Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 7, no. 5 (Apr. 2010 )

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

volume 7, issue 5 I April 2010

Governor proclaims March 10 `Georgia Library Day'

David Baker

On the heels of a two-week post-
ponement due to a legislative break, nearly 150 library advocates braved a series of morning downpours March 10 to voice their love for and support of libraries with members of the Georgia General Assembly.

With Georgia Library Day originally scheduled for Feb. 25, the event's sponsors -- Georgia Library Association (GLA), Georgia Association for Instructional Technology, Georgia Library Media Association and Georgia Public Library Service -- had to scramble for a makeup date when the General Assembly adjourned Feb. 18 and began a twoweek break from the legislative session to work on balancing the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

All worked out in the end, however, with even Gov. Sonny
See Library Day, page 2

From left: Carol Stanley; Judy Serritella, coordinator of library media services for the Georgia Department of Education; and Dr. Lamar Veatch accept Gov. Sonny Perdue's Georgia Library Day proclamation.

GLASS meetings show support for Talking Book Centers

The results are in from the series of
12 public meetings held around the state in the first quarter of 2010, and those people who live within an easily traveled distance of a Georgia Talking Book Center (TBC) want their center to remain as is.
Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS) conducted the meetings to give patrons the opportunity to share suggestions for service improvements. The goal is to provide more efficient, effective service to

citizens with visual or physical disabilities that prevent the use of regular print materials.
"Those who attended our meetings were quick to point out that they enjoy the personalized service they receive from the committed and knowledgeable staff members at Georgia's TBCs," said Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library development.
The GLASS network of 11 libraries and one outreach center

serves every corner of the state, offering a variety of programs and support services, including the distribution of Braille and audio materials from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped that are circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. GLASS network members are strategically located throughout the state, and the network maintains affiliations with each of the state's nearly 390 public libraries.
See GLASS, page 2

David Baker

Library Day
Continued from page 1 Perdue joining in the festivities by signing a proclamation declaring March 10 Georgia Library Day. State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch formally accepted the proclamation from the governor at 11:00 a.m. in the Capitol.

A number of speakers addressed the crowd, including Sen. Jack Hill (D-Reidsville), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Seth Harp (RMidland), chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

"With good libraries, we can do anything," Harp said, as he explained Georgia's need to build and maintain a highly educated work force. "We compete with the world, and an educated Georgia is the linchpin in our future success. Libraries are critically important as a source of knowledge, and knowledge is power."

Following the morning presentations, attendees visited the state Capitol to speak with elected officials, then returned to the Floyd Building for lunch with their legislators. According to Carol Stanley, president of GLA, the sponsoring organizations hoped to convince legislators of the need to maintain FY2009 budget levels for the state's public libraries and to recognize all types of libraries and the value of their combined services to all citizens.

More than three dozen of the nearly 150 library advocates who attended Library Day paused for a group photo under the Capitol dome.

"We have wonderful advocates across the state," said Veatch, "and their presence at Georgia Library Day this year, especially in light of tight budgets and troubling economic times, made a powerful statement to our elected officials that Georgia's citizens believe in the value of their libraries." I

GLASS

Continued from page 1
"People who live farther away from a center may not get the same browsing opportunities as those who do live near a TBC," Hopper said, "and mail service from the Atlanta and North Georgia centers to patrons in South Georgia seems much slower than to and within the northern half of the state. So we clearly have work to do to solve these and other issues. But because of the overwhelming need and support for this service, there will be no changes to the GLASS network in fiscal year 2011."

GLASS Director Stella Cone said that duplication of and within collections needs to be reduced, and that TBC staff members often must spend too much of their time processing mail. "The time spent on mail clearly would be better spent providing personal service to patrons," she said. "If there's anything we have learned from these meetings, it's that the personal touch from a trusted readers` adviser is among the most important aspects of what the GLASS network provides.

