volume 14, issue 2 october 2016 pinnacle class of ‘17...

A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia’s public libraries volume 14, issue 2 � October 2016

PINNACLE class of ‘17includes 23 librarians

See PINNACLE, page 2

Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) has selected 23Georgia librarians to participate in the 2016-2017 class ofPINNACLE, the agency’s comprehensive leadershipprogram.

“This intensive, yearlong series of training events isspecially designed to address all aspects of library work inthe 21st century, as we face new challenges,technologies and community expectations,” said StateLibrarian Julie Walker. “Georgia’s public libraries areseeking a new generation of leaders, and there are —and will continue to be — many opportunities in thestate for our PINNACLE graduates.”

Working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government(CVIOG), another unit of the University System of Georgia,GPLS designed and held the first sessions of the vigoroustraining program, the name of which is short for thePublic Library Institute for New and Creative LeadershipEducation, in 2007. More than half of those graduateshave gone on to serve as library system directors.

GPLS to partner withMichael C. Carlos MuseumLibraries to loan family passes for six!Thanks to a new partnership between the Michael C.Carlos Museum and Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS),Georgia families will soon be able to pay a free visit toone of the most revered institutions in the state.

Renowned for its collections of art from Egypt, theNear East, Greece, Rome, Africa, the Americas and Asiaas well as works on paper from the Renaissance to thepresent, the Michael C. Carlos Museum is providing everypublic library in Georgia with a pass that is valid for up tosix free admissions — a potential savings of $48 per

See Carlos, page 3

At the Michael C. Carlos Museum press conference on Sept. 27 are(from left) Priyanka Sinha, director of communications and marketing;David Baker, director of communications and strategic partnerships forGPLS; Kate Naylor, membership program coordinator; MuseumDirector Bonnie Speed; State Librarian Julie Walker; and ElizabethHornor, the museum’s Ingram Director of Education.

Happy 100th, NPS!Sera Jones, age 2, creates a birthday card for the U.S. National ParkService (NPS) to celebrate its Aug. 25 centennial at the Rose CreekLibrary, part of the Sequoyah Regional Library system. As part of theGPLS-NPS “Find Your Park at Your Library” partnership, dozens ofGeorgia public libraries offered children’s craft sessions this summerthat resulted in more than 1,000 birthday cards being delivered to theseven participating Georgia NPS units.

Staff

Angela G

lowcheski

Georgia Public Library Service News October 20162

PINNACLEContinued from page 1

The second PINNACLE classwraps up this month with agraduation ceremony that coincideswith the Georgia Council of MediaOrganizations Annual Conferencein Athens.

“The 2015-2016 class was thefirst time in eight years that we wereable to offer this course,” explainedWendy Cornelisen, assistant statelibrarian for library innovation andcollaboration. “We were soimpressed by the depth of our poolof candidates that we realized therewere enough need and demand fora 2016-2017 class that could startright after the current one ends.”

Members of the coming year’sPINNACLE class will include:Cameron Asbell, director of theVidalia-based Ohoopee RegionalLibrary; Stacy Brown, director ofthe Conyers-Rockdale LibrarySystem; Wanda Brown, assistantdirector of the Dougherty CountyPublic Library; Natalie Couch,branch manager of theChattahoochee Valley Libraries’South Columbus Public Library;Jennie Feinberg, assistant directorof technical services for the Augusta-Richmond County Library System;Mack Freeman, marketing andprogramming coordinator for theCarrollton-based West GeorgiaRegional Library; Teryn Gilliam,library branch group manager andadult services coordinator for theAtlanta-Fulton Public Library (AFPL)System; Angela Glowcheski, publicservices librarian for SequoyahRegional Library System in Canton;Swalena Griffin, senior librarian atAFPL; Stephanie Irvin, outreachlibrarian for the Georgia Libraries forAccessible Statewide Services; andDeborah Jackson, regionalmanager for the Cobb County PublicLibrary System.

