Tuesday, December 30, 2014

GLA Committees and Interest Groups in the Spotlight!

Join us at GLA Midwinter, select a committee or interest group to participate, and you can make a difference in the future of Georgia librarianship!

 Keep reading if you want to learn more ...

Interested in recruiting new GLA members? The Membership Committee's purpose is to suggest and foster plans designed to solicit new memberships and encourage renewal of memberships of all librarians, active and retired; paraprofessionals; library/media graduate students; and library trustees, friends, and advocates. The committee welcomes members from various types of libraries across the state!

Are you interested in citizenship and governance?  Do you think it's important to keep information about our government and the information it provides freely available to the public?  Come join the GLA Government Information Interest Group!  You don't have to be a documents librarian to join, just someone interested in providing and using government information. This GLA interest group is committed to promoting accessibility and use of federal, state, local, and international government information. We're actively seeking new members, and you'll get the chance to meet and work with others in the library field who care about keeping these vitally important information sources available for all. Each autumn GIIG sponsors a program about government information at the annual COMO meeting, so keep in mind this opportunity for presenting your own research and/or experience using government materials.

The Technical Services Interest Group is about cataloging, acquisitions, e-resources, and more! Catch up with the latest trends and current issues in acquisitions, cataloging, classification, electronic resources management, library systems, and serials. Come and see what Technical Services can do for you – and your library! Visit us on the web, Facebook, Pinterest and Slideshare.

Interested in marketing, social media, outreach, or good old fashioned email blasts? The GLA Public Relations Committee helps to guide and distribute GLA communications and promotes support of libraries in Georgia. Join our committee and help with publicizing events, recruiting support for libraries and member organizations, and spreading general good cheer. All volunteers welcome; social media mavens especially needed.  Indicate your choice on your form for the GLA Midwinter Planning meeting - even if you can't come, let us know you'd like to help!

The GLA Scholarship Committee molds the future of library leadership by providing financial assistance to those still in school. We are looking for members throughout the state from a wide variety of backgrounds to help with this project. We have two subcommittees: our annual scholarship raffle and our award selection committee. Over the next year, we hope to unveil a new digital scholarship application form and expand our scholarship raffle to further endow these vital awards. Every year, the GLA scholarships receive more enthusiasm and support from our membership. Come be a part of this fantastic committee!

This will be a revitalizing and exciting year for the Reference Services Interest Group as we expand our charter and goals to become the Reference and Instructional Interest Group. Recognizing the increasing overlap between these two services and the desire of librarians to collaborate with their instructional needs, we will be redefining our charge, scope, and services. The feedback and insights of all Georgia Librarians will be invaluable during this process.

 The Awards Committee recognizes the best in Georgia Libraries and GLA. Great things happen everyday and too many have gone undistinguished for too long. From rooting out hidden gems to highlighting community members who support their library, members of this committee get the pleasure and satisfaction of giving back a little to those who have contributed much.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Carnegie Branch Library in Savannah in the Spotlight!

The Carnegie Branch Library in Savannah, Georgia celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with a Georgia Historical Marker dedication ceremony held on August 13, 2014. Nestled majestically amongst a tree line belt on East Henry Street the Carnegie Branch Library is part of Live Oak Public Libraries.

Carnegie Library has rich roots embedded in the African American community of Savannah. Today it remains a focal point for educational programs and a community meeting space. The historical marker acknowledges the significance African American Savannahians and others placed on education and scholarly research one hundred years ago.

Since 1903 the African American community of Savannah spiritedly debated the need for a public library of their own. In 1906 black community leaders founded the Colored Library Association of Savannah. The twelve original founders were: A.L. Tucker, Julian Smith, J.W. Armstrong, E.E. Desverney, J.T. Burton, Henry Pearson, Dr. F. S. Belcher, H.H. McBeth, G.W. Jacobs, L.S. Reed, R.W. Gadson, and C.A.R. McDowell. In 1913 a petition was sent forth to the Carnegie Corporation for funding and construction began in 1914. The building was dedicated later that year on August 14th.

The building is the only example of Prairie Style architecture within the city. The regal staircase leading to the main entrance on the second floor is framed by two enormous piers with sandstone orbs on small pedestals. Narrow vertical windows, with rectangular transoms are also characteristic of the Prairie Style. The entrance is flanked by two sconces with large glass globes and is ornamented, above the doorway, with an open book with the inscription "Carnegie Library".

Carnegie has a warm familiar feel. While small and quaint, it also offers an full array of services, programs, and technology resources many library users of the 21th century have come to expect. It also houses an extensive African American reference collection and remains a beloved structure within a community. Among famous visitors are James Alan McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning short story writer and essayist and Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

The library is seeing renewed interest from students, tourists, and visitors as well as the wider community of residents. New generations of users often encounter many local senior residents who freely share their stories of growing up in the Carnegie Library. They also remind younger generations how important the library was to their education and encourage younger users to appreciate the importance of libraries.

New and old residents continue to stream through the doors for a tour or to acknowledge that they never knew the history of the Carnegie Library. They are greeted by friendly staff behind the same desk countless others were greeted over hundred years ago. While time has marched on the Carnegie Library remains a stalwart in its role to serve the community as it has done and we suspect will do for another one hundred years.




Monday, December 15, 2014

Metro Atlanta Library Association (MALA) and GLA's New Members' Round Table (NMRT) Holiday Potluck Party


Metro Atlanta Library Association (MALA) and GLA's New Members' Round Table (NMRT) invite everybody to  joint Holiday Potluck Party!

