The Office of Public Libraries, Planning, and Technology supports Georgia's 371 public libraries, strategic planning and resource development initiatives, and technology applications for all units of DTAE.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Activities this year focused on enhancing the public library systems. Georgia's 371 public library facilities (and 41 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 14.5 million items. Georgia's public libraries are expanding services in response to increased demand, as evidenced by the 3,027,350 library cardholders throughout the state, compared to 1,866,787 cardholders last year. The number of public library materials circulated decreased by two percent to as libraries experienced significant increases in the use of electronic resources. The number of patron visits to public libraries increased by 10 percent to 22,550,008.
Georgia Public Libraries Materials Circulated
Expanded Access to Online Information Services
The number of keyword and browse searches conducted on Georgia Library Learning Online (GALILEO) in public libraries increased by 38 percent to 336,868, reflecting growing awareness of this online collection of bibliographic and full-text databases. Currently, 157 counties have received state funding for PeachNet connections, enabling public libraries to offer access to the Internet as well as to the more than 130 databases available through GALILEO.
Georgia Public Libraries: GALILEO Usage*
* Based on keyword and browse searches
State-Of-The-Art Library Training
DTAE's public library service provides continuing education services for all libraries that participate in the Georgia Online Database (GOLD). Training is conducted throughout the state and at the DTAE headquarters office. Additionally, the office's mobile computer training lab, which consists 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. Last year, 188 training sessions were offered with 2,861 participants, an increase of more than 300 percent. Fifty-five workshops offered training on such topics as basic library reference principles, computer applications, resource sharing, and programming for children and youth. Participants included library personnel from public libraries, technical institute libraries, K-12 libraries, and college and university libraries.
Library Resource Sharing and Inter-Type Library Activities
GOLD, Georgia's online interlibrary lending system, broke records with more than 154,000 items lent this year. Through GOLD, Georgia 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. Additionally, 1,242 national and international interlibrary lending referral services were provided last year.
Other resource sharing and inter-type library cooperation efforts included a batch-loading project. This project enabled public library and technical institute library holdings to be listed in Machine Readable Catalog (MARC) record format, the international standard for bibliographic records, making these holdings more accessible. With the GOLD Union List of Serials mounted on GALILEO, all library users can easily locate periodical articles.
Georgia HomePLACE Project
DTAE and the Georgia Department of Archives and History are collaborating to make Georgia's genealogical and local history records available to the citizens of Georgia. Materials located at 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. Resources to be made accessible 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.
Parents, Children, and Family Literacy
Participation in the 1999 Summer Reading Club, "Chill Out With Books," increased 19 percent with 194,233 children reading more than 2.5 million books. Supplemental literature-based programs attracted 396,141 children and their caregivers, a 39 percent increase from previous years. The first statewide Summer Reading Website, with 15,207 recorded hits, asked children to vote for their favorite polar animal and to provide feedback on the website.
Eight public libraries in Georgia received Viburnum Family Literacy Grants to provide families with programs, books, and supplemental educational materials. Through a unique partnership with the Georgia Office of School Readiness, copies of the classic children's book, "The Little Engine That Could", were distributed to every public facility.
More than 700 children's librarians and support staff expanded or learned new skills in 25 training sessions ranging from creative dramatics to serving young adults.
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.
During FY 99, the regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Atlanta circulated 160,092 materials, while the entire statewide network circulated more than 959,721 items and served more than 21,281 eligible readers. READS II, a Y2K-compliant automation system, was installed at the regional library as part of a national test. This new inventory management system is in use at the regional library and is being installed at the other 13 sub-regional libraries.
Resource Development
In addition to assisting several public library systems with strategic planning, the Office of Public Library Services helped provide training for development officers in public libraries and helped plan 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. A full-color booklet on Georgia public libraries is planned for fall 1999.
Gates Library Initiative
Last year DTAE was approved for the Gates Library Initiative, a grant program that is designed to place computer technology and software in public library facilities serving people in poverty. Individual public library systems and facilities in areas with poverty rates of 10 percent or higher are eligible for hardware, software, and peripherals.
Organizational Reengineering
OPLS has completed a reorganization of public library services functions. With the same size staff, the new, more customer-oriented personnel plan will provide local libraries with more and better services, such as improved technology support, staff training, online database services and resource sharing support, and children’s program support.
The library directors have formed action teams that focus on specific areas of library function. Additionally, two new commissions — the Commissioner's External Advisory Committee on Public Libraries and the Commissioner's Internal Advisory Committee — have been formed to identify problems and areas of opportunity and to make recommendations about public library services.