"Many patrons like being able to visit their accessible library, but they are also happy with service by phone, as long as they have a tollfree number and a consistent and trusted person to help them."
Cone noted that GLASS patrons and staff who attended the meetings were nearly unanimous in voicing their belief that outreach services should be as localized as possible -- ideally in every county or in small, multicounty areas.
See GLASS, page 7

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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2010

Tift County librarian wins first Georgia Libraries Photo Contest

Victoria "Vickie" Horst has been a photography buff
for many years, and her interest paid off in February when her entry was judged the overall best photograph in the inaugural Georgia Libraries Photo Contest.

More than 70 entrants submitted photos of magical library moments that were captured digitally between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14. A panel of judges selected winners
and honorable mentions representing 10 categories.

Victoria Horst

Jointly sponsored by the

From the category winners,

Georgia Library Association

judges then selected Horst's

(GLA), Georgia Public Library

photo as "best overall" and

Service, Georgia Association for

awarded her the grand prize of

Instructional Technology and

a library/reading gift basket

Georgia Library Media

valued at $100 from GLA and a

Association, the contest

certificate suitable for framing.

encouraged library supporters to

First-place winners from the

show their love for Georgia's

remaining categories received a

libraries -- and win a prize

certificate and a gift bag

valued at $100 in the process.

containing an assortment of

library-related gifts, while

"I'm thrilled," said Horst,

honorable mention winners

who serves as director of the

received certificates.

Tifton-Tift County Public Library,

part of the Coastal Plain Regional

A series of posters

Library System. "I have been

incorporating all winning photos

taking pictures for almost 15

This photo by Victoria Horst was judged "best overall"

was displayed during Georgia

years, and this is the first time I

and winner of the "best photo of a library-sponsored or Library Day on March 10.

have won a photo contest.
"Gabriela Meneses came to the library as part of a joint

Friends-sponsored event" category. Wearing a costume native to her country, Gabriela Meneses of Peru reads to a number of young patrons, including (from left) Adonnis Easton-Tolbert, Kourtland L. Tolbert, Shakeria Eckford and Mariya Browlee, at the Tifton Tift County

"These photos made for a wonderful display," said Julie Walker, deputy state librarian. "They certainly drew the

program with the Tifton Museum Public Library on Feb. 12.

attention of our legislators and

of Arts and Heritage called `Peru:

helped us show them how much

The Tifton Connection: Culture, Art and Caring.' The

Georgians value libraries and library services."

program gave the citizens of Tifton a fantastic opportunity

to experience aspects of Peruvian culture on a very

Winning photographs also will be displayed and their

personal level. There were opportunities to try food, to

creators recognized at the 2010 Georgia Council of Media

learn about native crafts and to look at some brilliant

Organizations conference in Athens this fall. Winning and

photography of the country. Her native costume was

honorable mention photographs from all 10 categories

absolutely stunning; it would have been a shame not to

can be viewed online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/

have taken this picture of her reading to these children."

georgialibraryassociation/sets/72157623555847346/. I

Chattahoochee Valley wins $200,000 Knight Foundation grant

The Mildred L. Terry Public Library in
Columbus, a branch of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries (CVL), has more than doubled its number of public-access computers, thanks to a $200,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The grant is part of a $5.5 million Knight Foundation initiative

benefiting library users in 20 communities across the country.
With the foundation's support, the branch has created a "community center environment" where patrons have access to the Internet and an ever-growing range of activities and applications. "The

communities served by the library have already benefited greatly from the new technology," said CVL Director Claudya Muller. "In addition to helping individual users, local businesses have been taking advantage of the computers, copiers, printers and projection systems in the meeting rooms, as well." I
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April 2010 Georgia Public Library Service News

