Georgia Public Library Service news, Vol. 9, no. 2 (Oct. 2011 )

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

volume 9, issue 2 I October 2011

Staff

First Lady helps AMLAS celebrate downtown move

Sandra Deal, Georgia's first lady, joined Georgia Public Library
Service staff to host the Sept. 19 grand opening of the Atlanta Metro Library for Accessible Services (AMLAS).

"Reading talks to us in ways that television doesn't, and we believe everyone should enjoy the opportunities afforded by knowledge," Deal said to the crowd of nearly 120 people. "This facility was a dream 10 years ago, and we are so thankful that the staff here has worked so hard to make it a reality."

Staff

From its home on the fourth floor of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System's Central Library at One Margaret Mitchell Square, AMLAS now offers area residents with print impairments the smoothest-ever access to its collection of Braille and recorded books and magazines. The facility also offers assistive computers, listening systems and other equipment for accessing printed materials.
"For the past 25 years, residents with print impairments have not had an easy time getting to this type of library in Atlanta Metro area," explained Stella Cone, director of Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS).
The previous AMLAS facility was carved out of shared See AMLAS, page 2

Top: State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch, First Lady Sandra Deal, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Director John Szabo and AFPL trustee Roger Rupnow greeted AMLAS' first visitors. Above: GLASS Director Stella Cone provided a tour for NLS Assistant Chief Stephen Prine.

GPLS wins National Leadership Grant to lead talking book software project
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has
awarded Georgia Public Library Service a $97,843 National Leadership Grant to plan the development of an open-source software system for libraries that serve users with visual or other impairments. The award is one of 48 grants announced by IMLS on Sept. 28.
"We believe that each of these grants will advance the museum, library and archive professions through new research and the creation and dissemination of innovative tools, models
See Grant, page 4

AMLAS
Continued from page 1 warehouse space with the GLASS Distribution Center at an industrial area in southwest Atlanta. "The closest MARTA stop was more than half a mile away," Cone said. "But now patrons can take MARTA to the Peachtree Center Station, cross the street to the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library -- which is fully accessible -- and take the elevator up to a talking book library that is attractive, inviting and comfortable."
Like all regional talking book libraries that are members of the GLASS network, AMLAS provides Georgians with access to a free national library program that offers materials provided by the Library of Congress and its National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).
All reading material and playback equipment are sent to eligible people with a visual or physical disability and returned by postage-free mail. AMLAS serves qualified patrons in Clayton, Cobb, Dawson, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Henry, Lumpkin and Rockdale counties.
Patrons who want more than the postage-free mail services can visit, choose a book and read it on the premises by using the specialized players and digital books housed there. By using the Stand Alone Reading Apparatus -- SARA, for short -- patrons can scan and read a newspaper, a reference book from the AFPL collection or even bring in and read their mail. They can also participate in book clubs or workshops as a result of the facility being able to sponsor more talking bookbased programming than before.

screen enlargement software allow patrons to search the Internet, read and send e-mail or search and apply for a job. "Because AMLAS is located beside the Central Library's Fulton County Workforce Development Job Center, visitors can use our computers to put the resume-writing skills they've learned to good use," Cone said. "Many Georgians have been able to return to work because they have learned to read Braille. Others can now manage their own finances by reading magazines such as Kiplinger's Personal Finance in digital Braille and staying up to date on the financial markets.
"If they are attending an AFPLsponsored GED class, they can use our screen reader software to complete their assignments. If children or adults have homework assignments, they can use our accessible computers to do the research or check out a book from the AFPL collection and use SARA to access its contents."
For the first time, according to AMLAS Manager Beverly Williams,

