The Office of Public Libraries, Planning, Resource Development, and Technology supports Georgia's 367 public libraries, strategic planning, resource development, and technology applications for all units of DTAE.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The A Plus Education Reform Act of 2000, a bill for comprehensive reform of the educational delivery services in Georgia, was signed by Gov. Barnes on April 25, 2000. A provision of this bill, effective July 1, 2000, provided for the transfer of the Office of Public Libraries from DTAE to the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. Georgia Public Libraries and the Office of Public Library Services were transferred to DTAE from the Georgia Department of Education in 1996. Upon receipt, DTAE assessed the public libraries and developed a new patron-focused strategic vision and plan. As a result, many public library improvements have evolved. Some of the more significant accomplishments include implementing the first phase of the statewide library card and automated circulation system, installing more than 4,000 computers in public libraries, and automating the annual reporting system for public libraries.

Georgia's 367 public library facilities and 33 bookmobiles are divided into 57 county and regional library systems. Of Georgia's 159 counties, 158 have public library facilities, with total holdings of more than 15.7 million items.

Georgia Public Libraries: Materials Circulated

Expanded Access to Online Information Services
Georgia Library Learning Online (GALILEO) became pasword-accessible to all public library patrons, allowing them access to all of the GALILEO databases from home computers and other remote locations. Currently, 157 counties have received state funding for PeachNet connections, enabling public libraries to offer access to the Internet as well as to more than 130 databases through GALILEO.

Georgia Public Libraries: GALILEO Usage*
*Based on keyword and browse searches

State-Of-The-Art Library Training
DTAE's public library services provides continuing education for all libraries that participate in the Georgia Online Database (GOLD). Training is conducted throughout the state and at DTAE headquarters. Additionally, the office's mobile computer training lab, consisting of 15 student laptop computers, an instructor's computer, and a computer projector, enables libraries to have on-site training at reduced costs and time. Training workshops are offered on such topics as basic library reference principles, computer applications, resource sharing, and programming for children and youth. Participants included personnel from public libraries, technical institute libraries, K-12 libraries, and college and university libraries.

In FY 00, Workshops on Demand were added to the training program. This service provides training, as requested, at the local library. The flexibility in planning for staff continuing education is greatly improved with this process and makes training much more accessible and affordable for local libraries. Classes were taught on 64 different topics with 3,507 participants during FY 00.

E-Rate Telecommunications Discounts
The Office of Public Library Services has sought and received eligibility for telecommunications discounts through the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Fund since the beginning of the program. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 provided for a federal excise tax on telephone service throughout the United States. The revenue from this assessment was designated to assist public and school libraries provide access to Internet resources. These funds (often referred to as "e-rate discounts") are being used for Georgia's public libraries for the upgrade and installation telecommunications infrastructure for public library facilities throughout the state. OPLS has more than 300 sites connected via a T-1 speed frame-relay network. Since the E-Rate Program began, OPLS has received $6,794,708 from this source to support and improve Internet access for Georgia's public libraries.

Library Resource Sharing and Inter-Type Library Activities
GOLD, Georgia's online interlibrary lending system, is a contributing partner in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), the largest bibliographic database in the world. This lending service gives Georgians access to information worldwide. During FY 00, GOLD maintained 13,118,694 records and had 132,282 total transactions (69,794 loans and 62,488 borrows).

Georgia HomePLACE Project
DTAE and the Georgia Department of Archives and History collaborated to make Georgia's genealogical and local history records available to the citizens of Georgia. Materials located in the state archives in Atlanta and in public libraries throughout the state will be made accessible via the Internet at the Georgia HomePLACE (Providing Library and Archives Collections Electronically) site. Accessible resources will include marriage records, maps, photographs, newspapers, and others. Additional partners in the project are Georgia local government officials, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and the University System of Georgia's GALILEO.