Summer Reading Program aims to make big splash

Georgia's public libraries are encouraging children to
"Make a Splash @ Your Library" in the 2010 edition of the annual Summer Reading Program. The goals of this year's activities and materials are to promote family literacy and demonstrate to kids that reading is fun. Nearly 1.5 million people attended a children's program at one of the state's public libraries in 2009, and circulation of children's materials last year exceeded 18.7 million items.
According to Elaine Black, director of Youth Services for GPLS, studies have shown that school-age children who continue to read throughout their vacation from school maintain or improve writing, vocabulary and reading skills, while children who do not read are more likely to see their skills decrease. "Reading as few as five books over the summer months can help children maintain their reading levels so that when school begins, they are not behind in reading skills but ready to move forward," she said.
Henry Cole is the artist for this year's children's program. He is the author and illustrator of numerous acclaimed books, including I Took a Walk, On the Way to

the Beach, On Meadowview Street and Trudy. He has also collaborated on numerous books with other children's writers, such as Pamela Duncan Edwards, Margie Palatini and Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Henry's first novel, A Nest for Celeste, was released in February.
The artist for the teen program, "Make Waves @ Your Library," is Ursula Vernon, author and illustrator of Dragonbreath, Nurk, Digger and several other projects. Her work has been nominated for an Esther Award and for several Webcomics Choice Awards. The self-described "creator of random oddities" will soon publish book three of her Dragonbreath saga, Curse of the Were-Wiener.
This is Georgia's third year as a member of the nationwide Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide highquality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. By combining resources and working with a commercial vendor to produce materials designed exclusively for CSLP members, public libraries in participating states can purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives at significant savings.

Margery Bouris

"It's also great for families that travel between states to visit relatives during their summer vacations," Black said. "They can be part of the same program across 45 states."

Black said the consortium has delivered an extremely unified and high-quality program every year since its inception. "The themes and slogans are voted on each year by the membership," she explained. "State library staff members make suggestions, and their master list is whittled down to a top five. Representatives from each member state then vote for their choice from that list."

Public libraries across Georgia will support this year's summer reading effort by offering reading logs, bookmarks and stickers -- and by hosting activities such as storytimes, puppet shows and other special events such as arts-and-crafts programs and magic shows. As with Georgia's previous programs, children receive rewards for achieving reading goals. Kids can sign up and get their reading materials at public libraries across the state, beginning in May.

Joseph Fuller, 12, and Justin Stallworth, 7, share a story at the West Georgia Regional Library System's Whitesburg Public Library.
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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2010

"The teen program is equally outstanding," Black said, "because it encourages teens to be creative -- and have positive social interactions with their peers and
See Reading, page 5

Staff

Hawks, Thrashers sponsor sixth

Check-It-Out Reading Challenge

The Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers
will once again join Georgia's public libraries this summer by challenging young readers to read -- and earn basketball- and hockey-related rewards in the process. Designed to enhance this year's "Make a Splash @ Your Library" summer reading program, the 2010 Hawks-Thrashers Check-It-Out Reading Challenge will welcome young readers entering classes from pre-K to grade 12 for the 2010-11 school year.
Hawks mascots Harry the Hawk and SkyHawk will make appearances at Atlanta-area libraries to promote the program, as will Thrashers mascot Thrash. The popular reading program has grown steadily, from an initial two counties in 2005 to a statewide initiative in 2008. Since the program's inception, the teams have awarded nearly 60,000 Hawks and Thrashers tickets to the young readers who have participated.

conducted online. Any child enrolled in grades pre-K-12 in the state of Georgia may participate by having a parent or guardian log on to www.checkitoutreading.com, either on a home computer or a publicaccess computer at the library. Parents and guardians may register each child in their household for the program.
"Both the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers are committed to helping kids develop a lifelong love of reading, and we challenge ourselves to deliver inspirational education programs in order to do this," said Tracy White, Hawks and Thrashers senior vice president of sales and marketing, and chief sales officer. "In 2010, we hope to, once again, grow the number of students throughout the state of Georgia who take the reading challenge and earn the opportunity to join us in the fall at Philips Arena for a Hawks or Thrashers game."

From left, library staff members Crystal Yancey and Elizabeth Szaruga joined Thrash last summer to welcome children to the Collins Hill branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library.
of the state's public libraries and their friends and families. "It's great to have this support for summer reading from our partners, especially in times of economic challenge," said Elaine Black, director of Youth Services for GPLS. "From the beginning of our relationship -- which has introduced many new families to summer reading -- public libraries have benefited from our connection to the Hawks and Thrashers."