Come meet fellow Atlanta-area library staff and friends over great food!

The party will be followed by a short business meeting to elect MALA officers and discuss and plan the coming year.  Bring a dish or come as you are; all are welcome - no membership required.

 When - Saturday, Dec 20th from 5:00-7:00 PM

Where - Oglethorpe University, Turner Lynch Campus Center Trustee Room (4484 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30319)


Please visit http://bit.ly/16olBKb to RSVP.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Warren P. Sewell Memorial Library in the Spotlight!

The Warren P. Sewell Memorial Library in Bremen, Georgia was founded in 1973. Today, we are a member of the West Georgia Regional Library system and the PINES consortium.

We've come a long way from our humble origins. In the late 1980's, our original 3,500 square foot building expanded to 7,500 feet. Most recently, we had a massive renovation and expansion project that finished up in 2012. This gave us an additional 5,000 feet that allowed us to provide new study room spaces, a teen area, and a sort of "community front porch" that is one of the staff's favorite parts of the library. Additionally, most of our furniture and shelving in the main part of the library is mobile (leading a former director to call us "the library on wheels"). This lets us transform our space as needed for events, programs, and daily library work.

One of the things that we are proudest of at the Bremen Library is the close relationship that we have with our funding agency, the city of Bremen. While we know that libraries across the country have struggled over the years with support, we have been incredibly lucky that we have received consistent support from the city for our services, our expansion efforts, and the many projects and programs that we put out into the city.

We offer a wide variety of programming for the citizens of Bremen. In addition to pre-k storytimes, weekly movie nights, author readings, movie presentations to area special needs groups, and other events, we have a strong teen program that meets weekly. We're very proud of our work with teens because this age group can be difficult to reach and can fall through the library programming cracks between children and adults. So whether it is painting book ends for the YA section, our monthly YA movie, classes on Internet safety, or our teen book club, we put a lot of effort into ensuring that the teens of Bremen have a fun, engaging, and safe place for them to come after school.

Another program that makes us a bit unique in the library world are our weekly fitness classes. We're building strong bodies and minds at the Bremen Library with free weekly yoga and Zumba classes. Additionally, we have a group that gets together to walk on Monday nights. Not a lot of libraries do this, but we have experienced remarkable success in engaging the community and pulling a consistent audience.

In a community our size, we also act as part community and cultural arts center. We try to have a featured artist of the month and a featured collector. According to Lisa Walton-Cagle, branch manager of the Bremen Library: "Our goal was to be a community and to have that feeling. We wanted everyone in the community to feel like they belong." We have a strong and welcoming staff that we are fiercely proud of, and we think that we're one of the best public libraries around. So next time you're in the area, stop by the Warren P. Sewell Memorial Library in Bremen!


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Save the Date! Mingle with the Admins - Saturday, Dec. 6


Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Location: Manuel's Tavern, 602 North Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Register for this event

 The GLA Atlanta Emerging Librarians planning committee proudly presents the 2014 installation of Mingle with the Admins, a luncheon for new librarians, MLIS students and recent grads to meet and greet with administrators from local Atlanta libraries.  We have invited a mix of public, academic, and special library administrators that will share information about their libraries and any open positions they may have available.

Soft drinks and appetizers will be provided.  Attendees can order a dutch treat lunch from the restaurant menu.

This is a great opportunity to meet administrators and hiring managers from libraries where you are interested in building your career.  RSVP to sign up to attend – space is limited!  We hope to see you there!

Please e-mail Jennifer Young at jyoung29@kennesaw.edu with any questions
 


Your 2014 AEL Planning Committee
Jennifer Young
Mandi Goodsett
Courtney Baron
Ruth Rowell

Monday, November 17, 2014

GLA 2015 MidWinter Planning Meeting Registration is Now Open


Dear GLA Member,

It is time to register for the Georgia Library Association 2015 MidWinter Planning Meeting.
This year’s meeting will he held on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 9:00 am-2:15 pm at the Downs Continuing Education Center at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia.

The MidWinter Planning Meeting is an important event for all GLA members to meet and help plan activities for the year, especially those interested in contributing to COMO 2015, October 7-9, 2015 in Athens, GA.
Julie Walker will join us for lunch to deliver this year’s keynote address. Before becoming Georgia’s state librarian this past July, Walker served as deputy state librarian for six years and was previously assistant state librarian for technology, support services and strategic initiatives. She was associate director of the Athens Regional Library System from 1990 to 2003 and, before that, worked in various positions at libraries in North Carolina.
Registration fee for MidWinter Planning Meeting is $35 per person, which will include a continental breakfast and a hot lunch buffet. Registration forms must be received by Friday, January 2, 2015 to confirm your lunch reservation.


Mid-Winter Planning Meeting Agenda:
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.       Registration, Networking and Breakfast
9:10 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.       Paraprofessional Division and New Members Round Table meetings
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.     Welcome and Reports
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.   Annual Conference Planning Discussion
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.   Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.   Division meetings
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.   Lunch, speaker Julie Walker, State Librarian
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.     Committee meetings
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.       Interest Group meetings
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.       Executive Board meeting*

*(All Committee Chairs, Division and Interest Group leaders are encouraged to attend to give updates from the mornings business meetings)


Please submit your Committee Preference form by December 31, 2014 and let us know how you would like to join in GLA activities.   It is going to be an exciting year for Georgia libraries!

Have a safe and happy holiday season.
See you in January 2015!


