A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries
volume 6, issue 1 I August 2008
Staff
GOLD/GALILEO conference draws record crowd
At 19, the annual GOLD/GALILEO
Users Group Conference has come of age. The 2008 edition, held Aug. 1 in Athens, topped 350 attendees for the first time -- nearly double the average attendance during its first decade and a half -- and cemented the conference's reputation as Georgia's hottest summer ticket for library staff.
The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for continuing education and professional develop-
See Conference, page 7
Toni Zimmerman (left) congratulates keynote speaker Cliff Landis for delivering the address that helped make the 2008 GOLD/GALILEO Users Group Conference the most successful event in its 19-year history.
Walker named Georgia's deputy state librarian
Georgia Public Library Service
(GPLS) has announced the appointment of Julie White Walker as deputy state librarian. Walker was previously assistant state librarian for support services and strategic initiatives. Prior to that position, she served GPLS as program director for the Public Information Network for Electronic Services (PINES).
"Julie is uniquely qualified for this most important post within our organization," said State Librarian
See Walker, page 2
Online learning with WebJunction Georgia debuts Aug. 4
August brings dozens of new ways for Georgia's
librarians to intersect with a vast array of online learning opportunities, each one designed to help them bring the best library services possible to patrons around the state.
Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island and Idaho will join WebJunction, the online learning community for librarians and library staff, as full partners on Aug. 4. This will bring to 15 the number of states with a customized WebJunction site offering tailor-made services online.
WebJunction provides information, insights and online learning relevant to staff, organizations, and the library field as a whole as part of its mission to foster collaboration and partnership within the library community. It partners with a number of library-related and cultural heritage organizations to offer technology resources, a buying guide, a learning center and a
community where librarians can draw on each other's knowledge and experience to solve common problems.
According to Pat Carterette, director of continuing education for Georgia Public Library Service, the agency will be starting small with WebJunction Georgia. "It will be a work in progress -- ever-evolving as we climb the learning curve," she said.
"Our main focus at launch will be on the Georgia Course Catalog," she said. "This feature alone is worth its weight in gold. Library staff will have access to high-quality courses at the time of need, and they won't have to spend a penny on travel."
The Georgia Course Catalog contains more than 500 self-paced online courses that have been selected specifically by WebJunction and GPLS staff to meet a
See WebJunction, page 3
Fulton County commissioners authorize bond referendum
On Nov. 4, Fulton County voters will
vote on a $275 million bond referendum for the construction, expansion and renovation of public libraries.
If approved, the bonds would provide funding for the AtlantaFulton Public Library System's master plan, which includes eight new libraries, expansion of two facilities and renovation of 23 more.
The bond issue also includes $84 million for the construction of a new Central Library, with the remaining (approximately $85 million) coming from private funds.
leased spaces and its oldest libraries. Fulton County last issued a library bond in 1988.
"I am thrilled that voters will have the opportunity to make this decision affecting the future of our library system," said Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves, who also serves on the AtlantaFulton Public Library System's board of trustees. "Libraries represent an investment in the future of this county, and there has been a great deal of public interest in improvement to our libraries."
John Szabo, director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, said, "This is a great day for libraries and for the Fulton County citizens who value what libraries bring to their community. We are grateful for the leadership of the Board of Commissioners in recognizing the importance of public libraries and to the citizens who continue to voice their support and opinions. We are one step closer to having the worldclass library system we know Fulton County residents want and deserve." A summary of the plan is available online at www.afpls.org. I
The library's master plan was developed over the course of 24 months and included a series of public input sessions throughout the county. The plan maintains 34 libraries, the current number of libraries in the system, by eliminating
FOGL elects officers, sets workshop date
Friends of Georgia Libraries
(FOGL) has announced its officers for the coming year. Elected president was Wally Eberhard of Athens; vice president, Elaine Yontz of Valdosta; secretary, Lyn Hopper of Dahlonega; and treasurer, Christine Hoskins of Bonaire.
FOGL has also set the date for its annual fall workshop. This year's event will be held at the Fayetteville Public Library on Nov. 15. Among topics to be covered will be the relationships between Friends groups and library staff and directors. I
Walker
Continued from page 1 Dr. Lamar Veatch. "It will be our staff's challenge to reciprocate the energy, professionalism and dedication that she delivers in everything she does to bring the best library service possible to all Georgians."