Children, Parents, and Family Literacy
The 2000 Vacation Reading Program, "Open A Book…Jump In!," brought more than 330 children's librarians to the vacation- reading program workshop in Macon, Ga. Peter Loose, a nationally recognized Georgia artist, created the program's artwork, which included a whimsical frog jumping into a book. The program featured breakout sessions, vendors, and outstanding keynote speakers, including artist Peter Loose and William Isler, president of Family Communications, the parent company of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. More than 200,000 children participated in the 2000 Vacation Reading Program.

Statewide promotional videos for the Vacation Reading Program are produced annually and are used locally by library systems to promote the program on cable television and in schools. The Vacation Reading Program Web site was first introduced in FY 99 and is updated with each new Vacation Reading Program year. Children's staff will continue to refresh and enhance their skills with continuing training opportunities. Workshops in 1999-2000 include collection development, desktop publishing, and family literacy.

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library services for Georgia's blind and physically disabled residents are provided through 13 sub-regional libraries operated by public library systems and the regional library in Atlanta. READS II, a Y2K-compliant automation system, was installed at the regional library as part of a national test. Both software and hardware were upgraded in this move. The Web-based system automates much of the selection and fulfillment services for talking books and Braille materials.

LSCA Title II Grants
In December 1999, four public library systems were awarded approximately $1.2 milion in Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) funds for building and renovation.

Resource Development
In addition to assisting several public library systems with strategic planning, the Office of Public Library Services provided training for development officers in public libraries and participated in several capital campaigns. OPLS produced "Georgia Public Libraries: Connecting You to the World," a promotional video that highlights public libraries as community learning centers and cornerstones of economic development. The video and first brochure were completed in FY 00, and are being used by public library systems throughout the state to raise awareness of public library services and needs.

Gates Library Initiative
DTAE was approved for the Gates Library Initiative, a grant program designed to place computer technology and software in public library facilities serving people in poverty stricken areas. Individual public library systems and facilities in areas with poverty rates of 10 percent or higher are eligible for hardware, software, and peripherals. Grants were awarded in April 2000, and installation of equipment and software will begin in July 2000.

PINES - Public Information Network for Electronic Services
The idea of a statewide public library card has been discussed for several years. The PINES project, which was initially launched to overcome Y2K issues, will go a long way toward making this possible, bringing a state-of-the-art automation system to more than one-fourth of all Georgia libraries. All 26 of the participating library systems (98 buildings) are now "live" on SIRSI for cataloging and circulation. The PINES Help Desk is now fully operational, offering support to the PINES libraries. Due to the huge success of this project, other public library systems have expressed interest in joining the PINES group.

SAMSON Accounting System
Development and implementation of SAMSON (Statewide Accounting Management System Online Network) was necessary to replace the existing accounting system, which was not Y2K compliant. All necessary hardware was purchased and installed early in FY 00, with full implementation beginning April 2000.

Standards for Georgia Public Libraries
In FY 98, the Planning and Evaluation Committee of public library directors began working on a standards document for Georgia's public libraries. The criteria included in the document established recommended levels of input for local library facilities and suggested levels of output. In February 2000, the public library directors unanimously adopted the document.

Year 2000 Compliance
In preparation for the year 2000 (Y2K), the Office of Public Library Services replaced more than 2,400 Y2K non-compliant desktop computers, laptop computers, and network servers in Georgia public libraries. Additionally, process control devices in local library hardware and fixtures also were checked and upgraded as needed. Thanks in a large part to the hard work of the Y2K project staff at DTAE, no technology-related problems were reported in libraries as of January 1, 2000.

PLANNING

Strategic Planning
Strategic Focus FY 01 includes an annual plan for goals and focuses on four major strategic directions:

• Educational Development - Competitive workers and knowledgeable citizens

• Community Development/Human Services - Opportunity and quality of life for communities

• Economic Development - Growing, high-performance business and industry

• Efficient Operations - Effective resource development and management