Lace Keaton
2015 GLA President
lace@newtonlibrary.org

Monday, November 10, 2014

GLA Listserv Has a New Home

After a month hiatus, the GLA listserv has a new home at GPLS.

All current subscribers will be automatically subscribed to a new list and will receive a welcome email from gla-l-request@list.georgialibraries.org with the subject line: Welcome to the “GLA-L” mailing list.

To post to the listserv, send your email to: gla-l@list.georgialibraries.org

General information about the list is available at: http://list.georgialibraries.org/mailman/listinfo/gla-l

Friday, October 31, 2014

Carterette Series Webinar: Jumping into the Digital Humanities - 12/03/2014

Jumping into the Digital Humanities
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
11am Pacific | 12pm Mountain | 1pm Central | 2pm Eastern
Register:  http://goo.gl/6M7Qk3

Sarah V. Melton, Digital Projects Coordinator at the Emory Center for Digital Humanities, will introduce digital humanities (DH) newbies to some of the concepts, tools, and conversations in DH. How are researchers using digital tools in their classrooms and scholarship? What are the possibilities for student research in the digital humanities? How can libraries and librarians support this work?
 
About Sarah: In addition to being heavily involved in open access advocacy, Sarah V. Melton is creating a set of tools to make open access publishing easier and worked with over 20 librarians from historically black colleges and universities to host a summer institute for digital scholarship. While rapidly becoming a digital humanities guru, Sarah is also completing her PhD in American Studies. Her research focuses on the public memory of human rights struggles.

Can't make it to the live show? That's okay. The session will be recorded and available on the Carterette Series Webinars site for later viewing.

-------------------------------------------------------
To register for the online event
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to registration page:  http://goo.gl/6M7Qk3
2. Complete and submit the form.
3. A URL for the event will be emailed to you prior to the event.
~~~
Contact a member of the Carterette Series planning team with questions or suggestions.
Casey Long: clong@agnesscott.edu
Kimberly Boyd: kboyd2@brenau.edu
Sarah Steiner: sksteiner@email.wcu.edu

Friday, October 24, 2014

CURVE: Collaborative University Research & Visualization Environment in the Spotlight!


On September 10th, 2014, Georgia State University Library celebrated the grand opening of a new data visualization and digital research space, CURVE: Collaborative University Research & Visualization Environment. CURVE is a technology-rich discovery space supporting the research and digital scholarship of Georgia State University students, faculty, and staff. Located at the heart of the Georgia State campus within the University Library, CURVE's mission is to enhance research and visualizations by providing technology and services that promote interdisciplinary engagement, collaborative investigation, and innovative inquiry.
CURVE's centerpiece technology, the interactWall, is a touch enabled, 24-foot-wide video wall designed for collaborative visual and data-rich research projects. Seven additional collaborative workstations, including an advanced 4K workstation, feature high-powered PCs and Mac Pros that allow users to work with and manipulate large images and datasets. Each workstation is equipped with a large display that can accommodate up to six people, allowing multiple groups to work together on a research problem.
As a digital research space, CURVE provides Georgia State University users with access to a large variety of software applications such as ArcGIS, Tableau, NVivo, and the full Adobe suite. Each PC and Mac Pro is equipped with multiple processers and large amounts of RAM, which helps our students, faculty, and staff to easily work with large amounts of data and process complex models.
Although equipped with state of the art technology and high-end computers, CURVE's technology, including the large interactWall, are intuitive, easy-to-use, and accessible. Users who need help with CURVE's amazing technology will find a team of knowledgeable staff that includes librarians, library staff, honors undergraduate students and graduate students. In addition to helpful staff, CURVE offers many workshops on data resources. Finally, as we know that our students have busy schedules, the space is open evenings and on Sundays.
CURVE is an exciting new endeavor that facilitates knowledge creation and transfer by connecting people, technology, data, and the latest display technologies in a shared collaborative space. To learn more, visit CURVE website at http://sites.gsu.edu/curve/


Friday, October 17, 2014

GLMA and GLA 2015 Exemplary Library Awards

In 2015, the Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA) and Georgia Library Association (GLA) will recognize and honor three exemplary and three exceptional Georgia Library Media Programs.
In order to identify and highlight these programs, GLMA and GLA are soliciting applications from member schools.

Library Media Programs representing an elementary, a middle, and a high school will be selected for this recognition. A select group of GLMA and GLA members will select the recipients based on the school’s written application, letters of support, a possible telephone interview and/or an on-site visit.

This program is an opportunity to describe how the Library Media Program is meeting school improvement goals and increasing student achievement.

Please note that the school library media specialist applying for the award must hold membership in either GLMA or GLA at the time of application submission.

 If you are interested in applying, please download and complete the following documents:

2015 Exemplary Library Application and Directions
2015 GaDOE Exemplary Media Program Scoring Document
2015 Rubric
 
The application is due June 1, 2015.




Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Atlanta Emerging Librarians Event: You Got the Job – Now What? (10/25/2014)

The GLA Atlanta Emerging Librarians presents You Got the Job – Now What?  Rising to the Challenge in Your New Library Position. 

When you're starting a new job, learning the technical and practical skills of the position is one part of what will make you a success.  The soft skills – like conflict management, good communication, and cooperation – are just as important.  Come hear three professional librarians and managers speak about the soft skills and personal attributes that will make the difference in your library career. 

Date: Saturday, October 25
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Location: Scott Candler Library, 1917 Candler Rd, Decatur, GA 30032
Register:  bit.ly/1u0wbLq

Speakers:
Cliff Landis, Web Services Librarian, Georgia State University Library
Ashley Dupuy, Assistant Director for Instructional Services, Kennesaw State University Sturgis Library
Kate Nevins, Executive Director, LYRASIS

We hope you'll join us!


Your 2014 AEL Planning Committee
Jennifer Young
Mandi Goodsett
Courtney Baron
Ruth Rowell

Monday, October 13, 2014

Personal Digital Archiving: A Train the Trainer Free Webinar - October 22,2014

Personal Digital Archiving: A Train the Trainer Webinar
Wednesday, October 22nd
11am Pacific | 12pm Mountain | 1pm Central | 2pm Eastern
60 minutes

Register:
https://georgialibraries.webex.com/georgialibraries/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=647320186

The Society of Georgia Archivists, the Atlanta chapter of ARMA International, and the Georgia Library Association present a train-the-trainer session on Personal Digital Archiving. Designed for information professionals from all backgrounds and levels of experience, this session will empower participants to see themselves as archivists of their own digital records and will cover topics
ranging from best practices for creating digital records and rights issues in the digital landscape to strategies for storing digital records and emerging developments regarding the digital afterlife. After completing the workshop, attendees will be encouraged to teach the workshop to their users--the public, co-workers, students, etc.--in their own diverse institutional contexts. The end goal of the workshop will thus be to advocate for informational professionals as a source of expertise for assisting individuals (the public, family members, students, corporate employees, etc.) with their personal digital archiving needs.
   
Presenters:
Oscar Gittemeier currently works as a Youth Services Librarian with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System (AFPLS) at the East Atlanta Branch. He has a background in Sociology and Women’s Studies and completed his MLIS with Florida State University in August 2012. Oscar has served on several GLA committees, including AEL, NMRT, and PACE, but making the Libraries Are Such a Drag fundraising calendar for the Scholarship Committee was the most fun! In his free time Oscar enjoys sipping Bulleit Bourbon with a good book on his back deck and connecting with radical librarians who are reimagining the profession.

Wendy Hagenmaier is the Digital Collections Archivist at the Georgia Tech Archives. She received her M.S.I.S. with a focus on digital archives and preservation from the University of Texas at Austin School of Information. Her areas of scholarly and professional interest include personal digital archiving as an outreach and advocacy tool for increasing awareness about the importance
of digital archiving in society, the technological and intellectual property challenges of preserving and providing access to born-digital data and proprietary formats, and the puzzles of data stewardship and control in an increasingly terms-of-service-bound world.

Michelle Kirk (CRM, IGP, CIP) is currently a Program Manager and eRecords and Information Governance subject matter expert for Iron Mountain Incorporated. Michelle has spent her fifteen-plus year career in the Document Management, RIM and Information Governance spaces, both in consulting and in-house roles. The breadth of her experience is in Public Sector, Energy and Financial verticals,with a particular focus on electronic records. Throughout her career, she has
been able to leverage her interest in electronic information organization, preservation, and governance to help organizations manage their data more defensibly. Michelle has a Bachelor's degree from Temple University and holds multiple industry credentials including the Certified Records Manager, Certified Information Governance Professional, and Certified Information
Professional certifications. In her spare time, Michelle volunteers on her local Atlanta ARMA board and on the ARMA International conference programming task force. She also enjoys cooking, reading and is an avid sports fan.

Can't make it to the live show? That's okay. The session will be recorded and available on the Carterette Series Webinars site for later viewing.

-------------------------------------------------------
To register for the online event
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to registration page:
https://georgialibraries.webex.com/georgialibraries/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=647320186
2. Complete and submit the form.
4. A URL for the event will be emailed to you immediately after registration.
~~~
Contact a member of the Carterette Series planning team with questions or suggestions.