Melody Jenkins, director of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library, echoed those sentiments. "I don't think we could find anyone else who could even come close to Julie's qualifications and energy," she said. "This is excellent news," agreed Stephen Whigham, director of the Eastman-based Ocmulgee Regional Library System. "We thank Julie for her good work and send her welldeserved congratulations."
Walker has worked for GPLS since 2003 and served as a consultant for the PINES program from its inception in 1998. Before joining the state library agency, she was associate director of the Athens Regional Library System for 13 years and has also held managerial positions at several public libraries in North Carolina. She is a former
president of the Georgia Library Association and has been an associate editor of Georgia Library
Quarterly for more than a decade.
"I am
extremely
pleased to
continue my
work here in this
new capacity,"
Walker
Walker said.
"Georgia's
libraries face new challenges and
opportunities every day, and it
continues to be a pleasure to work
with the dedicated library
professionals in our state who are
committed to excellence. Georgia is
a recognized leader in public library
service and initiatives nationwide,
and it's an honor to contribute to
the efforts to strengthen that
standing."
Walker holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in library science, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I
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Georgia Public Library Service News August 2008
WebJunction
Continued from page 1 wide range of learning needs for librarians, library science students and trustees.
Courses will be available at no charge to qualified individuals who are affiliated with a Georgia library. Each course takes approximately one to four hours to complete, with continuing education credits recorded and certificates generated for each participant upon successful completion of the course.
Among the additional highlights that Georgia library staff can expect at launch are:
I Georgia-specific announcements about libraries, people, programs and continuing education events;
I The "My WebJunction" feature, which will enable Georgia library affiliates to share information about themselves and find colleagues who share similar professional interests; and
I The ability to start discussion forums for ongoing conversations about Georgia library topics.
In the coming months, other features will be added, including:
I Online courses developed by and for Georgia library staff using the Articulate e-learning software;
I The ability to host online meetings using Wimba, an online Webconferencing service that allows participants to enter a "classroom" where, using headsets, they can speak with one another over the computer;
I The integration of E*Vanced Calendar for bringing together all the available continuing education opportunities at a glance; and
I Blogging and other socialnetworking opportunities.
Eventually, Carterette said, there will also be opportunities for members across Georgia to contribute directly to the Georgia site's content.
"WebJunction will help provide our state's public libraries with the tools we need to create locally relevant content, discussions and training programs," said Julie Walker, deputy state librarian. "And it will save our libraries thousands of dollars in training fees, because library staff in community partner states enjoy free access to online classes that would otherwise cost from $20 to $400 or more per person. We are very pleased to have been asked to join WebJunction as a partner and to participate in the program at this level," she said.
Carterette pointed out that, although anyone can visit the WebJunction Georgia site at www.ga.webjunction.org, some areas of it will be available only for qualified WebJunction members who request Georgia affiliation. Those eligible to sign up include any employee of a public, academic or school library in the state; employees of GALILEO; trustees of any Georgia library or Carterette library system; and library science students currently enrolled at Valdosta State University.
To request Georgia affiliation, applicants register for free at www.webjunction.org. New members should follow the "Create New Account," and existing members should select the "Edit Account" link. While setting up or
editing your account, simply select Georgia as your affiliation.
According to Zola Maddison, community services consultant for WebJunction, "The WebJunction Georgia site builds on the deep repository of helpful content, relevant courses and active discussions that have been the hallmark of WebJunction since 2003, improving upon those foundations while introducing a unique professional social-networking experience for Georgia's library community."
Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island and Idaho are becoming partners as WebJunction launches its own new site, making it easier than ever, Maddison said, for librarians and staff to connect with friends, peers and colleagues from across the library community using powerful new social tools such as friends, public profiles, groups, discussions and recommendations.
Said Maddison, "We want to do whatever we can to help participants learn the skills they need to thrive in their careers, and we are committed to providing new and more flexible online courses, many with useful social tools wrapped around them."
