Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 7, no. 2 (Oct. 2009)

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

volume 7, issue 2 I October 2009

Courtesy Junior League of Atlanta

Many public libraries face tough

decisions due to funding losses

Even as demand for their services
grows, public libraries across the state are losing significant funding as a result of the weakened economy.
More and more, people are visiting libraries not only for books, but for movies and music; programs for adults, teens and children; Internet access; passes to Georgia state parks and historic sites; and numerous other services. With an increasing number of citizens being forced to drop home Internet service to save money, most are relying on their library to check e-mail, do homework, fill out government forms and, most importantly, update resumes and search for jobs.
"Public library funding in Georgia is a partnership," said State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch, "with state funding supplementing the primary support from local

communities. When both state and local governments are suffering funding decreases, the result is a series of painful decisions and necessary service reductions that unfortunately come at a time when communities need their libraries more than ever."
State funding for library materials will be down approximately 27.5 percent this fiscal year on top of a similar decrease in the prior year. With money for materials down almost 60 percent from the recommended base of $5.6 million based on the new direction formula, Veatch said, Georgia's public libraries are having to be more creative than ever in deciding how their money is spent.
"As a result of local news articles, we've developed a campaign to solicit donations for the
See Funding, page 2

Brighter days ahead
Georgia's first lady, Mary Perdue, applied for her Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System library card during the "Reading Under the Stars" event held Aug. 25 at the Governor's Mansion. The event was a celebration of the Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning program. This fall, Bright from the Start will welcome its 1 millionth child. The program was established in 1993 to provide the state's 4-year-old children with high-quality preschool experiences. In conjunction with the Millionth Child celebration, Georgia's public libraries are encouraging parents and care givers to read to children in libraries, as well as in child care programs, at daycare facilities, at home, in schools and anywhere else where they can share the love of reading. For additional information about Bright from the Start, visit http://decal.ga.gov.

Laura Bush grant will help provide funding for scholarships

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has
awarded Georgia Public Library Service a 2009 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant for $680,327. According to Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library development, the money will be used to fund the GPLS "Librarians Build Communities" program, which will provide the scholarships needed to prepare 45 students to be public librarians and provide them with expertise in community building.
"This grant will help GPLS strengthen community support for public libraries in Georgia, address Georgia's

shortage of librarians and provide a model for other states," Hopper said.
She explained that GPLS will collaborate with the Valdosta State University (VSU) Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program. Each qualifying student will receive a full in-state tuition scholarship to the program, which requires 39 semester hours for graduation. The first students are expected to enter the program in the fall 2010 semester and complete their course work within the three-year grant period.
See Grant, page 6

Funding

Continued from page 1

purchase of books and other library

materials," explained Kathryn

Ames, director of the Athens

Regional Library System. "Our

Friends groups

have stepped up

their book sale

collections. One

group is selling

Popsicles and

popcorn for

Saturday movies,

planning a fall

festival and

Ames

sponsoring other

sales including book bags and plants

to raise money for additional

materials.

"Some generous patrons have provided checks for the collection," she said, "and we have received a couple of grants to help maintain targeted services. With the state cuts, having SPLOST funding for the purchase of library materials has been a lifeline for us."

Many systems, however, have little to fall back on.

At the Elbert County Public Library, for instance, the state cut to materials accounts for an approximate 20 percent drop in the library system's total materials budget. The two-branch system is also facing higher expenses in payroll, utilities and other noncontrollable expenses. "It's going to be a difficult year," acknowledged Director Anne Grace.

The Newton County Library System is weathering a 20 percent reduction in funding from the county government and an 18 percent reduction in state grants. "This amounts to a cut of more than a quarter of a million dollars in a $1.4 million budget," said Director

Greg Heid. "It is ironic that we have had to absorb such a reduction in our revenue at a time when the use of the library and our services has greatly increased. Heid Despite reduced hours of operation, we have had a 12 percent increase in the number of people coming through our front doors and an 8 percent increase in the number of items checked out."

"There is no wiggle room for

us," said Patricia Edwards, director

of the Jefferson County Library.

"Other than minimum wage salaries,

there have been no raises for staff,

and other operational expenses

remain the same

as last year or

were cut. The

materials

reductions from

the state have

made it

necessary to

reduce the

Edwards

number of copies and titles

purchased. Where three copies, one

for each branch, might have been

purchased in the past, we're now

only buying one for the system."