Casey Long: clong@agnesscott.edu
Kimberly Boyd: kboyd2@brenau.edu
Sarah Steiner: sksteiner@email.wcu.edu

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Professional Development Events in October

This list is provided by Jay Turner, Director of Continuing Education, Georgia Public Library Service.

The GPLS CE calendar has been updated with free, online continuing education events for October.

Some highlights include:

Tuesday, Oct. 14 (1–2 PM)

Digital Citizenship: New Roles and Responsibilities in the Digital Age (WebJunction)

Today’s digital world is redefining “citizenship.” All of us—from digital natives to later adopters—need to learn how to be good citizens, to be safe, responsible and respectful participants in this new world. Digital citizenship requires a whole-community approach among parents, kids, librarians, educators, and the broader community. In this webinar, explore the vital connection between Digital Citizenship and Public Libraries. Learn about free digital citizenship resources provided by Common Sense Education covering a range of topics including Internet Safety, Cyberbullying, Digital Footprints, Copyright, and more. Digital Citizenship Week is coming October 19-25…how will your library be participating?

For more information and to register for this program, visit:

Tuesday, Oct. 14 (2–3 PM)

Fighting Ebola and Infectious Diseases with Information (Lib2Gov)

Recent outbreaks across the globe and in the U.S. have made us all aware of potential public health impacts of infectious disease. Librarians find themselves assisting their users in finding credible information sources on topics such as Ebola, Chikungunya and pandemic influenza. Tune into this presentation by librarians at the U.S. National Library of Medicine on how to find and share reliable information.