Souvenir bookmarks promoting the program will be available at participating library branches beginning in late May. Registration will begin on June 1 and will again be

As part of their partnership with GPLS, the Hawks and Thrashers will each sponsor three "Georgia Public Libraries Nights" next season, with discounted admission for employees

For additional information on the Check-It-Out Reading Challenge and other Hawks and Thrashers programs, visit www.hawks.com and www.atlantathrashers.com. I

Reading
Continued from page 4 adults. The artwork this year does an especially good job of reinforcing the idea that libraries can be cool places for teens to gather."
In connection with this year's summer reading programs, the Path2College 529 Plan, Georgia's statesponsored 529 college savings plan, will also partner with public libraries across the state to offer the inaugural "Make a Splash -- Save for College Sweepstakes." As a result, one lucky participant this year will win more than $5,000 to apply toward their future education. The Path2College 529 Plan, managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc., will sponsor the sweepstakes, which will launch May 1 and run through July 31. At its conclusion,

the grand prize winner will receive $5,529 toward a Path2College 529 Plan account, and the home library of the winner will receive $1,000 to be used for its children's and teen's department. Information will be available and entries can be submitted online beginning May 1 at www.path2college529.com.
Georgia public libraries' annual Summer Reading Program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to Georgia Public Library Service under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. Visit www.georgialibraries.org for additional information about "Make a Splash @ Your Library," "Make Waves @ Your Library" and other literacy activities. I

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April 2010 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



The DeKalb County Library board of trustees and library staff invite the public to the dedication of the expanded and renovated Embry Hills branch. The ceremony will include a ribbon cutting, tours of the building and refreshments. Festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. on April 3. The library is located at 3733 ChambleeTucker Road in Chamblee.
The Cobb County Public Library System's Merchant's Walk Library closed Jan. 22 and reopened as the East Cobb Library Feb. 1 in a new location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place March 9. The new East Cobb Library is located at 4880 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta.
The Forsyth County Public Library System held a dedication ceremony March 21 for its new Hampton Park branch on Settingdown Road in north Forsyth County. The 23,000-square-foot building features a collection of 60,000 items; 38 public computer stations; self-checkout stations; drive-up book drops; a magazine room; a 100-person meeting room; and a dedicated children's room.

6 p.m. The free event will take place at the AFPL Central Library at One Margaret Mitchell Square in Atlanta. A one-day think tank on library buildings and design, the educational seminar will bring together leading architects, librarians and vendors to address the challenges and opportunities of building new and renovating or retrofitting existing buildings. The day will provide an abundance of information on green design practices and cost-saving tactics as well as focus on designing specific spaces (technology centers, work/ study spaces, teen centers, etc.). The program is limited to 100 attendees. For more information and to register, visit: www.LibraryJournal.com/ designinstituteGA.
Gayle Holloman has been named administrator for the AtlantaFulton Public Library System's Central Library, where she will provide leadership and management of eight departments. Holloman has worked for the library system since 1994.

Chelsea Kovalevskiy, children's and teen's specialist coordinator for the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library, has been chosen as one of 10 national finalists in James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead teen library programming competition. Kovalevskiy designed "ShamROCK," a public library program plan to bring teens into the library with a teen band concert performance. The library was given a Kodak video camera by the ReadKiddoRead Foundation to document the March 12 event, and the resulting video will be entered into the final round of judging on May 30.
D. Ceabron Williams, head of Information Technology Services at the Flint River Regional Library in Griffin, graduated from the Georgia State Defense Force's Initial Entry Training course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. He has been promoted to the rank of private in the 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, of the Georgia State Defense Force. I

Courtesy DeKalb Library Foundation

Sponsored by the American Library Association, National Library Week 2010 will be held April 11-17. This year's theme is "Communities Thrive @ Your Library."

