A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia's public libraries volume 8, issue 6 I June 2011 Elizabeth Neall/Lake Oconee News GLASS, AMLAS relocations to improve, expand services "To Morrow" means brighter days are ahead for the Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS). On July 1, the warehouse-style distribution center that provides audio materials to eligible citizens with visual or physical disabilities will relocate to the Georgia Archives' building in the Clayton County city of Morrow. Felon Groovy Staff members of the Morgan County Library, part of the Uncle Remus Regional Library System in Madison, donned prison stripes to publicize the library's temporary relocation into the former Morgan County Jail. The old facility closed its doors on April 26, and construction of the new library is scheduled to take one year. From left are Director Miriam Baker, Linda Heard, Mary Ferris, Penny West and Peggy Rigsby. "This climate-controlled facility will provide dramatically improved storage for our audiobooks and machines," explained GLASS Director Stella Cone. "Once the move is complete, GLASS will be able to distribute materials statewide from one location instead of many, and this will free our Outreach and Advisory Centers to place all their emphasis on patron services, programming and community outreach." The GLASS network is composed of nine Libraries for Accessible Services (LAC) that provide eligible Georgians access to a national library program offering free audio materials and books and magazines in Braille. The materials are provided by the Library of Congress and the See GLASS, page 3 Genevieve Villari Georgians participate in National Library Legislative Day Library advocates from around the country visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 9 and 10 for the American Library Association's National Library Legislative Day. More than 360 participants met with federal elected officials and encouraged them to pass legislation crucial to the country's libraries. The Georgia contingent was led by State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch and Kathy Ash, who currently serves as president of Friends of Georgia Libraries, as a trustee for the Piedmont Regional Library and as president of the Friends of the Winder Library. "In-person advocacy with the members of Georgia's congressional delegation is essential in keeping the senators and representatives informed of the work of the state's libraries and of the importance of these services and of the federal library funding," Veatch said. "I am very See Advocacy, page 3 Veatch (left) and Ash (right) visit with U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11). Annual survey indicates 19 of 20 users recommend PINES Georgia Public Library Service conducted the seventh annual PINES User Satisfaction Survey from April 4 through 11. More than 1,400 patrons entering the PINES online catalog, whether at a library workstation or from a remote home or office computer, completed the survey during this time. Elizabeth McKinney, PINES program director, unveiled the results of this year's PINES User Satisfaction Survey to those attending the 2011 PINES annual meeting, held May 4 in Conyers. Once again, the overwhelming majority of respondents indicated a high level of satisfaction with the PINES -- short for Public Information Network for Electronic Services -- system. More than 19 out of 20 respondents (95.2 percent) in this year's survey stated they would recommend PINES to friends, McKinney said. Four of every five respondents (80.8 percent) said they use the catalog at least weekly to renew books online, place holds on books, determine fines or see what items they have checked out. "The responses we received this year are excellent," said Julie Walker, deputy state librarian. "Once again, it's gratifying for us to see that Georgia's library users appreciate the benefits and conveniences offered by PINES and that, even in light of the current economic uncertainties, they want to see the system expand to more areas of the state and offer more services." A statewide consortium of 285 public libraries and affiliated service outlets in 143 counties, PINES offers citizens a shared catalog of approximately 10 million items, with a single library card that is welcomed in all member libraries. "This year's positive responses were especially notable because the survey took place in the midst of upgrades to the PINES operating system and to Evergreen, the software for the Web-based PINES catalog," McKinney said. According to Chris Sharp, PINES program manager, the new Evergreen version 1.6 features many new developments. "It brings improvements in patron notifications, automatic handling of lost and long-overdue items, a booking module that will be used to manage library meeting spaces and equipment, and improved usability features for library staff," he said. "It also includes a useful forgotten-password feature that will allow patrons to reset their passwords online." The award-winning, open-source Evergreen software, developed in-house by GPLS, is now in use by almost 1,000 libraries around the world. Additional information about PINES and Evergreen, including complete survey results, are available at http:// www.georgialibraries.org/public/pines.php. The Webbased PINES catalog is available from workstations within all PINES libraries, as well as for users logging in from home, at www.gapines.org. I Michael Ferguson Sharon Cleveland Decade in the making