For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://lib2gov.org/calendar

Tuesday, Oct. 21 (2–3 PM)

Crowdfunding in the Arts: How to Add This Essential Tool To Your Fundraising Mix (GrantSpace)

The objective of this webinar is to demystify the world of crowdfunding, specifically for people and organizations in the arts world. Crowdfunding is quickly become a new tool in the fundraising toolbox to tap into your network to raise money, faster, from a larger audience. For artists, it can be a great alternative, or complement, to grants and other types of funding. This webinar is designed to give participants an overview of crowdfunding, help you determine if a crowdfunding approach could be right for you, as well as step-by-step direction for how you can take advantage of what a crowdfunding platform has to offer.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 (2–3:30 PM)

Serving the Underserved: Children with Disabilities at Your Library (WebJunction)

Whether large or small, rural or urban, all library communities serve patrons with special needs. Developing an awareness of and sensitivity to children with disabilities is crucial for providing top-notch library services. This webinar shares inspiring programming and innovative ideas for new services to target this special population. Learn about what online resources are available for staff to serve children with special needs more fully, and explore strategies to reevaluate and make new accommodations in existing youth programs for an inclusive audience.

For more information and to register for this program, visit:

Wednesday, Oct. 22 (2–3 PM)

Digital Archiving: A Train the Trainer Webinar (Georgia Library Association)

The Society of Georgia Archivists, the Atlanta chapter of ARMA International, and the Georgia Library Association present a train-the-trainer session on Personal Digital Archiving. Designed for information professionals from all backgrounds and levels of experience, this session will empower participants to see themselves as archivists of their own digital records and will cover topics ranging from best practices for creating digital records and rights issues in the digital landscape to strategies for storing digital records and emerging developments regarding the digital afterlife. After completing the workshop, attendees will be encouraged to teach the workshop to their users--the public, co-workers, students, etc.--in their own diverse institutional contexts. The end goal of the workshop will thus be to advocate for informational professionals as a source of expertise for assisting individuals (the public, family members, students, corporate employees, etc.) with their personal digital archiving needs.

For more information and to register for this program, visit:

Tuesday, Oct. 28 (3–4 PM)

Library UX: Creating Usable and Useful Websites (Library Journal)

During this insightful discussion between Aaron Schmidt, Principal, Influx Library User Experience and LJ columnist (The User Experience) and Scott Young, Digital Initiatives Librarian, Montana State University, we will cover usability, web conventions, writing for the web, content strategy, and user research. You’ll take home tips and ideas that you can immediately use to improve your website.

For more information and to register for this program, visit:

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

GLA Listserv is Still Down



Attention GLA members: As of 10/28/2014 the GLA Listserv is still down. We will post an update as soon as it is running again. 
For assistance with communications in the interim, please contact Ariel Turner, PR Chair, at aturne93@kennesaw.edu

Friday, September 26, 2014

GLA Election Results

Congratulations to the newly elected officers of the Georgia Library Association for 2015!
  • First Vice President / President Elect: Cathy Jeffrey, Clayton State University 
  • Second Vice President: Karen Manning, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Secretary: Ariel Turner, Kennesaw State University
  • SELA Representative: Rita Spisak, Kennesaw State University
  • ALA Councilor: Amy Eklund, Georgia Perimeter College
*President: Lace Keaton (Currently serving as First Vice President/President Elect),  Newton County Public Library
*Treasurer: Ashley Dupuy (3rd yr of her 3- year term), Kennesaw State University

Georgia Perimeter College Libraries in the Spotlight!

Barbara Disney recalled that in 1964, as assistant to Librarian Beulah Cleveland, she diligently typed cards for "a few thousand" books in the brand new DeKalb College Library. The library was one of five original buildings on the Clarkston campus, "air-conditioned [and] fully-equipped" to serve 1500 students (Bulletin of DeKalb College, 1964). For fifty years the school now known as Georgia Perimeter College and its libraries have been transforming lives by providing low-cost access to high-quality higher education. The 1997 name change reflected GPC's "expanding mission and its service throughout the metro Atlanta area." Now one of the largest institutions in the University System, GPC has five campus locations, enrolls over 21,000 students, and is the largest associate degree-granting college in Georgia. From humble origins, GPC now enrolls more undergraduate students each fall semester, accepts more transfer students, and sends more students on to other institutions than any other USG school. Successful GPC students and graduates make up more than one-third of all USG transfer students (GPC Fact Book, 2013).

As the college has grown, so have GPC Libraries. From one library we are now five physical libraries and an active online library program. From a staff of two we have increased to thirty-six full-time staff members, nineteen of whom are fully credentialed librarians. From a few thousand books and a card catalog, we now have a collection of over 300,000 physical items plus electronic access to thousands of ebooks and ejournals. We are a net lender of resources to other schools through GIL-Express. In the last year alone, we taught 564 instruction sessions reaching nearly 9000 students, as well as logging over 26,000 interactions at our help desks and via chat. Beyond the numbers, GPC library faculty are involved in the academic life of the college by teaching courses, helping to write open-source textbooks, serving on committees, and regularly presenting for and with other faculty.
GPC Libraries also play an integral role in the college's activities and initiatives. GPC Reads, the college-wide book club, is one example. The libraries support the college community by loaning copies of the current selection, Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton, providing instruction classes on related topics, and welcoming the authors to signings and receptions.

GPC Libraries will play an active role in college-wide fiftieth anniversary celebrations and programs. In support of the Sixties Symposium planned for February 2015, librarians are collaborating with faculty members to create LibGuides and displays on both broad historical themes for that turbulent decade, and specific topics such as music, art, and films. GPC Libraries and GPC Archives are also curating Throwback Thursday Facebook posts and other social media messages to share fun and poignant moments from our history using hashtags #GPC50 and #GPC1960s.

