Athens Regional Library recognized by Library Journal, wins FINRA grant for financial literacy
GPLS News, May 2009
Kathryn S. Ames, Director of Athens Regional Library System
Library Journal has recognized the Athens Regional Library System's (ARLS) Pinewoods Library and Learning Center as one of the top three small libraries in America.
In its February issue, the highest-circulated trade publication for librarians named Pinewoods a finalist for 2009 Best Small Library in America, an annual award sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Now in its fifth year, the annual award showcases libraries providing outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less.
"Although the first-place award went to Union County Carnegie Library in South Carolina, we are glowing about this recognition," said Library Director Kathryn Ames. "To be a finalist in a national competition, be profiled on the pages of such a prestigious magazine and receive paid trips to the Public Library Association biannual conference are very encouraging for us.
"The Pinewoods library is a microcosm of everything offered at each of our libraries," Ames said, "so for this branch to be recognized as one of the top three small libraries nationwide speaks highly of our system as a whole."
The Pinewoods branch is located in a doublewide trailer in the Pine-woods North Mobile Home Park, just north of downtown Athens. It was initially intended to serve the 2,000 residents of the park, but under the guidance of Branch Manager Miguel Vincente, the library's popularity grew quickly.
Within months, it had become the primary resource and information center for the nearly 18,000 Hispanic immigrants who live in Clarke County. Pinewoods is often the first stop for many new immigrants who want to learn English and computer skills. Among its specialties are adult education programs, including English as a Second Language classes; family literacy activities; and what Library Journal describes as "a vibrant volunteer-driven after-school tutoring program."
Pinewoods was selected for the honor based on creativity in developing services and programs that can be replicated by other libraries, including outreach to special populations; innovation in introducing and supporting public access computing; success in educating patrons in computer use and measuring the results of technology usage; use of technology to expand the reach of library services; demonstrated community support; sustained cooperation with other libraries; partnerships with other agencies and businesses; and evidence of the library's role as community center.
Library Journal recognized the Athens library system just a few days after it received another national honor from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA), who jointly awarded ARLS a $94,510 grant to support grassroots financial literacy in the Athens community. As a part of the organizations' "Smart Investing @ your library" initiative, ARLS will use the funds to implement a variety of programs and create resources designed to increase patrons' access to and understanding of financial information.
"Public libraries are ideally positioned to serve the financial information needs of their communities and to do so without a sales pitch or a hidden agenda," said John Gannon, president of the FINRA Foundation. "With the help of these programs, Americans can turn to their libraries to get the best available financial information to make smart decisions for their families' financial future."
The FINRA grant will enable ARLS to undertake a basic financial literacy initiative helping low-income workers with low educational attain-ment; to integrate financial literacy education into GED preparation at five community sites; and to expand partnerships with local organizations, including public schools and the Family and Consumer Economics College at the University of Georgia.