Georgia Public Library Service has announced that the 2010 GOLD/ GALILEO Annual Users Group Conference will be held Friday, Aug. 13 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center & Hotel in Athens.
In partnership with Library Journal, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System will host the seventh Design Institute on April 30 from 9 a.m.-

Impressive match
The DeKalb Library Foundation achieved a major milestone this winter, increasing its endowment to fund literacy programs by $250,000. Through donations from individuals, corporations, civic associations and other foundations, the organization raised $125,000 before Dec. 31, enabling it to receive a matching $125,000 grant from the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation. Fitzgerald Foundation Chairman Lin Stradley and Executive Director Jackie Stradley presented the matching grant check to the foundation at a reception Feb. 19 at the Decatur Library. From left: Laura Hauser, DeKalb County Public Library literacy services coordinator; Donna Brazzell, DeKalb Library Foundation executive director; Fred Turner, DeKalb Library Foundation president, accepting grant check from Chairman Lin Stradley and Executive Director Jackie Stradley of the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation; and Darro Willey, DeKalb County Public Library director.

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Georgia Public Library Service News April 2010

Victor Simmons

Advocates honored at workshop
Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) has announced that
Jenny McCurdy of Decatur will receive the 2010 FOGL Best Friend Award. The honor is given to an outstanding library advocate who has made a significant contribution to statewide advocacy efforts on behalf of Georgia's libraries. McCurdy has been a prominent leader in the Georgia libraries community for many years, is a past president of FOGL and was one of the organization's incorporators. She will be presented with her award at the annual FOGL spring workshop, to be held at the Coweta County Central Library in Newnan on April 23.
According to FOGL President Bede Mitchell, the organization will also present its first Fabulous Friends Award to the Friends of Union County Library. The new award honors a Georgia-based friends organization for exemplary success in supporting its local library. The Friends of Union County Library will be honored for its creative fundraising activities, such as collecting a mile of pennies and sponsoring fishing tournaments.
"We are preparing an excellent program for this year's meeting," said Mitchell. "In addition to our award presentations, it will feature two wonderful speakers: Lynne Bradley from the American Library Association's Washington Office and author Amanda Gable." For registration information, visit www.georgia-friends.org. I

Wrestling, with a good book
On Jan. 30, six World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) stars visited the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library's West End Branch to promote reading and sign autographs as part of the WWE WrestleMania Reading Challenge. More than 100 children and parents attended the event. The 27th WrestleMania will be held in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome in 2011. From left: Young readers Jonah, Josh and Noah Hibbert, with WWE stars Jimmy Wang Yang, Jayson "JTG" Paul and Shad Gaspard of the tag team Cryme Tyme, and Ray "Slam Master J" Gordy.

GLASS

Continued from page 2 "Library systems that don't currently host TBCs
would need staff and staff training for this, and that may not be possible in the current economy," she said, "so we will be looking at ways to provide a more balanced distribution of service, raise awareness in the areas where no local TBC exists, and better integrate patrons into our services through regular libraries. Mail distribution can be handled anywhere, as long as delivery times are fast."
Hopper indicated that other opportunities for improving GLASS service include developing Friends groups for the GLASS outlets, partnering with other service organizations, and using current TBC staff -- as well as interested patrons -- to help train public library staff in the initial sign-up and delivery phases of GLASS service.
The planning team will continue to gather additional data and will meet again this summer to determine and refine the most effective methods for providing statewide

services. Information of particular interest to the team includes:
I an examination of the effectiveness and efficiency of the outreach center model (currently used by the LaFayette outreach center and Rome's Northwest Georgia Talking Book Library);
I a cost study comparing a centralized mailing service to the current model;
I use statistics by county to compare levels of service throughout the state; and
I an online survey and possibly more public meetings to gather input from patrons who live in counties without a local library for accessible services.
A short, online survey about Georgia's TBCs and the services they provide is now available at www.georgialibraries.org/glass/. GLASS encourages all users of the service, affiliated service providers, and library staff -- especially those in communities where no TBC is located -- to complete the survey by May 31. I

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April 2010 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

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

Fond farewell
On March 29, employees of GPLS honored Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library development, who retired March 31 after 25 years of service to Georgia's public libraries. She is the author of Tools for Trustees: The Georgia Public Library Trustee Manual. From left are: Marlene Stephens, administrative assistant; Hopper; and Lindsay Cloud, administrative assistant.