gramming.

"This includes `Optimists' Student of the Month,'

storytimes and, in the summer, vacation reading-related

programming," she said. At 6:30, Channel 4 airs

"Southern Exposure," a community-events show that

covers everything from local fundraising events to

promotional efforts for the Toys for Tots campaign each

Christmas.

To further the cause of literacy, the library produces two book-discussion shows: "Library Chat," hosted by

Among the volunteers for the 2007 Vacation Reading Program are Evans (left), Hampton and, on the monitor, Doyle.
Cooley, and "Libris Roma," co-hosted by Susan Carlson, reader services coordinator, and Steve Head, system services librarian. Local writers often make guest appearances. "The Harbin Clinic's Healthy Cooking Show"; two hours for city and county government meetings, filmed by Channel 4 staff; and programming from Rome High and Floyd County Board of Education meetings round out the schedule.
Citizens around the state may have seen some of RFCL's talents on display this past summer, when several library staff members volunteered their services to help Georgia Public Library Service create a series of public service announcements for the 2007 Vacation Reading Program. David Evans, interlibrary loan librarian, directed the video for the spots; Dawn Hampton, coordinator of special collections, added the voiceovers; and Jim Doyle, retired
reference librarian, donned a pirate costume to star in them. The spots were such a hit that 46 of the state's library systems used them.
"We're very laid back about our work," Allen concluded, "and I'm sure there are times when the finished product might not look professional, but there's never any dead air."
"We believe we are filling a need for our community," Cooley added, "and the community has certainly responded well to everyone's efforts." I

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Georgia Public Library Service News December 2007

Courtesy of the Georgia Archives Tarvis E. Thompson

Clay County Library honored for archival program

In its fifth annual awards ceremony on Oct. 15, the
Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB) recognized the Clay County Library in Fort Gaines with its Archival Program Development Award.
In July 2005, the library's board approved a 3,000square-foot building addition to house the local archives, an expansion from its current 330-square-foot Local History/Genealogy room. Through a subsequent GHRAB grant, the library has been able to establish a solid foundation for the effective administration of an archival program before its move to the larger facility, which is still in the planning stages.

library assistants Karin Simmons and Janice Wood. The facility is part of the Dawson-based Kinchafoonee Regional Library System.
"Our goal has been to develop and maintain standards of excellence on par with those set by the State Archives, no matter how small we are or how large we become," said Turn. "We are thrilled that the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board has recognized our efforts." I

The staff has reorganized the current Local History/ Genealogy room, established collection development guidelines and procedures, put together a disaster preparedness plan and added information about its holdings to the Fort Gaines Web site. "This library in south Georgia can serve as a model for other organizations seeking to promote the identification, protection, preservation and use of historical records," said Elizabeth Barr, assistant coordinator for GHRAB.

Librarian Jean Turn traveled to the State Archives in Morrow to accept the award on behalf of the entire staff, which includes Branch Manager Teresa Reynolds and

From left: Secretary of State Karen Handel, Librarian Jean Turn, Deputy State Librarian David Singleton and GHRAB Chairman Ross King.

AFPL, DeKalb systems launch health literacy pilot program

Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first Wellness Information Zone are: John Eaves, Fulton County Commission chair; Dr. Neil Shulman (dressed to perform a program for children called "What's in a Doctor's Bag?"); Bruce Astrein, executive director for Libraries for the Future; Tharon Johnson, U.S. Rep. John Lewis's district director; John Szabo, director, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System; Darro C. Willey, director, DeKalb County Public Library; Dominique Wilkins, Vice President, Atlanta Hawks and NBA Hall of Famer; and Virginia Kelly Judd, Humana executive director.

To address the growing problem of
low health literacy levels and to help consumers access usable health information, The Humana Foundation and Libraries for the Future (LFF) launched the Wellness Information Zone, a new consumer health information project, at libraries in two metro Atlanta counties.

Atlanta-Fulton County (AFPL) and DeKalb County public library systems. The new high-tech, hightouch zones will enable Georgians to access trustworthy health information at www.wellzone.org, with an option of seeking help from specially trained librarians or volunteer guides.