The city of Rockmart and the Sara Hightower Regional Library held a groundbreaking ceremony May 10 for the new 19,000-square-foot Rockmart Library. Mayor Curtis Lewis welcomed those attending and thanked the many people whose efforts during the past 10 years contributed to the project's fruition. Construction is scheduled for completion in November. From left are staff members Jennifer Hall, System Director Susan Cooley, Branch Manager Ann Wheeler, Jennifer Harmison and Steve Head. 2 Georgia Public Library Service News June 2011 Dog days The staff of the Perry Public Library welcomed Clifford the Big Red Dog for an early Summer Reading Program on May 4. From left are Laura Braswell, Marie Saylor, Amanda Cosner, Clifford, Karbecia Byse and Nyisha Ferguson. Clifford traveled 869 miles, visited 15 Georgia libraries and entertained more than 1,500 children during his spring tour this year. Renee Hicks Tricia Dillard/Calhoun Times NEWS IN BRIEF The Cairo-based Roddenbery Memorial Library has named Pamela Grigg as its new director. She most recently served as library director for the Taylor County Public Library in Perry, Fla. Logging in Library Manager Dianne Cronon (left) and Calhoun Woman's Club President Sarah Lewis celebrate the 100th birthday of the CalhounGordon County Library, which was established by the Calhoun Woman's Club in a log cabin with fewer than 1,000 books in its collection. Today, the library is part of the Northwest Georgia Regional Library and houses nearly 100,000 items. Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer declared the library "a wonderful facility" and presented a Library Month proclamation from the City Council. Courtney Lumpkin, assistant director for youth services at the Okefenokee Regional Library System, has been named interim director of the Waycross-based system. The Hamilton Mill branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library in Dacula has been named a New Landmark Library by Library Journal. The facility is one of 10 libraries around the country, all featuring vibrant, innovative designs, to receive the honor. I Great Deal First Lady of Georgia Sandra Deal reads to preK students from the Phoenix School in DeKalb County. Deal visited the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library in Decatur on May 12 to help kick off this summer's "Destination College Savings" sweepstakes, sponsored by GPLS and Georgia's Path2College 529 Plan. For more information, visit www.path2college.com. GLASS Continued from page 1 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. GLASS users can search the online catalog for Braille, recorded books and descriptive videos; place requests; and, with a call to any LAC, receive personalized readers' advisory services, too. outreach," Cone said. "The new AMLAS will also feature a dedicated children's area, complete with interactive learning walls." The new AMLAS space also includes a recording booth that will be used to create professionalquality recordings of books and magazines about Georgia and of books by Georgia authors that are not currently included in the national collection, Cone explained. "These materials will then be shared with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which can then offer them to eligible patrons nationwide," she said. I One LAC, the Atlanta Metro Library for Accessible Services (AMLAS), which serves residents in 10 counties and which previously shared space with the GLASS distribution center, will also move to a more accessible address when GLASS moves to Clayton County. AMLAS will relocate to the fourth floor of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's central branch in downtown Atlanta. "For the first time, patrons in the Atlanta Metro area will have easy access to a library that is dedicated to patron service, programming and Advocacy Continued from page 1 pleased that FOGL supported Mrs. Ash's attendance at this year's event. Our advocacy efforts are much more meaningful when a trustee and Friend like Kathy is participating." Ash said her impressions of the day were uniformly positive. "ALA representatives gave interactive presentations on the current legislative issues involving our nation's libraries," she explained. "Because so much of Georgia's library infrastructure is supported by federal dollars coming through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, that funding is hugely important to me, as is the pending revision and renewal of the Patriot Act. "I was able to express my thoughts and concerns on these subjects, and I received a warm, welcoming response from attendees everywhere," she said. "I would definitely urge trustees and Friends to make this trip in the future. It's a wonderful opportunity to encourage support for libraries." I 3 June 2011 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 Roni Tewksbury Crossroads of the community Surrounded by the Paulding County Library Board and staff, David Austin, chairman of the Paulding County Board of Commissioners, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open the news Crossroads library on May 15. The 10,000-square-foot facility will provide badly needed library services to the northern part of the county and will serve as both a traditional library and a community center, said Library Director James P. Cooper. The $2.1 million facility is the 17th branch of the West Georgia Regional Library System. 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30345-4304 A Unit of the University System of Georgia