Originally launched in 2003, the WebJunction community has grown to include more than 32,000 registered members from all parts of the library field. WebJunction is supported in part by grants to OCLC, the Online Computer Library Center, from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and from the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). WebJunction Georgia is made possible by a grant from IMLS to GPLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. I
3
August 2008 Georgia Public Library Service News
Steve Olsen
Friends' `Mile of Pennies' campaign
enriches Union County Library
Let no one accuse the Union County
Library staff of having no common cents. Thanks to the local Friends of the Library, they have thousands of them.
In addition to fixtures and equipment, Mile of Pennies will also help pay for the library's books for babies and summer reading programs.
According to Susie Brendle, Union County librarian, the idea for its "Mile of Pennies" fundraising campaign began this past January with Friends member Joanne Olson, who had heard about a similar campaign in California a few years ago.
"Our Friends group is working hard to provide funds for the new library addition," Olson said. "We adopted the Mile of Pennies fundraiser because it is a relatively easy project without any up-front expenditure, and it's fun."
The program is part of the overall Library Enrichment and Furnishings campaign that was developed to raise funds for fixtures and equipment for a 4,000-squarefoot addition to the Union County Library.
Olson and volunteer Barbara Hale serve as co-coordinators for the program. They check the jars at the library a few times each week and deposit the donations at a local bank. The Union Sentinel and the North Georgia News each contributed free advertising to promote the campaign, and United Community Bank donated a wagon for hauling the pennies in for deposit. "That's handy," Olson said, "considering there are 84,480 pennies in a mile."
Joanne Olson leaves the library to deposit money for its Mile of Pennies campaign.
So far, the Mile of Pennies campaign has raised more than $500, and it will continue until the Friends reach their goal of one mile.
The campaign has also had its poignant moments, she noted.
One member of the community left a note with her cache of pennies that read: "You might call these `pennies from heaven,' as they were saved by my deceased husband. I'm sure this is the way he would have spent them."
"The Union County Friends group is amazing," said Donna Howell, director of the three-county Mountain Regional Library System. "They also just sponsored a bass fishing tournament on Lake Nottley to raise even more funds for our renovation and addition project. They are always coming up with good ideas!" I
Linda Patrick/Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites
4
Georgia Public Library Service News August 2008
Patrons go`fer ParkPasses
Gov. Sonny Perdue helped kick off the "Get Outdoors Georgia" campaign at Skidaway Island State Park near Savannah. In a joint initiative of GPLS and the Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, "Get Outdoors Georgia" includes a library ParkPass Program, which allows holders of a valid library card to borrow Georgia State Park ParkPasses and Historic Site passes from their local public libraries. The passes are good for free parking or admission at more than 60 attractions across the state. The Darby family of Savannah was first in the state to check out a ParkPass through the program, which began June 1. From left are Mark Darby; Sen. Eric Johnson with a standee of the program's gopher mascot; Gov. Perdue; Deenah and Myah Darby; Phyllis Johnson, board chair, Georgia Department of Natural Resources; and Becky Kelley, director, Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites.
Albert Tovar Julie Pope/Heard County Chamber of Commerce
Athens' Pinewoods Center continues to win acclaim
The Athens Regional Library
System's (ARLS) Pinewoods Library and Community Learning Center is again making national headlines. Its latest accolade comes from the National Recreation and Park Association, which has awarded the center the 2008 Dorothy Mullen National Arts and Humanities Award for its "Bridging the Gap" program.
The award honors the most innovative and effective arts and humanities programs across the United States. The Lyndon House Arts Center in Athens nominated Pinewoods for the award.
"The Pinewoods library demonstrates the benefits of collaboration with community groups and involvement with the Hispanic community," said Kathryn Ames, director of ARLS. "Through a 25-person advisory committee and Pinewoods Mobile Home Park residents, the library system has been able to develop programs that respond to the needs of the community. These programs cover
information such as personal
in meeting the needs of the area's
finance, health education, English as Spanish-speaking population.
a second language (ESL) and Plaza
Comunitaria training. Pinewoods
One month earlier, the National
also offers after-school tutorial and
Institute for Adult Education in
family and parenting programs."
Mexico invited Vicente to attend the
first meeting for Plaza Comunitaria
The Mullen Award is the center's Representatives in the United States.
second of the
Plaza Comunitaria is
summer. Earlier,
a distance education
WebJunction
program sponsored
selected Miguel
by the Mexican
Vicente, coordinator
government that
of Pinewoods, as
enables Mexican-
winner of its Diversity
born patrons to
Fair scholarship. He
improve their literacy
attended and spoke
skills, earn high
at the fair, which was
school diplomas and
part of the American Vicente welcomes visitors to the Library Association's ARLS display in Anaheim.
receive vocational training.