Also participating in this year’sclass will be: Delana Knight,director of the Northeast GeorgiaRegional Library in Clarkesville;James O’Neal, affiliate serviceslibrarian for the Macon-basedMiddle Georgia Regional LibrarySystem; Margaret Penn, divisiondirector of branch services for theGwinnett County Public Library(GCPL); Brenda Poku, regional areacoordinator for LOPL; SarahReynolds, collection development

manager for the Forsyth CountyPublic Library; Scott Routsong,director of the Brooks County PublicLibrary; Tamika Strong, IT programmanager for GPLS; AndrewVickers, assistant director of PeachPublic Libraries in Fort Valley; MarieVielot, library manager for theCoweta County Public Library’sGrantville and Senoia branches;Tracy Walker, youth serviceslibrarian for the Chestatee RegionalLibrary System in Dawsonvile; Casey

Asbell

Stacy Brown

Couch

Freeman Gilliam

Feinberg

Penn Poku

O’NealKnight

Irvin

Glowcheski Griffin

Wanda Brown Jackson

October 2016 Georgia Public Library Service News3

Wallace, training manager forGCPL; and Mary Young,administrative services librarian forthe Madison-based Uncle RemusRegional Library System.

PINNACLE 2016-17 will includeseven sessions, starting with aweeklong retreat this month inCordele and continuing with sixthree-day sessions to be held everyother month at various public libraries

See PINNACLE, page 6

Gale Legal Forms to provide patronsaccess to resources through GALILEOLibraries across Georgia can nowprovide residents with access tocommon legal forms through GaleLegal Forms.

The latest addition to GALILEO,the state’s virtual library, this newonline resource includes thousandsof Georgia-specific and nationallegal forms that address a variety ofcommon concerns, such asbankruptcy, divorce, landlord-tenantagreements, living wills, taxes andmore. Directories of legal definitionsand attorneys are also included.

“These forms are ideal forsupporting legal tasks thatGeorgians need to manage,” saidWendy Cornelisen, assistant statelibrarian for library innovation and

Vielot

collaboration. “While the librarydoesn’t provide legal advice, it canprovide these forms free of chargeto library users across the state.”

The database features a wideselection of Georgia-specificbusiness, personal and litigationforms, along with selected federalforms, that Georgians will finduseful for developing leases, creatingbills of sale, delegating powers ofattorney and even filing patents andtrademarks.

Documents available throughGale Legal Forms can bedownloaded in Word or saved inseveral other formats, so patrons canmake changes and then save oremail as needed. �

family. Residents with valid librarycards can check out the passesbeginning Oct. 1 at more than 400participating libraries across all 159Georgia counties.

“The launch of the museum’spartnership with libraries is especiallyexciting — and timely — in light ofthe upcoming exhibition ofShakespeare’s First Folio inNovember,” said State LibrarianJulie Walker. “What could be moreexciting for Georgia readers than tosee one of the most famous booksin the world?”

Published in 1623, seven yearsafter William Shakespeare’s death,the First Folio was the first collectededition of his plays. Without it,masterworks such as “Macbeth,”“Twelfth Night,” “Julius Caesar”and “The Tempest” might well havebeen lost. It also includes the

CarlosContinued from page 1 celebrated title-page portrait of

Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout —one of only two likenesses that areconsidered authentic.

“First Folio: The Book That GaveUs Shakespeare,” on tour from theFolger Library, opens at the MichaelC. Carlos Museum on Nov. 5 andcontinues through Dec. 11.

“The Carlos Museum has alongstanding commitment toliteracy,” said Elizabeth Hornor, themuseum’s Ingram Director ofEducation. “In addition to ourdedication to the visual arts, ourliteracy efforts range from theexhibition of Shakespeare’s First Folioto programs like Artful Stories, ourCarlos Reads book clubs for teensand adults, and other programsrelating to Rick Riordan’s PercyJackson book series. We seamlesslymesh the studies of art and literature

See Carlos, page 4

Reynolds

Strong

Wallace Young

Walker

Vickers

Routsong


CarlosContinued from page 3to offer an exploration of the storiesof civilization.”

