PUBLIC LIBRARIES, PLANNING, AND TECHNOLOGY

The Office of Public Libraries, Planning, and Technology was established in FY 97 under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Dr. Roger Slater. The Office serves the 370 public libraries throughout the state by providing administrative, training, consulting, and other support functions. The planning and technology units serve the entire Technical College System of Georgia by providing planning services; resource development; and information technology coordination, training, and support.

Public Library Services
Georgia has one of the oldest state-level library services in the nation. Since 1897, Georgia has promoted the development of public library services and inter-type library cooperation. In 1942, public library services was a unit of the Georgia Department of Education. On July 1, 1996, these services were transferred to the Technical College System of Georgia.

The Office promotes the establishment and development of public library services statewide by providing technical assistance and consulting for libraries, administering federal and state funds, coordinating cooperative activities, providing training, and coordinating and promoting resource sharing among different types of libraries. The majority of activities focus on the development ,and enhancement of the 57 county and regional library systems that serve Georgia's 159 counties through 370 individual library facilities and over 40 bookmobiles.

Georgia Public Libraries Materials Circulated

bar graph that represents library materials circulated

Library Resource Sharing and Inter-Type Library Activities
The Georgia Online Database (GOLD), Georgia's interlibrary lending system, broke records with over 138,000 items lent. In January 1997, the GOLD Union List of Serials was mounted on Georgia Library Learning Online (GALILEO), a collection of online bibliographic and full-text databases, enabling librarians and other users to locate periodical articles.

Research and Training
The Technical College System of Georgia is the primary provider of library-related continuing education in the state. During the past year, public library services offered 28 workshop topics and held 75 sessions, including medical and legal reference, interlibrary loan, GALILEO, basic computer repair, PeachNet, and OCLC training.

Online Information Services
This year, the public libraries entered into a partnership with the state's public and private colleges and universities, technical institutes, and K- 12 institutions to provide statewide access to GALILEO. This partnership is the first of its kind in the United States and is serving as a model for other states.

Electronic databases provide access to resources that most public libraries previously had been unable to afford. During FY 97,56 public library systems received PeachNet access. Although these libraries could access only two databases, over 650,000 searches were performed on the system.

Public Libraries - Internet Access

pie graph representing public library internet access


Public Library Administration and Consulting Support Services
During FY 97, public library services managed and distributed maintenance and operation funds, materials, and salary and travel grants to public libraries. Funds also were distributed to the subregional libraries for the blind and physically handicapped. Assistive Technology Grants of $500,000 were awarded to the state's public library systems to purchase software, equipment, and other items to promote access to public library services and materials. Over 60 grants were made to public library systems under the Library Services and Construction Act. Funding supported Summer Reading Clubs and tape-loading bibliographic records into the GOLD databases.

Technical assistance and consulting services provided HelpDesk functions to support PeachNet installations and GALILEO in public library systems. Consulting services assisted public libraries with construction, tape-loading, reference services, children's programs, computer equipment, and resource development and management.

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library services for blind and physically handicapped residents are provided through a statewide network of 13 subregional libraries operated by public library systems and a regional library. This year, the network circulated over 600,000 items and served over 20,000 readers.

Planning and Development

Planning
This year, three strategic plans were developed: the new DTAE Strategic Plan, the new DTAE Information Technology Strategic Plan, and the federal Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Plan. Over a thousand members of local communities; the State Board of Technical and Adult Education; every technical institute president and public library system director in Georgia; and hundreds of DTAE, technical institute, and public library staff contributed to the formation of these plans.

The Strategic Plan, which reflects the new State of Georgia Strategic Plan, includes the public libraries as an integral part of the agency, and identifies information technology goals and objectives. DTAE's Strategic Plan contributes to the goals of the State with four strategic directions:

Education-Competitive, Knowledgeable Workers

Economic Development-Growing, High-Performance Business Communities

Human Services-Opportunity and Quality of Life for Citizens

Efficient Operations-Effective Resource Development and Management

The Information Technology Strategic Plan links each of DTAE's strategic directions to information technology goals. Each goal is linked to the objectives and desired results that support five major technology projects.

The federal Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Plan, which addresses new legislation emphasizing library technology, will enable Georgia's libraries to receive federal funding for the next five years.

Development
This year, planning and development were integrated into a single unit to reinforce the relationship between planning and the acquisition of needed resources. The 31 technical institute foundations continue their local activities, and 2 additional technical institutes are working to establish foundations. Many public libraries are considering resource development through the Georgia Fund for Technical and Adult Education or through individual foundations.

The technical institutes' advancement personnel are working to create a new resource development culture for their institutions. As part of this effort, the DTAE planning and development unit is working with the institute advancement officers to develop a certified training program. A similar training program is planned for the public libraries.


Information Technology
The Technical College System of Georgia established a unit to coordinate information technology development, training, and support, and to develop a comprehensive information strategic plan. The plan identified five major projects for Web-Based Education:
Connectivity for Community Development through Collaboration and Innovation

Web-Based Instruction

Web-Based Libraries

Technology Training for Staff

Technology for Improved Management

As part of the planning process, the information technology unit assessed technical institute and public library technology needs. Currently, the technology unit, along with planning and development staff, is identifying how to obtain the necessary resources to fulfill long-range information technology goals.

The information technology unit already provides coordination and support for implementing the plan's goals. Several technical institutes and public libraries are becoming involved in community connectivity projects. Software certification training has been initiated for staff, and certified training for technical institute technology specialists is in the planning phase. Advanced Technology Centers of Excellence are being developed to provide leadership in the delivery of Web-Based Instruction. Public libraries are increasing their delivery of online services and digitization, and an improved accounting system for public libraries is under study.

 

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