PLANNING
Strategic Planning
Strategic Focus FY 2000 includes an annual plan for FY 2000
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
Information Technology Planning
The information technology plan provides analysis of six major technology projects. These projects will contribute to community-based education, workforce, and economic development by providing information technology culture and infrastructure; shared, integrated information systems; and standardized operating environments needed to support DTAE and State Strategic Plans for Information Technology. The projects include:
- Connectivity and computer and Internet literacy
- Staff and industry certification information technology (IT) programs
- Expansion of the Georgia Virtual Technical Institute (GVTI)
- Development of a statewide library card system
- Data warehouse systems
- Statewide technology support for technical institutes and public libraries
DTAE Initiatives Process
Through the DTAE initiatives process, innovations evolve from research and development pilots to statewide initiatives to established DTAE core services/standard products and business practices. For three years, the three-step initiatives process has proven to be an effective process through which new objectives have been met and continuous improvement and progress has been assured. The initiatives identified for FY 2000 are:
- Certified Literate Community Program
- Certified Training -- Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS), Certified Customer Service Specialist (CCSS), Certified Construction Worker (CCW), and IT+
- Export Assistance
- Georgia Virtual Technical Institute
- High School/Technical Institute Collaboratives
- Human Resource Development Outsourcing (Technical Institute Customized Training)
- Industry Certification Information Technology
- Online Information Services
Resource Development Networking and Training
DTAE's integrated planning and development unit emphasizes the benefits of integrated planning and diversified resource development at the local technical institute and public library level. A major step in strengthening local resource development has been the addition of advancement/resource training, Last year, The Advancement Executive Network (TAEN), a network of technical institute personnel responsible for resource development, and the DTAE planning and development unit implemented a three-tiered certified training program for advancement officers. This year, 27 nonprofit management certification graduates progressed to second-tier (more advanced) training, and a new class of public library personnel began first-tier training. TAEN also has been instrumental in the formation of the statewide Technical Institute Foundation Trustee Association (TIFTA) of Georgia this year. Twenty-eight foundation boards are members of TIFTA.
Planning and Resource Development Consulting
The planning and resource development unit has provided free consulting services to nine technical institutes and public libraries. These services have included assistance with strategic planning, feasibility studies, plans for major campaigns, community awareness and executive leadership, promotional brochures and materials, and foundation board development.
Grant Writing
The planning and resource development unit submitted a grant proposal and was awarded statewide eligibility for local technology access grants by the Gates Library Foundation. Eligibility was awarded based on the state's needs for the grants and its preparedness to implement and administer the grants. The grants will provide technology and training investments that will save Georgia libraries an estimated $7,000,000.
TECHNOLOGY
The Office of Information Technology supports the effective and efficient use of technology in all units of DTAE. New technology is continuously evaluated, tested, and implemented. Noteworthy accomplishments last year include:
- New accounting and human resource systems for the central office and technical institutes
- An upgraded public libraries administration/accounting system
- An upgraded student information system for the technical institutes
- An upgraded GED testing system for the adult literacy centers
- A relay data network linking agency offices and technical institutes
- A Year 2000 inventory, assessment, and remediation study
- Projects to ensure Year 2000 compliance
- Participation by GVTI in the Southern Growth Policies Board annual meeting
- Support for the Academic Professional Development Center (APDC)
Web-Based Instruction and the Georgia Virtual Technical Institute
The Georgia Virtual Technical Institute uses advanced technology to develop and manage all technical institute instruction delivered through the Internet. Georgia's technical institutes are positioned to succeed in Internet instruction because of standardized course formats used by all 34 technical institutes. Hands-on segments are conducted in local and regional centers across Georgia. A growing number of institutes affiliated with GVTI register students over the Web and offer Web-based classes.
Staff Technology Training
Software certification training is provided for all staff and advanced certified training is provided for technology specialists. This training includes Microsoft Office Professional Suite, PeopleSoft accounting and human resource systems, the technical institutes' BANNER student information system, the public libraries' SAMSON administrative/accounting system, and other industry-certified training.
The establishment of the Academic Professional Development Center will ensure that technical institute faculty and technical staff receive industry-certified training. The APDC will provide vendor/industry-certified instructors to support the Industry Certified Information Technology initiative. A DTAE training center dedicated to this effort is under development.
Standardiazations in Technology
The implementation of Year 2000 compliant technology allowed DTAE to standardize hardware and software applications. In addition, to support effective communication among DTAE's technical institute, public library, and adult literacy sites-more than 600 facilities statewide-a uniform electronic messaging system is being established. The specific needs of the agency, along with cost, performance, reliability, training, and the future direction of technology, were analyzed.
Online Information Service
Public library users have access to more than 130 information databases through GALILEO, a statewide electronic information network that has made expensive electronic databases affordable for libraries. Public library users have access to almost 200 Georgia libraries and more than 5,000 libraries nationwide through GOLD, a statewide resource-sharing group that provides public libraries with an easy and affordable means of obtaining difficult-to-locate materials through interlibrary loans.
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Commissioner's External Advisory Committee on Public Libraries Tom Peterson III |
Commissioner's Internal Advisory Committee
Jim Cooper, Director |