In addition to the family passloans, the Michael C. CarlosMuseum’s partnership with GPLS willinclude programs at several Georgiapublic libraries each year and aneight-panel touring photographicexhibition, “Discover the Stories ofCivilization: Stories of Beauty, Power,Love, Glory and Faith,” that opens inLeesburg at the Lee County Libraryon Sept. 30. Plans call for “Discoverthe Stories of Civilization” to visitmore than a dozen public librarysystems around the state in comingmonths, including the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library in lateOctober and the Thomas CountyPublic Library in mid-November.

“As Socrates said, ‘wisdombegins in wonder,’ and nothinginstills wonder in young children like

Egyptian mummies and Greekmyths,” said Carlos MuseumDirector Bonnie Speed. “On behalfof the museum board and staff, Iwould like to thank GPLS for helpingus share the collections of theMichael C. Carlos Museum withfamilies throughout the state.”

According to JessicaEveringham, assistant statelibrarian for library development andsupport, the U.S. Institute ofMuseum and Library Services (IMLS)encourages programs that fostermuseum-library cooperation.

“This partnership is an excellentexample of how GPLS’s support ofstatewide partnership programshelps us enhance civic engagement,cultural opportunities and economicvitality across the state,” she said.“This program in particular will helpstrengthen and expand existingrelationships between museums and

Staff

libraries, further establishing them asstrong community anchors.”

From its founding as the EmoryUniversity Museum in 1919, theMichael C. Carlos Museum hasserved generations of students,scholars, schoolchildren, historybuffs, art lovers and tourists fornearly a century. Today it welcomesmore than 100,000 visitors eachyear.

“Georgia’s library users of allages will enjoy visiting thismarvelous education treasure, andwe’re delighted to partner with themuseum to make its collectionsmore accessible to familiesthroughout the state,” Walker said.“This is one more wonderful way forpublic libraries to help create a moreeducated Georgia.”

The Michael C. Carlos Museumis located on the campus of EmoryUniversity in Atlanta. It is openTuesdays through Sundays, withhours varying by day, programmingand university holidays. Informationabout current and upcomingexhibitions is available online atwww.carlos.emory.edu. Visit yourlocal Georgia public library forcomplete details of the museum’slibrary pass loans.

“First Folio! The Book That GaveUs Shakespeare,” on tour from theFolger Shakespeare Library, has beenmade possible in part by a majorgrant from the National Endowmentfor the Humanities: Exploring thehuman endeavor and by the supportof Google.org; Vinton and SigridCerf; the British Council; Stuart andMimi Rose; and other generousdonors. The GPLS-Michael C. CarlosMuseum partnership is supported inpart by a grant to GPLS from IMLSunder the Library Services andTechnology Act. �

Check matesAt the state library directors meeting in Leesburg on Sept. 22, State Librarian Julie Walker andNathan Rall, director of library planning and construction, presented ceremonial checks totaling$7.8 million for the four major library construction projects included in Gov. Nathan Deal’sFY2017 spending plan that were subsequently approved by Georgia’s General Assembly. Thecapital grants included $2 million to build a new Valdosta-Lowndes County Library for the SouthGeorgia Regional Library System (SGRL); $2 million to expand, redesign and refit the WestGeorgia Regional Library System’s (WGRL) Neva Lomason Memorial Library in Carrollton; $2million to complete additions and upgrades to the Northwest branch of the Dougherty CountyPublic Library (DCPL) in Albany; and $1.8 million to expand the Bogart branch of the AthensRegional Library System (ARLS). From left are WGRL Director Roni Tewsbury, ARLS Director ValerieBell, Rall, Walker, DCPL Director Pauline Abidde and SGRL Director Miguel Vicente.