What a difference fifty years make. As we look back and celebrate our past, we also look forward to future challenges, always with the goal of providing support for success to our students. To learn more about our services and programs, visit GPC Libraries website at http://depts.gpc.edu/library/

Pictured are Barbara Disney, first library clerk at DeKalb College and retired Director of Human Resources at GPC, and Angiah Davis, one of GPC's newest librarians. Photo by Collins Foster, used by permission.

Written by Pat Ziebart, Scott Pieper, and Karen Viars.


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

GLA Officer Candidates for 2015 - Look for an online ballot in your mailbox

First Vice President / President Elect

Cathy Jeffrey,  Associate Dean of Libraries, Clayton State University

Cathy Jeffrey serves as the Associate Dean of Libraries and Head of Collection and Resource Management at the Clayton State University Library.  She received an A.A. from Reinhardt College, a B.A. in English from the University of Georgia, and an M.S.L.S. from Florida State University.  After graduation from Florida State, Cathy joined the faculty of Georgia State University’s Pullen Library as a cataloger and was promoted to Head of the Monograph Unit.  She took time off to raise her family returning to Georgia State several years later as a temporary, part time cataloger.   She accepted a permanent part time cataloging position at Clayton State University in 1987, which has evolved into her current position.
A GLA member since 1989, Cathy most recently served as Treasurer of GLA 2009-2012.  She has also served as Chair of the Academic Library Division, Chair of the Awards Committee, Chair of the Handbook Committee, and Chair of the Technical Services Interest Group.  In addition to GLA, Cathy has been involved in the University System of Georgia Consortium.  She currently serves as Chair of the Next Generation Catalog Collaborative Technical Services Team.  She is a past chair of the GIL Cataloging Functional Group. 
Cathy is excited at the prospect of serving as First Vice President/President Elect of GLA.  She brings with her knowledge of the history of the Association and a commitment to its future.  Cathy is particularly interested in finding ways for new members to become more involved in GLA. 

Fred Smith, Head of Access Services, Georgia Southern University

Fred Smith has served in Georgia libraries since March 1977.  His career began at Columbus State University where he worked first as a Reference Librarian with interlibrary loan responsibilities and was later appointed as the Periodicals and Circulation Librarian.  He moved to Statesboro in 1986 to become a Reference/Interlibrary Loan Librarian at Georgia Southern University and in 1992 he was promoted to his current position as Head of Access Services.  In addition to managing Access Services, he is responsible for overseeing Interlibrary Loan.  Currently, he supervises seven people directly and 11 more indirectly, not counting student assistants. 
Fred has over 30 professional publications, is a long-term columnist for the Journal of Access Service, a regular presenter at COMO, and the winner of the 2005 GLA Academic Division Outstanding Paper Award.  He has delivered two invited presentations.
Promoted two years ago from Associate Professor to Professor, Fred demonstrates extensive service and leadership skills.  In addition to serving as a Faculty Senator several times, Fred has chaired the Faculty Development Committee, the Faculty Welfare Committee, and an ad hoc committee appointed by the President to update the University Statutes.  Through the Faculty Development Committee he allocated over $100,000 in travel and development money and chose the recipient of the annual Award of Excellence in Teaching for the University.  On the Faculty Welfare Committee he worked closely with the Provost to design a five-year review of deans.   
An active member of GLA, Fred has held numerous leadership roles and only missed one COMO/Georgia Library Association Conference since attending his first one in 1978.  These include: Interlibrary Cooperation Roundtable, Circulation and Access Interest Group, GLA Secretary, and the Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Academic Division.  He has also held several offices in the Southeastern Library Association, was a member of the GUGM Planning Committee for six years - the longest of any member, and chaired the GUGM Planning Committee in 2008.
Grateful for the opportunities GLA has provided to him, Fred Smith welcomes the opportunity to serve as Vice President, President Elect.

Second Vice President / Membership Chair

Tammy Henry, Director, Doraville Library

Tammy Henry serves as the Library Director at the Doraville Library in Doraville, Georgia. The Doraville Library is an affiliate branch of the DeKalb County Public Library System. She started working with the City of Doraville in 2011. Previously, she worked for 15 years in Columbus, Georgia at the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries. Tammy served in many roles in the Chattahoochee Valley Library System, including Children’s Librarian, Reference Librarian, Technical Services Librarian, and Interim Branch Manager. She has also worked in academic libraries and special libraries. She is currently serving as GLA Chairperson of the Public Library Division.
Tammy received her M.L.I.S degree from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.  She is married to Dr. K.T. Henry, II and has two adult children, Robert and Amber.

Karen Manning, Metadata Specialist, Scholarly Communication and Digital Curation, Georgia Institute of Technology Library

Karen Manning is a Metadata Specialist in Scholarly Communication and Digital Curation at Georgia Tech where she assists with the development, implementation, managing and maintenance of digital collections. Karen has over 30 years of progressive experience working in libraries in a variety of public service, technical and administration roles. Actively involved in GLA, Karen has served on the Awards, GLA Store, and Scholarship committees. Currently, Karen is the Chair of the Paraprofessional Division where she has served in this capacity several times. Her goals have been to help the advancement of support staff and paraprofessionals, by promoting continuing education opportunities, getting them involved in professional organizations and introducing them to resources that will help them develop skills and gain library related knowledge. Karen spends her extra time volunteering in community public school libraries/media centers and holding book donation drives to help create and stock bookshelves for shelters and community organizations.
Karen looks forward to advocating for and encouraging participation and involvement in the profession, furthering the mission of libraries and librarianship.

