Perry Rettig
Walk a mile in my shoes and you’ll end up at the library.
Habersham County enjoys two tremendous assets – the public libraries in Clarkesville and Cornelia. Between the two facilities, over 5,000 patrons visited in October. The winter months typically find a dearth of visitors, but the summer months surge with community members, both young and old, utilizing our resources.
You will find a rather expansive traditional print collection, as always, for all age groups and interests. Services for blind and print disabled patrons are available through Georgia Library Services in the form of Braille and talking books. Patrons also have access to two well-stocked digital libraries: Georgia Download Destination and eRead Kids. Several book clubs and story times are the highlight for many families.
Our two libraries belong to the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System – a part of the Georgia Public Library System. Shawna Meers-Ernst is Branch Manager in Clarkesville, and Joshua Smith is Branch Manager in Cornelia. A locally-appointed Board of Trustees serves as stewards of our two libraries.
Under the leadership of Habersham County Library Board Trustee Chair Patrick Ledford, our libraries have begun a robust strategic planning process. Ledford expressed, "Our libraries are more than a hub for digital and print resources. It's about community and serving the residents of Habersham County."
In addition, Marketing and Mass Communications students, under the direction of professors Morgan Sales and Melissa Tingle at Piedmont University, will be creating both near-term and long-term marketing plans.
The recent U.S. Census shows ever-increasing diversification in our county. The median age is 30.8, and 39 percent of our families do not have internet access at home. Our libraries are finding an increase in family patronage with an increasing demand for youth and young adult materials. Likewise, families are utilizing and borrowing significantly more electronic and internet options.
To reflect the changing needs of our community, our libraries provide patrons with free access to numerous computers with WiFi internet connection. This month we will install two self-contained private videoconferencing kiosks.
According to Joshua Smith, "These ‘meeting pods’ will provide patrons a private and quiet space where they can have virtual meetings, telehealth appointments, take proctored exams, and study.” Community meeting rooms, one at each branch, are also available to the public, in addition to a study room at the Clarkesville Branch.
Smith added, “A Federal grant provided six T-Mobile hotspots, in addition to the four we already have between both libraries. This is yet another way that we can help the Habersham families without access to the internet. These hotspots will be available for checkout.” Shawna Meers-Ernst noted, “The libraries’ WiFi are also on 24/7 and accessible in the parking lots for anyone who needs a connection outside of operating hours. Further, Chromebooks are available for circulation. Other technological resources continue to be available including: printing, copying, faxing, scanning, and laminating – all at a nominal cost.
By getting your library card, you will have access to the state-wide PINES library system. This will give you access to materials throughout the state, including the Galileo system. According to the Georgia Public Library Service, “[The] Georgia Public Library Service ensures that all Georgia public libraries and their patrons have access to GALILEO, the state’s virtual library that provides online access to thousands of periodicals, journals, books, business directories and government publications. Library users also can access many resources at home or wherever they have an internet connection.”
It is quite apparent that our libraries have so much to offer the ever-changing needs of our community. It takes a variety of resources to provide for these services we need and enjoy. The largest contributors to our local libraries are the County, the cities of Cornelia and Clarkesville, the United Way, and the Habersham County Schools. Fundraisers, memorials, donations, Friends of the Library, and various mini-grants provide additional nominal support.
To register for a library card, visit gapines.org or the branch nearest you. Perhaps you would like to volunteer your time by serving on the Board of Trustees. This is an exciting time as we make significant plans for the future.
Take a walk and see where your shoes lead you.
Dr. Perry Rettig is a community contributor for The Northeast Georgian. He is a former vice president at Piedmont University and is now a distinguished university professor at Piedmont.