STEAM minigrants to help stretch children’s creativityBuilding on the success of last year’sSTEAM minigrant program, GPLSannounced in August that thiscompetitive grant opportunity forGeorgia’s public libraries wouldreturn for 2016. As in 2015, the artcomponent was added, turningSTEM funding into STEAM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Art andMath) minigrants.

Fifty-one library systems appliedfor and will receive this year’s grants,the funding for which comes fromthe Grants to States program of theU.S. Institute of Museum and LibraryServices (IMLS).

“As IMLS continues to focus onthe expanding role of public librariesfor lifelong learning and improvingaccess to science, technology,

engineering and math resources, thisgrant opportunity will help Georgia’spublic libraries become an evenmore integral part of the growingmovement to include the arts inSTEM/STEAM learning,” explainedJessica Everingham, assistant statelibrarian for library development andsupport.

“Libraries will use theseminigrants to build resources for arteducation, as well as to continuetheir development of resources inscience, technology, engineering andmath,” she said. “Art educationteaches creativity and helps kidsdevelop the kind of risk-taking andproblem-solving skills that they’llneed to solve complex challenges inthe future. STEAM programming canbe successful for all age groups,including adults.”

Many of Georgia’s publiclibraries are taking this opportunityto update and add to their existingSTEAM resources by purchasingSTEAM-related books and DVDs aswell as equipment such as LEGOsets, 3D printers, Makey Makey kits,Raspberry Pi computers, Spherorobotic ball gaming devices, artsupplies, sewing machines andtelescopes.

“Some libraries that did not yethave makerspaces are creating them,including new mobile makerspaceunits at the Conyers-Rockdale PublicLibrary System and Fitzgerald-Ben HillCounty Library,” Everingham said.

The Worth County Library andOcmulgee Regional Library System(ORLS) will be using their grantfunds to build tech loaner kits to beloaned to schools in their respectiveservice areas.

“Our plans are to purchaseadditional 3D printers and supplies

so that we can allow each middleschool media center in our region tocheck out a kit,” said Anne Bowen,director ofEastman-basedORLS. “Thesekits will include a3D printer, 3Dpens, filament,several of thetiny Raspberry Picomputers and alaptop. A portionof this year’sminigrant fundsand additional local funds will alsoallow us to purchase DVDs thatsupport the STEAM curriculum.”

J. Sara Paulk, director of theHouston County Public LibrarySystem, said that her system will useits funds to address the need forbilingual, predominantly Spanish-language, STEAM books.

“Through a multipartner projecthere, the barriers of language andtransportation to library services inHouston County are falling,” Paulksaid. “Tian Foss, the executivedirector of Houston County FamilyConnections, received a GeorgiaDepartment of Early Care andLearning/Bright from the Start grantin July to provide a bilingualstoryteller and free bus passes to getto the libraries in Houston County.

“When the announcement camein August that additional federalfunds were available for STEAMminigrants, we thought that anatural expansion of this partnershipwas for the library system topurchase bilingual and Spanish-language materials for the targetaudience of younger children. Thestoryteller worked with us on theselection of items, and she willfeature STEAM learning as a focus ofher coming programs.” �

Suzy Dukes

Bowen

Celebrating 1,000The Statham Public Library and PiedmontRegional Library System (PRLS) celebrated theaccomplishment of 2-year-old MadisonWeaver of Bethlehem, who became the firstPRLS reader to complete the 1,000 Books B4Kindergarten challenge this summer. WithMadison are (clockwise from top left)grandfather Jon Spencer, father MonzelWeaver, grandmother Madison Grace Weaverand mother Katherine Weaver.


N E W S I N B R I E F ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

PINNACLEContinued from page 3

Happy trailsEveryone at GPLS wishes the happiest ofretirements to our colleague Iva Wilson, withwhom we have worked for more than adecade. Wilson’s retirement party was heldSept. 15 at the GLASS offices on the fourthfloor of the main Atlanta-Fulton PublicLibrary. Wilson most recently served as areaders advisor for GLASS.