The Cairo-based Roddenbery Memorial Library has suffered state cuts as well as local cuts from the city, the county and the board of education. "Children's programming for the summer, which has been one of our best attractions through the years, was either reduced or modified to cut costs," said Director Alan Kaye, "and our best-seller purchasing has been reduced to a largely automatic plan."

The Cairo community has rallied around its library, however, and the

outlook is brightening somewhat. "We asked our library users to contribute to the library to help us get through fiscal year 2010, and they have done so. Our `SP500' fundraising campaign has brought in close to $23,000 since the end of June."
Kaye noted that the city recommended and the library board approved that each additional hour of a patron's computer use each day will incur a charge of $1.00, although the first hour will still be free.
Even more so than in Cairo, employees at the Kaye Waycross-based Okefenokee Regional Library System feared that their summer reading program might not happen. "But all five of our Friends groups stepped up and donated money for summer reading," said Director Lace Keaton.
"We also received local support from Rayonier, WalMart and the Kiwanis Club. We received a grassroots grant from a local arts commission; Taco Keaton Bell sent coupons; and the regional McDonald's even sent Ronald McDonald around for free shows. We would not have had a summer reading program without this support."
Funds for travel, conferences and training are being reduced or eliminated at libraries across the state, and needed repairs to library facilities are being postponed. "We have used emergency funds to repair

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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2009

various leaks in our roof," Heid said, "but water damage to ceiling areas in the library cannot be repaired or repainted until the budget is restored."
The Lake Blackshear Regional Library System in Americus is one of many systems that are reducing staff due to budget concerns. "We've had two Isbell part-time staff members retire, and we will not be replacing them," said Director Anne Isbell.
"A bigger problem for us is that we don't yet know how our funding picture is going to play out. We have 11 funding agencies, and they operate on different fiscal years. We are holding our breath and crossing our fingers until we hear from all of them."
The Conyers-Rockdale Library System has also frozen hiring and will be closed on Sunday afternoons yearround instead of just during summer months. "We currently have half our book budget funded and are only buying adult Manget best-sellers and periodicals," said Director Debbie Manget. "Right now, we don't know if we'll have any book money next year."
State-mandated furloughs are having an impact on library operations at the Catoosa County Library System, said Director Bridgid Broderick. "We are relying more

and more on volunteers, some of

whom are being recruited through

our Friends group," she said. "As

with libraries throughout Georgia

and the rest of the United States, we

are having to do more with less --

less funding, fewer staff, etcetera --

and our customers are relying on us

more and more every day. We were

recently closed for two days to

complete a

shelving

reconfiguration

project, and we

had a line at the

door the next

morning and a

line at the

circulation desk

that evening at

closing time."

Broderick

Opening and closing times themselves are in flux at many systems. Columbus-based Chattahoochee Valley Regional Libraries, for instance, has reduced opening hours to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Coweta County Library System is also reducing hours at its branches. Some branches of the Madison-based Uncle Remus Public Library System are reducing hours or, in the case of the Jasper County Library, closing on weekends. The Gwinnett County Public Library has begun closing on Sundays as well as Mondays.

In what may be the most visible sign of libraries' struggles to make ends meet, the Gwinnett library board has also announced that, because of reduced personnel and resources, it may be forced to close its three-year-old Dacula branch when its Hamilton Mill branch opens early next year.

"Naturally, it would be our desire to keep all 14 of the current locations open for extended hours seven days per week and located as conveniently to customers as possible," Executive

Director Nancy Stanbery-Kellam said in a written statement to the county's citizens on Aug. 13. "We believe that is the service model expected by the citizens of Gwinnett County. It is simply not financially feasible at this time."
Residents are battling to save the library, however, and are circulating petitions, drawing up lists of potential volunteer workers and even setting up a Facebook page devoted to the library and keeping it open. Citizens planned to hold a community rally at the library and a nearby park on Sept. 19, and the library board has agreed to revisit the decision and explore other possible solutions to its financial predicament. Plans for "repurposing" the Dacula facility are in development, Stanbery-Kellam should the closing ultimately take place, Stanbery-Kellam said.
"Public library directors are making valiant efforts to keep doors of their libraries open to the public under currently dire budgetary conditions," Heid concluded. "This is another example of public service at its best. As the national economy begins to improve, we will also see the beginnings of economic recovery on the local level.
"The best that public libraries can do at this point is to become increasingly efficient, continue to be effective in their communities, share resources with other library systems, look for some relief from nontraditional sources of revenue, ask for help from their communities and just hang on until the day when the economy improves and budgets are fully restored." I