The program aims to bring

Wellness Information Zones are

together expertise and resources

located at all eight libraries

from the two partner organizations

participating in the pilot program.

to help citizens who have difficulty

Fulton County locations include the

obtaining, understanding and acting Atlanta Central Library, along with

on basic health information and

AFPL branches in Roswell, South

services.

Fulton, Dogwood and Southwest

Regional. DeKalb County Public

The Wellness Information Zone

Library hosts the zone in its Decatur,

centers will be piloted in Atlanta

Chamblee and Wesley Chapel-

through a partnership with the

William C. Brown locations. I

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December 2007 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



Staff

Janice Daniel has been named interim director of the Okefenokee Regional Library System in Waycross. The system serves Appling, Bacon, Clinch, Pierce and Ware counties.
Billy Tripp has been appointed assistant director at Peach Public Libraries in Fort Valley. He has held a number of positions, most recently head of business and technology, during his 12 years with the system. In addition, Tripp and Daryl Fletcher, assistant director for technical services at the Conyers-Rockdale Library, have been selected to participate in the American Library Association's and Allied Professional Association's Certified Public Library Administrator Program.
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System has announced that Scott Parham has been named branch manager of the Stewart-Lakewood Branch. Kelly Robinson has been named the system's public relations and marketing director, and Mary Starck has been promoted to branch group manager.
Knot kidding around
The Dalton-Whitfield Library, headquarters for the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System, and the system's Friends organization sponsored two programs by Georgia author Wright Gres (left) in November. Gres, a lifetime sailor who is married to Ohoopee Regional Library System Director Dusty Gres, spoke about and signed copies of his new book, Macedonia Passage: Dangerous Cargo, then demonstrated a variety of nautical knots for library staff and patrons. Library Assistant Dana Lance (right) quickly put the knowledge to use on Branch Manager Erik Lewis.

James Cooper, director of the Carrollton-based West Georgia Regional Library, is the new president-elect of the Georgia Library Association (GLA) and will serve as president in 2009.
Kimberly Cooper, of the Augusta-based East Central Georgia Regional Library, received the Nora Symmers Award from GLA. The award honors a paraprofessional's efforts to promote and encourage paraprofessional participation in GLA.
On Thursday, Feb. 14, GLA and GPLS will sponsor Georgia Library Day with the state Legislature. Registration information will be available in January at gla.georgialibraries.org.
GPLS sponsored eight programs at the Georgia Council of Media Organizations Conference on Jekyll Island in October: "Every Child Ready to Read," featuring childhood literacy consultant Saroj Ghoting; "Free and Inexpensive Assistive Technologies" by Stella Cone, director of the Georgia Library for Accessible Services, and Dr. Ravonne Green of Valdosta State University; "E-Rate Part 2: Beyond the 471" by Richard Brock, E-Rate program director; "Creating Policies for Results" and "Introducing PINNACLE Leadership Institute," presented by David Singleton, deputy state librarian, and Julie Walker, assistant state librarian for support services and strategic initiatives; "The Art of Evergreen Acquisitions" by Art Rhyno of the University of Windsor (Ontario); "Legal Update on Library Issues" by lawyer Wyc Orr; and "Peachnet: Gateway to the Internet" by Ed Maioriello of the University System of Georgia's Office of Information and Instructional Technology, and Katherine Gregory, PINES services specialist. I

Snell, Burch and Turner
UGA honors Burch at Fayette Library
The University of Georgia Libraries
honored children's author Robert Burch with its W. Porter Kellam Lifetime Achievement Award Nov. 5. The Fayette County Public Library and its Friends organization hosted the event. Jack Smith, chairman of the Board of Commissioners; Chris Snell, library director; and Sherry Turner, public services librarian, led the program, which drew a crowd of more than 150 friends and fans.
Snell said it was a great honor for the library, part of the Flint River Regional Library System, to help pay tribute to Burch, who has lived in Fayetteville most of his life. "He is a gentle man of integrity," she said. "His stories will live forever."
Named for the director of the University of Georgia Library from 1950 to 1973, the Kellam Award was established to honor individuals for outstanding contributions to literary life in Georgia. I

Joe Forsee

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Georgia Public Library Service News December 2007

Residents welcome Henry County's new Fairview branch

Hundreds of area residents joined Henry County Public
Library System employees, board members and numerous local officials on Oct. 21 to celebrate the grand opening of the system's new Fairview branch.

books and magazines, and features sections for children, teens and adults. It is the system's fifth branch and is the first library the county has build outside of an incorporated area.