Angela Stanley has joinedGPLS as the new director of GeorgiaHomePLACE, which serves as abridge between public libraries andthe Digital Library of Georgia andsupports collaborative digitizationprojects. She joins GPLS from theAthens-Clarke County Library, whereshe was department head for

archives andspecialcollections.Stanley earned abachelor’sdegree in Englishand women’sstudies fromFordhamUniversity inNew York and a

master’s degree in library science anda certificate in archives, preservationand records management fromQueens College, City University ofNew York.

Kristin Eberhart is the newassistant director of the Augusta-

RichmondCounty PublicLibrary System.She holds abachelor’s degreein history fromGeorgia StateUniversity and aMaster of Libraryand InformationScience degree

from Valdosta State University.Eberhart has more than 20 years inGeorgia libraries and is a graduate ofthe 2015-16 PINNACLE Institutesponsored by GPLS.

Erin Prentiss is the newoutreach services librarian for theAugusta-Richmond County PublicLibrary System. She earned abachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Agnes ScottCollege in Decatur and a master’s

Eberhart

Stanley

degree in library and informationscience from the University of Illinois.

On Sept. 22, CatherineVanstone, assistant director of theSouthwest Georgia Regional LibrarySystem, and Natalie Marshall,director of the Flint River RegionalLibrary, graduated from Florida’sSunshine State Library LeadershipInstitute. Sponsored by the FloridaDepartment of State, Division ofLibrary and Information Services, theinstitute assists in preparing libraryleaders to provide the highest qualityservices to their communities in themost effective and innovativemanners.

across the state. Topics will includeanalytical and creative problemsolving, planning and processimprovement, managing change,financial management, performancemeasures, human resourcemanagement, ethical use of power,conflict resolution, coaching andgroup dynamics, media relations,leadership in a political environmentand delivering effective presentations.

PINNACLE participants musthold a master of library science or amaster of information sciencedegree, be currently employed in apublic library in Georgia and have atleast two years of professional libraryexperience.

“These current and futureleaders of public libraries representthe best and brightest from all acrossthe state,” Cornelisen said, “and our2016-17 class has the depth ofexperience to bring many uniqueperspectives to the currentchallenges that are facing the librarycommunity.” �

StaffStaff

Well-centeredJoe Davich, executive director of the GeorgiaCenter for the Book, joined GPLS staffmembers at the 16th annual Library ofCongress National Book Festival, held Sept. 24in Washington, D.C. Georgia hosts a tableeach year in the festival’s Pavilion of States.


GPLS has awarded 17 scholarshipsto public library staff members whowork with teens, enabling them toattend the national Young AdultServices Symposium Nov. 4-6 inPittsburgh, Pa. Sponsored by theYoung Adult Library ServicesAssociation (YALSA), the theme ofthis year’s conference is “Empower-ing Teens to Increase Your Library’sImpact.”

Its goal is to gather library staff,educators, researchers, young adultauthors and other teen advocates todiscuss how libraries can leverageteen talent and expertise within thelibrary and community; to determinebest practices in designing youthparticipation opportunities for teens;and how libraries can best connectwith community agencies to provideyouth-driven services and programs.

Winners include MeganAarant, library associate at theChattahoochee Valley Libraries’South Columbus branch; AmandaBernard, teen librarian at the FlintRiver Regional Library System’sBarnesville-Lamar County Library;Devera Chandler, teen serviceslibrary assistant at the PiedmontRegional Library System’s Winderbranch; Mellissa Clark, children’sspecialist at the Three RiversRegional Library System’s CamdenCounty Public Library; Vikki Doerr,information specialist — youthservices for the Post Road branch ofthe Forsyth County Public Library;Oscar Gittemeier, youth serviceslibrarian at the East Atlanta branchof the Atlanta-Fulton Public LibrarySystem; and Carley Guillorn,children’s specialist at the AthensRegional Library System’s MadisonCounty Library.