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October 2009 Georgia Public Library Service News

Shelley Sudderth

Enoch Autry

Cowboy Bruce Brannen spun tales and his lasso at the Screven County Library in Sylvania.
Summer reading program ropes in record numbers
A wealth of popular programming has combined with the
poor economy to fill Georgia's libraries with children and teens this summer. Although final figures will not be known until all library systems file annual reports, it's clear that a record number of participants have taken advantage of the state's annual summer reading program.

Cathy Hope

Taryn Brown (right) congratulates Kierra Newton,a sixth-grade student at Hutto Middle School in Bainbridge, for reading 285 books during the 2009 summer reading program.

"Numbers have just been through the roof," said Elaine Black, youth services director for GPLS. "Many systems are seeing increases of 30 to 50 percent over previous years."

The Statesboro Regional Library is one such system, with more than 800 children and teens registered at its central branch alone. "We had more than 500 visiting the library every week to turn in reading folders," said Elaine McDuffie, head of youth and family services. "That's up nearly 40 percent over last year. Total attendance for programs here was almost 3,000."

The Chestatee Regional Library System also saw significant attendance gains. "At the Dawson County Public Library, we saw our overall enrollment in the summer program increase by 38 percent from last year," said Tracy Walker, youth services specialist. "We are really pleased and excited to also see a 42 percent increase in recorded reading hours here."

Southwest Georgia Regional Library System's

registration numbers increased by almost 400, according

to Taryn Brown, youth services and community relations

librarian for the Bainbridge-based system. "We have had

a fantastic summer," she said, "registering 1,124 children

throughout our system."

See Reading, page 5

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's central library drew an audience of nearly 300 people for its presentation of the play "Mirandy and Brother Wind," part of the Coretta Scott King Book Fair on July 29. The National Black Arts Festival sponsored the event and gave away hundreds of books to children as part of the festivities.

4
Georgia Public Library Service News October 2009

Thrashers-Hawks reading challenge enjoys successful fifth year

More than 4,000 kids and teens from
across the state signed up to participate in this summer's fifth annual Atlanta Hawks-Atlanta Thrashers Check It Out Reading Challenge.
The popular reading program has grown steadily each year, from an initial two counties in 2005 to statewide in 2008. Once tickets are distributed for the 2009 challenge, the teams will have awarded a total of more than 58,000 Hawks and Thrashers tickets to the young readers who participated. The Cobb County Library System signed up the most participants this year, with more than 1,100.
"We believe the sports connection has helped open the door for more kids than ever before to visit their public libraries and join our Summer Reading programs," said Elaine Black, director of youth services for GPLS.

"Children and teens from as far away as Appling and Mitchell counties signed up this year," said Tracy White, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Hawks,
Thrashers and Philips Arena. "We
were also pleased to see that, in its first full year of participation, the Gwinnett County Public Library system had more than 600 readers sign up. We thank everyone for their participation this year, and we look forward to seeing them at Philips Arena in the coming months!"
The Thrashers and Hawks will each sponsor three "Georgia Public Libraries Nights" at Philips Arena this fall, when participants can use the

free tickets they earned by reading. Participants' family members, as well as all Georgia public library employees and their friends and families, will also receive discounted admission on those nights.
"Georgia Public Libraries Nights" with the Hawks are Friday, Oct. 30, versus the Washington Wizards; Saturday, Nov. 14, versus the New Orleans Hornets; and Sunday evening, Dec. 13, versus the New Jersey Nets. Thrashers games are Saturday, Oct. 3 (opening night), versus the Tampa Bay Lightning; Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15, versus the Edmonton Oilers; and Saturday, Dec. 12, versus the Montreal Canadiens.
For more information on the Hawks and Thrashers reading programs, visit www.hawks.com and www.atlantathrashers.com. I