Williams

Meadows

AMLAS will also offer Atlanta-area children with print impairments a dedicated area where they can enjoy storytimes, play games, participate in crafts and enjoy the facility's fully interactive activity wall.
Designed and built especially for AMLAS by Creative Arts Unlimited of Pinellas Park, Fla., the activity wall allows children to create and leave Braille messages, leave their handprints and even explore the AFPL community and a nearby park through interactive artwork.
Artwork is among the most attractive aspects of the new AMLAS. Thanks to a partnership between GPLS and VSA Arts of Georgia, two walls at AMLAS will serve as an art gallery, exhibiting the works of artists with visual impairments and disabilities.
VSA Arts of Georgia provides access to the arts for people with disabilities and for those with low income. It is a statewide resource that works with artists and organizations to build an inclusive community that encourages everyone to enjoy and participate in the arts. According to Executive Director Elizabeth Labbe-Webb, VSA has worked for more than 37 years to make the arts accessible to Georgians who are disabled and/or living with low income.
In addition to using Braille labels and providing large-print booklets about the rotating collection at AMLAS, the VSA collection at AMLAS will often feature objects that can be touched."Using special gloves that are available at the AMLAS welcome desk, visitors will be able to enjoy the shape and textures of many pieces," said Labbe-Webb.

AMLAS' six public-access computers with screen reader or

Robinson

2
Georgia Public Library Service News October 2011

Simms

"Our partnership with VSA will See AMLAS, page 5

Staff

Covington's Taylor Boyd wins College Savings Sweepstakes
Thanks to his participation in the Georgia Public Library
Service's Summer Reading Program, "One World, Many Stories," Taylor Boyd not only developed his essential reading skills this summer, he won a $5,529 contribution to his college savings. Boyd, a 7-year-old from Covington, was the winner of the 2011 Destination College Savings Sweepstakes offered by the Path2College 529 Plan, in partnership with GPLS.

"It was such a wonderful surprise to get the call that Taylor had won the contest," said Kristen Boyd, Taylor's mother. "We are so happy, and he is so excited. We've never considered college to not be an option for our children, and this money will be a great help in making that dream come true."

Each year during the Summer Reading Program, Taylor and his sister, Mallory, check out and read five books each week from the Newton County Library. He is an upcoming second-grader at Piedmont Academy in Monticello, and he already has dreams of attending college -- possibly Savannah State or, like his Uncle Charlie, Georgia Tech. According to proud father Martin, both Taylor and Mallory are "A" students.

This year, more than 6,100 Georgia children and teens from Georgia's summer reading programs entered the sweepstakes for a chance to win a contribution toward a Path2College 529 Plan college savings account. "This program is a great way for children to stay engaged with reading over the summer," said Chuck Penuel, director of the Path2College 529 Plan. "We hope that by offering the annual sweepstakes, we are encouraging more children to get involved with summer reading, while at the same time reminding their parents how important a strong educational foundation and a strong financial foundation are to their child's success."
Penuel congratulated Boyd and presented him with a check at the Covington Branch of the Newton County Library, where he and his family are frequent patrons and where he entered the sweepstakes. In addition to Boyd's big win, the sweepstakes also included prizes for two Georgia libraries and one library system. As Taylor's home library, the Covington Branch of the Newton County Library was awarded $1,529 to be used for its children's and teen's department. Additionally, the Grayson Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) had the greatest number of entries, and GCPL had the greatest percentage of their registered users entered into the sweepstakes, earning each $1,529 for their children's and teen's materials and programming.

Standing from left: Nancy Stanbery-Kellam, Dr. Lamar Veatch, Lace Keaton and Chuck Penuel. Seated from left: Steve Thomas, Taylor Boyd and Amy Billings.
"Our entire staff was extremely excited to learn that we'll have this money available for children's materials," said Lace Keaton, director of the Newton County Library. Board of trustees chair Dr. Lois Upham echoed that sentiment, noting that the amount so far constitutes the system's budget in that area for the year.
"We had 865 children sign up for summer reading in Newton County, and more than 2,000 children and adults attend one of our summer reading programs," Upham said. "This money will make a difference for all of them."
"I'm delighted for our staff to be recognized today for the work they do in supporting education in our community," said Nancy Stanbery-Kellam, executive director of GCPL, who was joined at the event by Steve Thomas, assistant branch manager at Grayson, and Amy Billings, events and outreach manager for the system.
See Path2College, page 7

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October 2011 Georgia Public Library Service News

