February Recap for GLA 2013

Hope you had a nice February. I love February because the first spring flowers start blooming in Georgia, but mostly because it’s my birthday month. I turned 40 for the umpteenth time and, yes, I do celebrate all month.

Besides that important event, we had a great time at the Capitol on Valentine’s Day, February 14. More than 38 people showed up and most walked their legs off delivering prints to the Senate and House of Representatives members. The legislators and their staffs were very receptive to the librarians and very appreciative of the prints, stickers, and bookmarks. I received a very nice “Thank You” card from Governor Deal for the prints, stickers, and bookmarks. He also thanked us for bringing the voice of the libraries to the Capitol. We were finished in about two hours. Thanks to all for the hard work and the time and cost for traveling to the Capitol.

The preliminary planning for COMO 2013 is still in the works. The COMO 2013 planning committee will meet again in Macon on March 23 so I hope to have news to you in the next month about plans and opportunities to volunteer.  If you have any requests or suggestions that you want me to take to the meeting, please feel free to send them to me.

We still have several events coming up.

• GLA Photo Contest is underway. The deadline is June. The judges will pick the winners and those winning photos will be included in the GLA 2014 Calendar. Please send in your photos of libraries and programs.
• GLA Summer Picnic – Saturday, July 20 at state park in convenient location for all. One suggestion is Callaway Gardens in central western Georgia. There’s a lake with swimming and beach available, other activities, and a hotel for those who want to stay for the weekend.
• COMO 2013 – October 9-11, 2013 in Macon, GA. Still in the preliminary planning stage. Will send more information as it becomes available.
• Strategic Planning - still getting started with this program. Look for surveys during April and May to get the project underway.

Please keep in touch and let me know if you have ideas, suggestions, and comments to improve GLA and better meet the needs of Georgia libraries. I’m interested in e-mail that was just sent out by Katherine Meadows about the Michael’s stores supporting a literacy program with the Boys and Girls Club. What can we do to promote libraries and literacy statewide?

Best wishes for a wonderful spring and I hope to see you soon.

Thanks,

Diana

Diana J. Very, MPA/MLIS

President, Georgia Library Association

404-235-7156

dvery@georgialibraries.org