Reading

Continued from page 4 Participation in the teen program at the Screven-
Jenkins Regional Library System more than doubled this year, according to Public Services Librarian Sharon Blank. She attributes the increase in part to the economy but also to the hard work and creativity that went into creating this year's slate of programs. "We had live music at our teen kickoff party," she said, " and we had a hugely successful children's program in which cowboy Bruce Brannen told stories, read poems and demonstrated cowboy skills such as fancy roping and the art of the bullwhip. He brought the days of the big Western cattle drives to life for everyone, and that encouraged further reading and research from them."
Music played an important part in many of this year's summer reading programs. "The teen activity that stood out as a groundbreaking event in Statesboro was when a local music company called The Plaid Dott School of Rock presented a musical showcase of local teen musicians, bands and performers," said McDuffie. "Attendance was phenomenal for this program, and it will be remembered by many as one of the coolest things

we've ever done here. We literally rocked the block!"
Pat Gay, librarian at the LaGrange Memorial Library, noted that more than 400 children and adults turned out at her library for a program of songs and stories by singing storyteller and recording artist Eric Litwin.
Numerous young readers in the Oconee Regional Library System became guest columnists for the local newspaper and contributors for an art display at the library. "This year, our readers got extra points for writing book reviews and book reports and for completing drawings about the books they read," said Mary Jane Smith, branch manager of the Treutlen County Public Library. "The reports were shared in a weekly column in the Soperton News, and the drawings were an instant art show for our library. Children loved it all, and their parents appreciated our grand prizes of school supplies."
"We had a statewide attendance of more than 425,000 in 2008," said Black, "so 2009 looks like it may be our first-ever year with more than half a million participants." I

5
October 2009 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



The DeKalb County Public Library broke ground for two library expansions in one month. Ceremonies were held Aug. 14 for the Hairston Crossing branch in Stone Mountain and on Aug. 27 for the Salem-Panola branch in Lithonia. The facilities are two of 12 county libraries being expanded or built with $54.5 million using bond funds that were approved by voters in November 2005.
Fort Valley-based Peach Public Libraries received a $2,500 Target Early Childhood Reading Grant to support its Storytimes to Go program. "This will allow us to purchase children's books for both our libraries and to create, print and distribute 10 new Storytimes to Go pages during the next year," said Director Gilda Stanbery.
The Institute of Museum and Library Service in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts has announced its Big Read grants for 2009-10. Two Georgia Friends

groups, the Friends of Neva Lomason Memorial Library in Carrollton and the Muscogee County Friends of Libraries in Columbus, are among this year's winners. The grants will be used to host Big Read celebrations that bring communities together to read, discuss and celebrate selections from U.S. and world literature.
The 11th annual Georgia Literary Festival will be held in Rome on Saturday, Oct. 17. This will mark the first time the festival has been held in northwest Georgia. Among the writers scheduled to participate are Terry Kay, author of To Dance with the White Dog; Vincent Coppola, former Newsweek correspondent and author of The Sicilian Judge; Lynn Coulter, essayist and gardening expert; Elizabeth Dulemba, children's author and illustrator; Robert J. Norrell, author of Up from History: The Life of Booker T. Washington; and John Yow, author of The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds. I

Pearson to address FOGL fall workshop
Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL)
will sponsor its annual fall workshop on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Smyrna Public Library.
The program, "It Takes a Village," will be led by Peter Pearson, president of the Friends of St. Paul (Minn.) Library. The group has built more than $11 million in endowments that support its library's operations. Pearson is also a member of the board of directors of the Association of Library Trustees, Friends and Foundations. The workshop also features luncheon speaker Joshilyn Jackson, author of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming.
Cost of the workshop is $35 for FOGL members and $45 for nonmembers, which includes FOGL membership for 2010. For additional details and to register, visit www.georgia-friends.org. I

Grant

Continued from page 1 Subsequent groups will begin studies in spring and fall semesters of 2011. Students will be required to maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in order to receive continued funding.

community. Students will be selected based on potential for successful graduate study, interest in public library community building, and commitment to work in a Georgia public library for at least three years following graduation.