Dr. Gordon Baker, chairman of the library board, welcomed the crowd and thanked everyone who played a role in making the newest branch a reality. Commissioners Johnny Basler, Jason Harper and Randy Stamey joined Baker in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and in unveiling a commemorative bronze plaque by the entrance.
The 15,000-square-foot facility, which officially opened to the public Dec. 1, includes more than 20,000

"This is an area that has never had a library facility," said Carolyn Fuller, system director, "and this was a community-driven project one that would not have come to fruition without the diligent work of many community members."
Fuller noted that the library is directly across the street from an elementary and a middle school and is about five miles from a second elementary school. Phoenix Light is the Fairview branch manager. I

Kara Williams

GALILEO debuts new look at public libraries

GALILEO will soon sport a new look
specifically for public libraries. Beginning the week of Dec. 17, new interfaces will debut for users in five GALILEO communities: Library (public library), High School, Teen, Kids (K12) and Scholar (academic). Although each interface will be available from any location, public libraries will have new custom categories, such as Gardening/Do-ItYourself and Personal Finance and Investing.

Attending the Governor's Commendation ceremony were (from left): Veatch; Fisher; Yontz; Spisak; Davis, with granddaughter and library patron Amber Loyd; Gov. Perdue; Cushing; Manget; Byrd; and McCurdy.
Governor commends state Friends group

Other improvements include faster page-loading speed; subjectbased browsing, both of databases and e-journals; and quick-searching opportunities that are contextualized by subject and type.
The new interface was developed with the guidance of the GALILEO Public Library Community Customiza-tion Working Group. Functional and design refinements will continue as feedback from users is addressed and further usability testing is completed. For more info about the new, improved GALILEO, visit www.galileo.usg.edu. I

Gov. Sonny Perdue presented
Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) with an official commendation on Sept. 26.
The Governor praised the organization for highlighting libraries' status as community cornerstones.
He also praised FOGL members' advocacy efforts to help ensure libraries receive the funding needed to provide the services that Georgia's citizens need. "The Friends gift of their time and commitment to the library sets an example for all in how volunteerism leads to positive civic

engagement and the betterment of our communities," Perdue said.
On hand to celebrate the occasion were State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch, FOGL President Jenny McCurdy, FOGL Vice President Mary Lee Davis, board members Debbie Manget and Elaine Yontz, and FOGL members Amber Loyd, Rita Spisak, Alma Ruth Byrd, Debbie Cushing and Jack Fisher.
"This is a great moment in FOGL's young history," said FOGL Treasurer Wally Eberhard. I

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December 2007 Georgia Public Library Service News

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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

License plates to benefit public libraries

Georgia's elected officials have
passed legislation for a license plate to help support public libraries. A project of the Georgia Council of Public Libraries, the special tags will each bring a donation of $10 to the Georgia Center for the Book. Funds will then be used to purchase books for the state's public libraries.
"Signing up for the tags is a simple process," said Bill Starr, executive director for the center, "and the rewards are significant -- everything from showing off personal support of Georgia's wonderful public libraries to generating money to help those libraries buy books."

Each tag is subject to charges ($50 for the first year; $25 thereafter) that are in addition to the regular $20 registration fee.
Provided that 1,000 or more applications are
received prior to Dec. 31, 2008, the special plates will be manufactured. If not, all application fees will be refunded.
Interested library supporters can download an application form by following the links at www.georgialibraries.org, but must apply for the special tags in person at their local county tag offices. I

1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304
A Unit of the University System of Georgia