Grant
Continued from page 1 and activities that can be shared broadly," said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth.
GPLS's planning grant will allow the agency to organize a planning committee from approximately 40 national leaders with expertise in library accessibility to plan the development of the next generation of software that is needed to circulate recorded books, provide reading machines and expand and maintain the other services provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). The software will require specifications that are not included in ordinary integrated library system (ILS) software.
The number of vendors available for automated library catalog systems for special library needs of patrons who are blind and physically handicapped is exceedingly small, and lack of competition has produced slow development and research into better technologies. This often leaves talking book

libraries with complicated and cumbersome products.
"To provide a higher level of library services -- and customer service -- for people with blindness or physical disabilities, differences such as patron reading history, reading preferences, appropriate age-level materials and other personal identifiers must be part of the software package," explained Georgia State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch.
"We have dubbed this new software Loblolly, which is a native species of Southern pine tree," he noted. "Its Latin name is Pinus taeda, which translates to pine torch -- an appropriate name and symbol for something that will help to light the way for those who can't see."
The IMLS planning-grant activities will produce a set of core functional requirements to guide the development of this software. Provisions for downloadable audio will also be likely Loblolly features, as will components intended to facilitate greater collaboration among state library agencies.

Once the planning committee develops operational, performance and service specifications for the software, members will produce a white paper of accomplishments and findings, then discuss and present its recommendations to NLS, to the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies and at national conferences. The committee will bring together leaders from national organizations such as NLS, the National Federation of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind and the Blinded Veterans Association, as well as from many of the 30-plus state libraries that have expressed interest.
"GPLS is pleased to lead the planning effort and build upon our work on the Evergreen ILS," said Deputy State Librarian Julie Walker. "Our knowledge and experience in open-source software make us uniquely positioned to direct this project, bringing together stakeholders, developers, librarians and end-users to envision a solution that can be used across and beyond the United States. We are very grateful to IMLS for recognizing the importance of this project and supporting this planning effort." I

Literary festival set for Oct. 15
The 13th annual Georgia Literary Festival will be
held Oct. 15 at the Sautee-Nacoochee Community Center in White County.
Among the writers scheduled to appear are Barbara Brown Taylor, Mildred Greear, Doris Davenport and Winton Porter.
Co-chairs of the 2011 festival are Michael Humphrey, program manager for the White County Public Library, part of the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System; and Linda Erbele, an author and freelance writer.
The festival is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book and the Georgia Humanities Council. I
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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2011

FOGL workshop to feature Sprinkle
Friends of Georgia Libraries will hold its annual fall workshop, "A is for Author: How to apply for FOGL's new members-only Author Grant and stage an Awesome Event," from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the Newton County Library's central branch in Covington.
The event's luncheon speaker will be Patricia Sprinkle, author of more than 20 novels and five nonfiction books. Her works include the Thoroughly Southern mystery series, the Family Tree genealogy series and the Sheila Travis mysteries.
Registration fees are $20 for FOGL members and $30 for nonmembers. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Registration deadline is Oct. 13.
Additional information and registration forms are available at www.georgia-friends.org. I

GPLS employees to present at 23rd COMO convention

The Georgia Council of Media
Organizations (COMO) will give the state's library community an opportunity to experience "Georgia's 5G Network" at the Classic Center in downtown Athens from Oct. 5 to 7.
Georgia Public Library Service will be among the most visible organizations at the 23rd annual convention, which is co-hosted by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology, the Georgia Library Association and the Georgia Library Media Association.
Jay Turner, director of Continuing Education, will co-present three sessions: "Your Patrons and GALILEO," "Leveraging Bite-Size Video for Learning" and "Professional Development Planning for Public Library Staff, GALILEO Included."

Diana Very, director of LSTA, Statistics and Research for GPLS, will present "Accounting and Budgeting for the Non-Accountant." She is serving as this year's Public Library Division chair and as chair of the annual authors' reception.
Elaine Black, director of Youth Services, will present as a part of the Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers and will lead an overview session on the PRIME TIME Family Reading Time program.
PINES Bibliographic Projects and Metadata Manager Elaine Hardy will participate on two panel discussions: "Acquisitions Roundtable -- Best Practices for the Digital Era" and "The Impact of RDA on Georgia's Libraries." PINES Helpdesk Manager Dawn Dale will

serve on the panel discussion for "Out With the Old, In With the New: Reinventing Yourself."
Of special note, the inaugural Pat Carterette Memorial Walk/Run will take place Thursday morning, Oct. 6, at 6 o'clock. The event honors GPLS's former director of Continuing Education, who lost her battle with cancer in January.
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