Secretary

Kathy Pillatski, Assistant Director and Head of Collection Development and Reference Services, Henry County Public Library System

Kathy Pillatzki is Assistant Director and Head of Collection Development and Reference Services for Henry County Public Library System. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Johnson University and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from Clark Atlanta University. She began her career with HCLS in 1995 and spent 10 years working with children and young adults before accepting an administrative position in 2005.
During her tenure as a Children’s Librarian she served as an elected member of the Georgia Children’s Services Quadrant Council and was a frequent presenter at the Children’s Services Annual Conference and the Teen Services Conference. She served as liaison to other community agencies and non-profits, developing three ongoing outreach programs to take library services to underserved populations. She also served on the Georgia Book Award committee and the Georgia Peach Award committee and as a judge for the Georgia Student Media Festival.
Within GLA, she has served on the Scholarship Committee, and as chair of the Intellectual Freedom Interest Group and the Collection Development Interest Group. She has also been a frequent presenter at COMO. She writes a weekly newspaper column about all things library-related, and has contributed book reviews to Georgia Library Quarterly.
Kathy is also cross-trained as a cataloger, and in 2012 was part of the team that cataloged the contents of the library in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.
In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and managing an active family which includes her husband Dan and four nearly-grown daughters, two of their own and two long-term exchange students from Germany and South Korea.
She appreciates the many professional development opportunities that GLA membership has provided throughout her career, and looks forward to serving GLA with an emphasis on fostering public awareness of the vital roles libraries of all kinds play in our communities.

Ariel Turner, Automation and Batch Cataloging Librarian, Kennesaw State University

A Georgia native, Ariel received her BA in Art History and International Affairs from Oglethorpe University in 2006, and her MLIS from Valdosta State University in 2012. 
Previously a paraprofessional for the Cobb County Public Library System, Ariel is now a librarian at Kennesaw State University. Ariel’s primary job duties reside in the Technical Services department as the Automation and Batch Cataloger, but she ventures out into the public services sphere as well. Ariel serves as a liaison to the Art & Design, International Affairs and Foreign Languages departments at KSU, performing collection development in those areas and working reference and instruction as needed.
Ariel has been active in GLA for the past four years. Recently, Ariel co-chaired the 2013 Atlanta Emerging Librarians Planning Committee, and is the 2014 GLA Public Relations Committee chair. She looks forward to furthering her involvement with GLA in the future. Ariel enjoys attending meetings, accurately documenting information and making detailed lists, as well as horseback riding, eating sushi, and spending time with her two rescue dogs.

ALA Councilor

Amy Eklund, Director of Library Technical Services, Georgia Perimeter College

Amy Eklund holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Library Science degree from University of North Texas.  She currently serves as Director of Library Technical Services at Georgia Perimeter College.  At GPC, she enjoys her involvement with virtual reference and social networking for the GPC libraries in addition to other college and library committees.

Amy has been an active member of GLA since returning to her native Georgia in 2006.  As the Academic Library Division’s ACRL Chapters Council Representative from 2011-2012, Amy attended ALA Midwinter and Annual conferences on behalf of the division and reported on ACRL happenings. She currently serves as the Nominating Chair for the Academic Library Division. From 2008-2010, she served as Secretary of the Technical Services Interest Group, and for the past 5 years she has coordinated the runners for the Georgia Student Media Festival. She is a regular presenter at Georgia COMO, and consistently volunteers to assist with the scholarship raffle and registration.

Amy would be honored to represent GLA as the ALA Councilor.

Dr. Linda Marie Golian-Lui, Associate Dean/Director of Library Services, Kennesaw State University

Linda Marie Golian-Lui is the Associate Dean and Department Chair for Library Services for the Kennesaw State University Library System.  She is also the Director of the Sturgis Library and holds the rank of Professor of Library Science. 
Linda has approximately 33 years of working full time in academic libraries.  She began her career as a paraprofessional at the University of Miami, Otto G. Richter Library in the Serials Department where she did both public and technical services duties.  Linda received her Ed.S. and her Ed.D. from Florida Atlantic University where she focused upon learning and thinking styles among academic librarians.  She is currently a graduate student at Kennesaw State University in their Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics. 
Linda was the ALA State Council Representative for Hawaii for 8 years from 2002-2009 where she enjoyed working on ALA Council issues and was responsible for fostering a better understanding of native Hawaiian and distant membership issues.

SELA Executive Board

Sean Boyle, Resource Management Librarian, University of North Georgia - Oconee

Since arriving at University of North Georgia (UNG) in 2006, when it was Gainesville State College, Sean has worked in a number of different capacities over the years but his current responsibilities include Voyager System Administration, GLRI and local catalog maintenance, library liaison to Computer Science, Math, and Physics, and a variety of circulation, reference, and teaching duties.  Sean has taught both of UNG’s credit courses – Research Strategies 1501 and 1502 – and is continually presenting library workshops to students, faculty, and staff around campus.  Throughout his career Sean has served on a number of committees on campus including Faculty Senate, Promotion and Tenure Committee (Chair), and most recently the Distance Education Advisory Council, which has allowed him to become a Quality Matters reviewer for the University’s online courses.  Sean’s interests include distance education, instructional design and delivery, teaching information literacy, and educational video production.
Sean serves as the Treasurer for the Friends of the Athens-Clarke County Library.
Sean received his MLIS from Rutgers University in 2005 and his MEd in Instructional Design and Delivery from University of Georgia in 2010. 