VSU is prepared to offer curriculum content to meet the program's instructional needs by recruiting part-time faculty with expertise in public libraries and community building. GPLS will assist the effort by offering an advanced public library seminar with a focus on community building during years two and three of the grant period. "GPLS will also compile pre- and post-assessment information geared toward measuring changes in community-building attitudes, knowledge and skills as a result of the program," Hopper said.
Applications will be reviewed and participants selected by a committee that will include representatives from GPLS, VSU and the Georgia public library

The total project budget is $844,647, with $164,320 in matching funds coming from GPLS and VSU. Approximately 77 percent of the grant funds will be for direct student support.
Since its inception in 2002, the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program has funded the education and training of 3,220 master's students; 186 doctoral students; 1,256 preprofessionals; and 26,206 continuing education students across the country. The program also supports grants for research related to library education and library staffing needs, curriculum development and continuing education and training. I

6
Georgia Public Library Service News October 2009

GPLS prepares to make splash at COMO conference

Georgia Public Library Service will
be among the most visible organizations at this year's Georgia Council of Media Organizations (COMO) Convention.
Co-hosted by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology, the Georgia Library Association and the Georgia Library Media Association, the event will be held Oct. 7-9 at the Georgia Convention and Trade Center in Columbus. GPLS will be an exhibitor at the conference, and six GPLS employees will be conducting or facilitating 10 workshops this year.

improving workplace morale. She will also facilitate three sessions: Illene Roggensack's "Ten Stupid Things Board Members Do To Mess Up Their Organizations," Jenny Johnson's "Get Your Geek On!" and the "What's Up With Friends and Trustees?" sharing session.
Bin Lin, PINES cataloging specialist, will conduct a whole-day pre-conference training session, "Basic Subject Cataloging Using

Elaine Black, director of youth services, will be presenting as a part of the Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers.

Pat Carterette, GPLS director of Carterette

Lin

continuing education, will present

two programs: "Share What You

Know: Be a Peer Trainer" and "You

Can Do It: Intellectual Freedom

Training for Your Staff."

Lyn Hopper, assistant state

librarian for library development, will

present "Mindful Management," a

session on engaging employees and Sharp

Very

Georgia library news now available on Twitter

GPLS now has a Twitter account,
Georgialibs, that will give Internet users a new way to keep up with library events and news. The short, 140-character "tweets" from Georgialibs are readable by all devices -- such as personal computers, mobile phones and personal digital assistants -- that have Internet connections.
"The GPLS Twitter feed will be a useful communications tool for getting brief reminders about upcoming library events, conferences

and workshops and also for linking to online public library news items from across the state," said Darin Givens, webmaster for GPLS. "Anyone with a Twitter account can follow Georgialibs and receive updates."
To get the latest news about public libraries in the state, visit www.twitter.com and enter "Georgialibs" in the search field. Georgialibs can also be followed on the GPLS news page at www.georgialibraries.org/news. I

Library of Congress Subject Headings."
PINES Program Manager Chris Sharp and Network Administrator Andrew Smith from Twin Lakes Library System will co-present "Linux and Open Source Software for Public Libraries." The program will explain how free and open source software can provide safe, usable, maintainable and cost-saving alternatives to buying new computer hardware and software licenses.
Diana Very, director of LSTA, statistics and research for GPLS, will present "Ready for the Hunt," a training session about federal, state, private and foundation grant opportunities.
GPLS is also sponsoring three guest speakers at COMO. They include: James Keller, director of marketing and communcations at the Queens (N.Y.) Public Library, who will present "Raising Awareness of Libraries Through Branding"; Andrew Sanderbeck of the Waynesville, N.C.-based People~ Connect Institute, who will present both "Customer Service Recovery" and "Emotional Customer Service for Library Professionals"; and Lori Reed of the Charlotte and Mecklenburg Public Library, who will present the programs "Generation Now" and "Market Yourself, Market Your Library: Social Networking for the Real World."
Master of Library Science certified and licensed librarians can earn contact hours for recertification by bringing the appropriate continuing education verification forms (available at www.georgialibraries.org) and completing them at COMO. For additional conference information and registration materials, visit www.georgiacomo.org." I

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October 2009 Georgia Public Library Service News

Linda M. Hyles

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

Rededicated
On Aug. 21, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries held a grand rededication ceremony for its Mildred L. Terry Public Library in Columbus. Among those attending were Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City), U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-Albany) and library supporter Jimmy Jarrell. At 16,000 square feet, the facility is now four times the size of the original building. It includes a children's library with a greatly enlarged activity space, 50 public-access computers and full Wi-Fi capability, expanded parking for 80 cars, multiple meeting rooms and a children's garden.

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