AMLAS
Continued from page 2 be a great opportunity for us to offer programs for both children and adults that will enable the blind to learn more about art through hands-on activities and tactile works," said Cone. "Perhaps most importantly, the collection will help us demonstrate how people with different abilities can still express themselves creatively and earn a living through art."

over the weekend. And it doesn't end there," she continued. "We have received thank-you notes from children with reading disabilities saying how much their grades have improved since they can now pair the print copy of their book with the recorded copy," Cone said. "We also talk to the children of a parent who has been a lifelong reader but who cannot see to continue reading until they discover our services."

In addition to providing readers advisory services, Williams and AMLAS staff members Vanessa Meadows, Lamar Robinson and Diane Simms will be working with public libraries and other organizations in their service area to expand local outreach. "Through outreach, more people than ever before who do not have the ability to read standard print material can discover a way to enjoy reading," Cone said. "Outreach helps to ensure that everyone in a community has access to book club selections.

"Comfortable chairs throughout AMLAS also give parents and children a place to sit and enjoy reading a book together," Williams said. "Words cannot express the excitement I'm feeling about the move to our new space and this children's section."
Stephen Prine, assistant chief of the NLS Network Division in Washington, D.C., attended the opening and was highly complimentary. "This facility and this network are ones that other states will emulate," he said.

"Children with print impairments learn about and are able to enjoy the books and activities of Georgia's summer reading programs. Residents of assisted living communities can keep a small collection of recorded books for those who are looking for something to read

AMLAS and the GLASS network of talking book centers are funded in part 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. I

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October 2011 Georgia Public Library Service News

NEWS IN BRIEF



Dusty Gres

Lillie Crowe has been appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the Georgia Board of Librarians. Crowe has been a Georgia-certified librarian since 1997 and currently serves as director of the Washington-based Bartram Trail Regional Library.

Anne Isbell, director of the Lake Blackshear Regional Library in Americus, has been elected chair of the Regents Public Library Advisory Committee. Kelly Lenz, director of the South Georgia Regional Library in Valdosta, has been elected secretary of the committee.

Leata Sears, manager of the

Newton County

Library System's

Newborn library

service outlet,

has been named

one of five 2011

Georgia Library

Association

Paraprofessional

Division grant

Sears

winners.

been with the system for 10 years, most recently as reference specialist.

Diana Very, director of LSTA, Statistics and Research for GPLS, earned a rave review in the August issue of "Library Worklife" for her presentation, "How to Use Statistics for Library Decision-Making," at this year's American Library Association
Annual Conference.

Eva Evans,

head of circula-

tion for the

Louisville branch

of the Jefferson

County Library

Evans

System, retired Sept. 30 after 40

years of service to the system.

The Friends of West Georgia Regional's Neva Lomason Memorial Library recently honored Florence Mummy, who "retired" this

Sharon Blank

Director Susan White of the Canton-based Sequoyah Regional Library is celebrating her 40th anniversary with the system. White's career with the system began in August 1971 with a job driving its bookmobile. She worked her way up through the ranks, holding a number of positions with the system before being named its director in 2008.

Karen Hankala has joined the Waycross-based Okefenokee Regional Library System as its assistant director and Youth Services coordinator.
Lynsey James has been named branch manager at the West Georgia Regional Library system's Paulding County Library. She has

Long road
Screven-Jenkins Regional Library System's bookmobile driver, Barbara Gilbert (left), receives her 30-year employment pin from System Director Wendy Weinberger on Sept. 27. Prior to becoming the official bookmobile driver on Oct. 1, 1981, Gilbert had ridden on the bookmobile since she was a child and assisting her aunt, who was the system's first bookmobile driver.