(ALA) Annual Conference in
Anaheim, Calif., in June.
This event took place in Chicago
and was attended by the minister of
The scholarship covered
foreign relations of Mexico,
Vicente's airfare, hotel, conference
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa
registration, meals and materials for Cantellano, and the minister of
his presentation. Vicente discussed
education, Josefina Vazquez
the efforts made by ARLS to design Mota. The gathering allowed Plaza
and open the Pinewoods center and Comunitaria coordinators to share
the system's many accomplishments experiences and best practices in
order to benefit newly formed Plazas.
Earlier this year, ARLS received a competitive grant of $14,000 from the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad to support its Plaza Comunitaria and related educational programs.
Ephesus rising
Mayor Denney Rogers and Library Director Jim Cooper were among those breaking ground for the West Georgia Regional Library System's 6,100-square-foot Ephesus Public Library. Several hundred residents turned out for the event, including more than 200 students from Ephesus Elementary School, prompting the mayor to declare it the largest crowd he had ever seen for such a ceremony in Heard County. From left are Mike and Tim Kilgore of Kilgore Construction Co.; Benji Hyatt, superintendent, Heard County School System; Cooper; Rogers; Ephesus City Council members Wayne Prince, Ronnie Holloway, Aubin Cumbie Jr. and Tony Rogers; and Dan Harrod, recorder for the city of Ephesus.
ARLS also was the only library in Georgia selected to receive one of 34 grants from ALA and the Dollar General Foundation called "American Dreams Begin @ Your Library." The purpose of these grants is to improve current or develop additional ESL classes for new immigrants. "In our case," Ames said, "we will use it to develop a training program for our volunteer ESL instructors and to develop an online training manual." I
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August 2008 Georgia Public Library Service News
NEWS IN BRIEF
Steve Schaefer retired June 30
following a 32-year career in
Georgia's public library system. He
was director of
the six-county
Uncle Remus
Regional Library
System for nearly
27 years and was
instrumental in
the creation of
Georgia's PINES
system, serving
as its first
Schaefer
chairman. He is
succeeded by
Jeff Tomlinson,
who previously
served as the
system's assistant
director.
Tomlinson is a
member of the
inaugural class of Tomlinson GPLS's PINNACLE
program, the Public Library Institute
for New and Creative Leadership
Education. Based in Madison, Uncle
Remus serves citizens in Greene,
Hancock, Jasper, Morgan, Putnam
and Walton counties.
System in LaFayette, will serve until a permanent director is hired. Catoosa County was previously part of the Northwest Georgia Regional Tope Library System.
Chris Evans, CPA, has joined GPLS as business manager. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Florida State University and most recently served as accounting manager for the Georgia State Accounting Office.
Chris Sharp is the new PINES system administrator. He joins GPLS from the DeKalb County Public Library, where he was a reference librarian. He holds an M.S.L.I.S. degree from Florida State University.
Christopher Warren, a library
associate with the Gwinnett County
Public Library, has been named this
year's winner of the Georgia Library
Association's
Charles Beard
Scholarship. The
scholarship
provides financial
assistance toward
completing a
master's degree in
library science for
candidates who
show strong
Warren
potential to
inspire and motivate their peers in
the library profession.
On June 7, the Clayton County Library System celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of its central library in Jonesboro. More than 250 of the library's employees, friends and patrons attended the event. I
JoEllen Ostendorf
Leigh Wiley, another member
of PINNACLE's inaugural class, has
been named director of the new
Worth County
Library System,
based at the
Margaret Jones
Library in
Sylvester. She
was previously a
librarian in the
Kinchafoonee
Regional Library
Wiley
System.
Diana Tope has been named interim director of the new Catoosa County Library System in Ringgold. Tope, who retired in 2007 as director of the Cherokee Regional Library
Big Bird, watch out!
