Atlanta Hawks Star Howard Encourages Children to Read Dream
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A newsletter for friends and employees of Georgia’s public libraries volume 14, issue 6 I June 2017 Staff Atlanta Hawks star Howard encourages children to read In addition to his role as center for his hometown basketball team, the Atlanta Hawks’ Dwight Howard plays a lesser-known role in another important local arena – championing literacy for the state’s youngest kids. Last fall, Howard’s literacy efforts resulted in a meeting with Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series, when Kinney was in town shooting the latest film adaptation from the book series, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.” Kinney invited the eight-time NBA All-Star to visit the set, and a friendship formed. Howard asked to host the film’s Atlanta debut, as a reward and incentive for Atlanta’s young readers, including past participants of the Atlanta Hawks’ Check It Out Reading Challenge (CIORC) at Georgia’s public libraries. On May 14, Howard and Kinney hosted an exclusive Howard joins Kayleigh Stargell, Demetrius Longmire, Sam and Charlie screening of the film and invited a number of lucky Capretta, and Laila Byrd on the READ carpet, who were among the young readers to join them, cast members and other winners of the D12 Foundation’s video contest to promote reading. See Hawks, page 2 Dream comes true for retired librarian Thomas Brooks/CCPLS For years, 94-year-old Lillian Taylor Taylor, who retired 25 years ago, as has dreamed of returning to work at highly accurate in her work and as a a Georgia public library. Thanks to charming, impeccably dressed the Cobb County Public Library woman known for her willingness to System (CCPLS) and Second Wind share recipes — including her Dreams, a Roswell-based nonprofit, famous peach cobbler. Taylor’s dream became a reality on June 2. Library Branch Manager Patricia Ball and the rest of the staff of A retired librarian now living in CCPLS’s Stratton Library received Marietta, Taylor served on the staff of that same charm and kindness from the Griffin-Spalding County Library, Taylor, who recalled the early days of now part of the Flint River Regional computers in the library workplace Library System (FRRLS), for 28 years. as she examined some of the latest Natalie Marshall, executive director technology available at Georgia’s of FRRLS, said her colleagues at the public libraries. central library in Griffin remember See Retiree, page 2 Taylor admires a 3-D printed Yoda figurine. Retiree Continued from page 1 catalog is now online. She also enjoyed sitting at the When library automation began in Griffin, Taylor and reference desk and watching and listening to the former co-worker Yvonne Brooks made a pact that if interactions between library staff and the public once anything went wrong, Thomas Brooks/CCPLS again. She seemed right they were going to at home.” protect each other by blaming it on the new Taylor was computers. “I had to accompanied at the learn to work on a library by her son computer,” Taylor said Edward Taylor and with a laugh, “and I daughter-in-law Lois nearly lost my mind James, and by June during that!” Rondinone, community relations She was thrilled, coordinator for Second however, with her Wind Dreams. second chance to serve as a librarian. “I liked “It was great to see the people that came Miss Lillian smile, to in,” she noted. As part listen to her share some of her day at the of her experiences as a Stratton Library, she librarian and to watch especially enjoyed her be amazed by all watching as a 3-D the advances and new printer created a Yoda technologies,” said figurine whose color Rondinone. matched the sweater Ball welcomes Taylor and her family to the Stratton Library. she was wearing. Founded in 1997 by geriatric specialist “Miss Lillian was very gracious to us,” said Ball, “and P.K. Beville, Second Wind Dreams (www.secondwind.org) she was very much consuming all the information we is the first U.S. organization to focus on enhancing the gave her about how libraries have changed. She was quality of life for elders and changing society’s perception impressed with our 3-D prints and by seeing how the of aging by making elder dreams come true. I Hawks Continued from page 1 Howard said he was excited to to its annual ranking of the biggest athletes and artists to walk “The see the film, spot some Atlanta names in sports, the World Fame READ Carpet” and share what they sights in the scenery, and share the 100. He is founder and president of plan to read this summer or loved READ Carpet with the movie’s cast the D12 Foundation, which focuses reading as a child. members and young Georgia on facilitating positive change in the readers. lives of youth and seeks to The event served as the official strategically and effectively help launch of this year’s CIORC, for “The Wimpy Kid books are fun close critical community gaps in key which Howard is serving as chair. In for kids to read and, really, if a kid areas, including early childhood partnership with Georgia