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Georgia Public Library Service News October 2011

Stories of survival
Dr. Eugen Schoenfeld, Holocaust survivor and education director of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, shared his story during a program at the Vidalia-Toombs County Library on Sept. 26. The event was held to promote the launch of the 2011-2012 Holocaust Learning Trunk project, jointly sponsored by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany Inc. and the Georgia Department of Education. The aim of the project is to use art and history to unify people of various backgrounds and beliefs and then connect them through their experiences learning about the Holocaust.
summer following 21 years of volunteer work at the facility.
By garnering the most "likes" among participating libraries on its Facebook page, the Gwinnett County Public Library won more than 1,600 books -- one of every "For Dummies" book in print -- in a nationwide contest sponsored by publisher John Wiley & Sons Inc.
The Buchanan-Haralson County Public Library, part of West Georgia Regional, was awarded a $3,000 grant from Carroll EMC Foundation.
The Conyers-Rockdale Library System's Nancy Guinn Memorial Library and Coastal Plain Regional Library's Tifton-Tift County Public Library are among 40 libraries across the country that have been selected to host "Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible," a 2013 traveling exhibit that celebrates the Bible's 400th anniversary. I

GLASS network distribution center moves to Georgia Archives

The distribution center for Georgia Libraries for
Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS) has relocated from its warehouse space in south Atlanta to the Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow.
"The Georgia Archives building is a beautiful facility that will allow our Braille and recorded books to be stored in a climate-controlled environment, free from changing temperatures and humidity -- when they are not checked out and being read," said Stella Cone, director of GLASS.
Path2College
Continued from page 3 "We saw firsthand at libraries across the state the
excitement that the combination of our Summer Reading Program and the Destination College Savings Sweepstakes provided to families," said Dr. Lamar Veatch, Georgia's state librarian. "Reading together during the summer months is tremendously important for families, and pairing that with the chance to win a significant college contribution was an excellent way to encourage people to get involved.
"We congratulate Taylor, the Newton County Library, the Gwinnett County Library and the Grayson Branch on their wins, and we hope that next year we'll be able to reach even more children through our summer reading programs and our partnership with the Path2College 529 Plan." I

The function of the GLASS Distribution Center is to mail books, magazines, digital players and equipment to qualified patrons of the talking book service. "By consolidating the shipping and receiving functions across the state into this one location, the staff at our nine regional talking book libraries will have more time to provide outreach and patron advisory services," Cone said. "It will truly help the GLASS network and its staff fulfill our vision of providing all Georgians with access to public library materials and services for their personal enrichment, education and entertainment no matter their abilities."
According to Georgia Archives Director David W. Carmicheal, the goals of the GLASS network dovetail nicely with the mission of his organization. Among its many goals are to increase the efficiency of state government through effective records management and to find innovative and effective ways to identify which state agency records are worth preserving for future generations and transfer those records to the Archives, where they can be protected and made available to the people of Georgia.
"I see this as one way to build stronger ties to Georgia Public Library Service," said Carmicheal. "The State Archives and the State Library have a common interest to provide quality information to the people of Georgia, and Georgians will benefit from our closer cooperation. We're excited to have GLASS join us in Morrow." I

Staff Staff

Booked up

Going Greene
Approximately 200 residents and elected officials attended the grand reopening of the Uncle Remus Regional Library System's renovated and remodeled Greene County Library on Aug. 8. The event was hosted by the Friends of the Library and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. State Sen. Johnny Grant (R- Milledgeville) joined branch librarian Jackie Broderick in cutting the ribbon and welcoming the crowd.

Elaine Black (left), GPLS's director of Youth Services, and David Baker (right), director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, welcome authors Carmen Agra Deedy, John McCutcheon and Sheila P. Moses at the Georgia table in the Pavilion of the States at the 11th annual National Book Festival on Sept. 24. Organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, the festival was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. More than 100 authors, illustrators and poets participated in the twoday event, which drew more than 200,000 people.

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October 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

Dana Peeler

A grand day to open
From left, current board chair Lonnie Roberts, former board chairs Terry Stone and Shannon Brown and State Librarian Dr. Lamar Veatch cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the Ohoopee Regional Library System's new Jeff Davis County Library on Sept. 16. Members of the library's board of trustees, Hazlehurst City Council, local school board and Jeff Davis County Commission also participated in the event, welcoming more than 200 citizens who attended.

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