Rita Spisak, Acting Assistant Director of Access Services and Outreach Librarian, Kennesaw State University

Rita Spisak has worked as a library assistant and a librarian at the Horace W. Sturgis Library at Kennesaw State University for twenty-nine years. She has worked in the Serials & Circulation departments. Presently, she is the Acting Assistant Director of Access Services and Outreach Librarian. Her duties include reference, and instruction. Rita chairs the KSU Sturgis Friends of the Library. She was a recipient of a GLA Paraprofessional Grant in 2006. She has been a member of the GLA Scholarship, Awards, and Public Relations committees and the Circulation and Access Services Interest Group. The past two years she has been the Secretary for the GLA Reference Services Interest Group.  Currently, she is a board member of Friends of Georgia Libraries (FOGL) and administers their Facebook page.
She has been a member of SELA since 2011.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Maneuver Center of Excellence HQ Donovan Research Library in the Spotlight!


By  Ericka Loze-Hudson

The MCoE HQ Donovan Research Library is much like any other library.  It is a place where students, instructors and doctrine writers feel at home, look for information, use a computer, attend programs, hold meetings and get together with other students to study. The Library supports the academic mission at Fort Benning. Soldiers attending the various schools use the library’s collection of historical documents, student papers and the extensive collection of military related books to enhance their training and education.

The library was first established in Monterey, California in 1907 as part of the School of Musketry at the Presidio.  General Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur donated the first 20 books.  The Musketry Library moved from Monterey to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and became the Infantry School of Arms Library.  In October of 1918 the Infantry Library settled at Camp Benning, Georgia, later renamed Fort Benning, with a collection of over 1,700 books. Assistant Commandant LTC George C. Marshall understood the importance of teaching military history and the role academic research played in training future Army Officers. His support helped get the Infantry School Library expanded and in 1935 the Library moved to Building 35 as part of the Infantry Hall and Post Headquarters.  In 1964 the Infantry School Library moved to Building 4 along with the Post Headquarters.  In 1980 the library’s name changed to the Donovan Technical Library in honor of William “Wild Bill” Donovan; a Medal of Honor recipient also known as the “Father of the CIA.”

The latest milestone was achieved when the Armor School moved from Fort Knox, Kentucky to Fort Benning, Georgia and the Armor School Library merged with the Donovan Library.  The combined collections of the Infantry and Armor School Libraries include one of the Army's best collections of military history along with thousands of historical documents, after action reports and student papers.  Many of the student papers describe firsthand accounts of Soldiers experiences in battle and will provide primary source research for students of military history. Currently the staff is in the process of digitizing, cataloging and posting the collections to the library's Virtual Branch at http://www.benning.army.mil/library. In addition to student papers digital collection, the Virtual Branch also provides information about the history of Fort Benning and Fort Knox and digital copies of the Post newspapers.

Professional librarians staff the reference desk on site. Librarians use Facebook and email to connect with researchers from all over the world.  You can request information by contacting the library at 706 545-6411/5661 or email questions to the address provided at http://www.benning.army.mil/library.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Free Webinar: MakerCamp with Michael Casey and Christopher Baker - September 10, 2014

Live Webcast
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
11am Pacific | 12pm Mountain | 1pm Central | 2pm Eastern
60 minutes


Register at http://bit.ly/Y8OpC2
Description:
In the summer of 2014, Gwinnett County Public Library partnered with Buffy Hamilton of Norcross High School to host their inaugural MakerCamp: a 4-day program that allowed high school-age students the opportunity to explore 3D design and 3D printing through innovative and accessible tools and resources. Join Michael Casey and Christopher Baker as they discuss MakerCamp’s development and delivery, and explore the learning opportunities the program offered both students and staff.

Presenters: Michael Casey and Christopher Baker
Michael Casey
Michael Casey is currently the Information Technology Director for the Gwinnett County Public Library in metropolitan Atlanta. Named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal in March 2007, he co-authored (with Michael Stephens) "The Transparent Library" (2014, Amazon KDP) and he co-authored (with Laura Savastinuk) "Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service" (2007, Information Today Press) and is a contributor to "Library 2.0 and Beyond" (2007, Libraries Unlimited). He and Michael Stephens co-authored a monthly column in Library Journal titled "The Transparent Library". He has written and spoken extensively on the subject of modern library services. Michael holds an MLS from Southern Connecticut State, an MA in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University, and a BA from Duquesne University.

Christopher Baker
Christopher Baker is the Training Manager in charge of Staff Development for Gwinnett County Public Library in Metro Atlanta. Christopher holds a B.A. in English and an MLIS from Valdosta State University in Southern Georgia. Christopher has been featured in Library Journal's NextGen column and in the recently published "Rethinking Collection Development and Management" (2014, ABC-CLIO). Christopher has presented at Computers in Libraries, PLA's Virtual Spring Symposium, the Georgia COMO Conference, and Digipalooza (OverDrive's user conference). He has a passionate interest in exploring and developing new models of service for libraries.

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To register for the online event
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1. Go to registration page: http://bit.ly/Y8OpC2
2. Complete and submit the form.
3. A URL for the event will be emailed to you immediately after registration.

Contact a member of the Carterette Series planning team with questions or suggestions.
Sarah Steiner: sksteiner@email.wcu.edu
Casey Long: clong@agnesscott.edu
Kimberly Boyd: kboyd2@brenau.edu