Public enjoys reading, that makes learning education and literacy. Library Service, the CIORC everything easier,” he said. “I hope encourages kids to use their local kids see the film and think about The 2017 CIORC runs through library to enhance summer learning, reading the next book – and the Aug. 26 at all Georgia public achieve their reading goals and earn next one. A kid who likes reading is libraries. a ticket for a future Hawks game. a kid who’ll be successful.” Presented by Philips, the program is For more info or to sign up, visit enjoying its 13th year. This month ESPN named Howard www.checkitoutreading.com. I 2 Georgia Public Library Service News June 2017 Staff members Staff earn financial certifications During a May 18 ceremony at the state library directors meeting at the Columbus Public Library, 37 library staff from around the state were honored for completing the Certified Library Financial Manager Program. The program provides detailed instruction on general financial management topics such as introductory accounting and payroll administration. As the training progresses so does the level of detail with participants delving deeply into topics such as long-term planning, Members of this year’s Certified Library Financial Manager class receive their awards and certificates. internal controls, purchasing, budgeting for revenues and expend- strategic account consultant with manager at the Henry County Library itures, and financial statements. Clark Outsource; Leslie Clarke, System; Holly Phillips, director of director of the Chestatee Regional the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library Part of an educational training Library System; Pam Clarke, finance System; Martha Powers-Jones, partnership between GPLS and the officer with the Middle Georgia director of Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Carl Vinson Institute of Government Regional Library; Coty Dees, Library; Tracie Price, finance (CVIOG), the certification program is assistant director at the DeSoto Trail manager at Chattahoochee Valley conducted by faculty from CVIOG. Regional Library; Jennifer Durham, Libraries; Trent Reynolds, director To earn their certificates, participants director of Statesboro Regional of Okefenokee Regional Library; in this year’s class completed seven Public Libraries; Janet Eberhart, Alison Solomon, business services days of intensive training and testing assistant director at Northwest manager at States-boro Regional over the course of three months. Georgia Regional Library; and Public Libraries; Kim Spencer, Christopher Evans, GPLS director accounting technician for Lee Completing the program this of business services and state grants. County Library; Cynthia Spratling, year were Vicki Adkison, assistant business manager at the Houston director of the Chestatee Regional Also: Cynthia Kilby, director of County Public Library System; Library System; Cordelia Alderman, the Pine Mountain Regional Library Andrew Vickers, branch manager administrative assistant with the Pine System; Annette Maier, financial with Mountain Regional Library Mountain Regional Library System; and administrative assistant at the System; Miguel Vicente, director of Cameron Asbell, director of the Northwest Georgia Regional Library; South Georgia Regional Library; Ohoopee Regional Library System; Mary Lin Maner, director of Greater Tonya Wallace, accounting Valerie Bell, director of the Athens Clarks Hill Regional Libraries; assistant at the Forsyth County Regional Library System; Marcia Natalie Marshall, executive director Public Library; Alison Weissinger, Brown, bookkeeper at the of the Flint River Regional Library director of the DeKalb County Public Roddenbery Memorial Library; Stacy System; Beth McIntyre, director of Library; Elizabeth White, assistant Brown, director of the Conyers- the Piedmont Regional Library director of the Oconee Regional Rockdale Library System; Jan System; Gary McNeely, director of Library System; Trashéan Wolfe, Burroughs, director of Elbert the Kinchafoonee Regional Library; office manager with Newton County County Public Library; Ben Carter, Helen Mitchell, business manager Library System; and Kathryn director of the Uncle Remus Regional with the South Georgia Regional Youles, director of the Screven- Library System; Allison Clark, Library; Debra Morris, business Jenkins Regional Library System. I 3 June 2017 Georgia Public Library Service News Libraries challenge readers to ‘Build a Better World’ Georgia’s public libraries will encourage children, teens This is Georgia’s 10th year as a member of the and adults to “Build a Better World” during the 2017 nationwide Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), Summer Reading Program (SRP). a consortium of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and multiple U.S. territories working together to provide high- Each year, public libraries across the quality summer reading program materials for children at country use the SRP to promote family the lowest cost possible for their public literacy and demonstrate to kids and libraries.