Thrash, the Atlanta Thrashers mascot, entertained children and librarians alike at a June 18 storytime at the LaGrange Memorial Library. Now in its fourth year, the Atlanta Thrashers and the Atlanta Hawks Check-It-Out Reading Challenge encourages young readers to spend time reading and earn sports-related rewards. The 2008 program is open to children and teens statewide and runs through Aug. 15. Complete rules are available at participating public libraries and online at www.checkitoutreading.com.
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Georgia Public Library Service News August 2008
Staff
Conference
Continued from page 1 ment related to the use of Georgia's interlibrary lending and resource sharing network, GOLD, and the statewide virtual library, GALILEO. This year's theme, "One World One Library: Working Together to Put the User First," struck a resounding chord with attendees, who filled virtually every session near or to capacity.
Toni Zimmerman, director of Resource Sharing and Interlibrary Cooperation for GPLS and coordinator for the conference, said she is thrilled with this year's attendance and with the favorable comments made by participants. "It's a tribute to Georgia's librarians that, even in hard times and with four-dollars-a-gallon gas prices, they are making every effort to better serve their users," she said. "I'm amazed by it. I'm also proud to see people doing everything they can do to cram so much learning into one day and how everyone seems to walk away from this conference with at least one thing that will help them do their job better than ever before."
"It's always great to learn about what's coming up," said Barry Reese, director of the Twin Lakes Library System in Milledgeville. "Technology is such an important part of what we do as librarians that we need to be here. This conference is a tremendous opportunity for us to learn and to appropriate new ideas."
Reese was part of a contingent of eight Twin Lakes employees to attend this year's conference, which draws librarians, paraprofessionals and technical staff from academic libraries, public libraries, schools, technical colleges and special libraries throughout the state.
Enjoying the record turnout for this year's conference are (from left) GOLD/GALILEO advisory committee members Holly Bowden of the Athens Regional Library System, Leslie St. John of the Newton County Library System, Tammy Sugarman of Georgia State University and Leigh Hall of Chattahoochee Technical College.
about what made it special," Landis said, adding that "Everything you do has an impact on the end users."
"One World One Library" offered three sets of concurrent programs and a series of GALILEO training showcases. Topics included "Crafting the User-Centered Library," "Simple Web Site Redesign," "Blogging for the Evolving Library...and the World!" and "Let Your Audience Hear You: Creating an Instructional Podcast."
"This was the first GOLD/GALILEO conference I've attended, and I really didn't know what to expect," said Pat Carterette, director of continuing education for GPLS. "I was impressed by the caliber of speakers and the variety of topics. Everything was well-organized and executed. I picked up many useful tips and ideas."
Keynote speaker for this year's event was Cliff Landis, technology librarian at Valdosta State University. Landis challenged attendees to create a culture of innovation at their libraries and to avoid creating online accounts or services only because they see others doing it. "Think back on your most amazing user experience and
Links to presentations and resource sharing materials are now online at www.georgialibraries.org/lib/gold.html. The conference 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
Georgia Literary Festival set for first appearance in South Georgia
The 10th annual Georgia Literary
Festival will be held in Bainbridge on Oct. 25, marking the first time the event has been held in South Georgia. Nearly two dozen authors will be featured at the event, which focuses on honoring writers with connections to the area. Among them are a number of nationally
known, prize-winning authors including Jay Barbree, longtime NBC space program correspondent, and children's book illustrator Michael P. White.
The festival also will feature Joye Cauthen in a one-woman performance as Caroline Miller,
Georgia's first winner, in 1933, of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. The free public event is co-sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book and the Georgia Humanities Council with the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library and Bainbridge College. For more info, visit www.georgiacenterforthebook.org. I
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August 2008 Georgia Public Library Service News
Barbara Wood
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
Bibb-liophiles welcomed
On June 14, citizens of Bibb County celebrated the opening of the county's first new library facility in nearly a decade. The $3.5 million, 15,000-square-foot Charles A. Lanford, M.D. Library replaces the system's Rocky Creek branch, which was less than half the size of the new facility. It will feature a collection of more than 70,000 books and approximately 50 public-access computer stations. Greeting visitors on opening day were (from left): Charles Bishop, chairman of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners; Rep. Allen Freeman (R-Macon); Thomas Jones, director of the Middle Georgia Regional Library System; Dr. Lamar Veatch, Georgia's state librarian; and Kenneth Birdsong, secretary of the State Veterans Service Board and former state representative.
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