Also receiving scholarships areKasey Haessler, youth servicescoordinator at the Spout Springs

branch of the Hall County LibrarySystem; Lynn Hall, branch managerof the Ohoopee Regional LibrarySystem’s Jeff Davis County Library;Wendy Knight, technical servicesassociate at the Troup-HarrisRegional Library’s central branch inLaGrange; Julie Macomber,children’s/young adult librarian forthe Satilla Regional Library inDouglas; Erin Parks, young adultlibrarian for the Augusta-RichmondCounty Public Library; AshleyPearson, youth services assistant forthe Conyers-Rockdale LibrarySystem; Dedra Roman, youthservices librarian at the Cobb CountyPublic Library System’s South Cobbbranch; Lindsay Sheppard, youthservices coordinator at the SequoyahRegional Library’s R.T. JonesMemorial Library in Canton; LaurenTennyson, library assistant at theDeKalb County Public Library’s(DCPL) central library in Decatur; andCandace Venning Ushery, youth

and teen services librarian at DCPL’sSalem Panola branch.

GPLS will reimburse the winners’library systems up to $1,500 forconference and travel expenses. Thegrants are made possible with fundsfrom the Institute of Museum andLibrary Services under the LibraryServices and Technology Act.

“Following the symposium,attendees will be asked to separateinto groups of four to five and createone-hour webinars, to be held inmid-December, for a statewideaudience of Georgia’s youth servicesstaff members,” said Elaine Black,director of youth services for GPLS.“We look forward to seeing howeveryone puts their knowledge intoaction at their respective libraries.” �

GPLS awards 17 scholarships for library staff to attend symposium

One last ‘Read-In’ at the TedMuch fun was had before the Atlanta Braves’ Sept. 17 game as starting pitcher JohnGant (#52) and infielder Brandon Snyder (#19) joined State Librarian Julie Walker to helpdozens of children and families celebrate this year’s Home Run Readers program with agame-filled “Read-In” on the Turner Field patio. “H-O-M-E-R” bingo prizes includedBraves bobbleheads, caps, posters and a number of autographed items. Inset: Eight-year-old Ethan Bell of Tucker wins a round of bingo.

Staff

Staff

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDATLANTA, GA

PERMIT NO. 213

1800 Century Place, Suite 150Atlanta, GA 30345-4304

A Unit of the University System of Georgia

C O N T A C T U S

Georgia Public Library Service1800 Century Place, Suite 150Atlanta, GA 30345-4304404.235.7200404.235.7201 faxwww.georgialibraries.org

Julie Walker, state librarianDavid Baker, editorDustin Landrum, assistant

Georgia Public Library Service News (ISSN 1546-511X) ispublished bimonthly by the Georgia Public Library Service,the state agency that supports public libraries and workswith them to improve the quality and variety of libraryservices 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 GeorgiaPublic Library Service under the provisions of the LibraryServices and Technology Act.

Information presented in this newsletter will be provided inalternative formats on request. For more information aboutGeorgia’s libraries and literary events, or to post an event,visit our online calendar at www.georgialibraries.org

Congressional confabU.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) met Aug. 10 with GPLS administrators andthree library directors from Georgia’s 11th Congressional District to discussLibrary Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding — administered by theU.S.Institute of Museum and Library Services and the only federal programexclusively for libraries — and the new partnership between public libraries andseven Georgia units of the National Park Service. From left are WendyCornelisen, assistant state librarian for library innovation and collaboration;Carmen Sims, director of the Bartow County Public Library; Anita Summers,director of the Sequoyah Regional Library; Loudermilk; Julie Walker, statelibrarian; and Helen Poyer, director of the Cobb County Public Library System.

Staff