City of Atlanta CDP

15 Libraries

Introduction

Mission

We provide public access to the Knowledge Network to improve, enhance, and empower lives in our community, region, and world.

Driving Imperative: Responsiveness To Users And The Community

In order to best serve the community and its users, the Library will proactively determine people’s wants, needs, and expectations.  Programs, operations, and facilities will respond to meet those needs.

Future Vision

• The future of the Library is one in which:
• People can more readily access the Library
• People make use of the services and programs
• The Library functions as a reflection of a diverse community
• Endowments support special operations
• Resources are managed effectively

Initiatives For The Knowledge Network

We wisely mange the following four (4) Key Resources as our Strategic Initiatives:

• Human Resources
• Collections
• Technology
• Facilities

Levers For The Initiatives

We will leverage the implementation of our four (4) Strategic Initiatives to maximize the impact of the Key Resources through:

• An equitable process for allocation of resources
• Public/Private partnerships to fund and implement various programs
• A coordinated image and public relations campaign
• Continued planning

Current Conditions

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library operates 33 libraries; Twenty-four of the operating libraries are located in the City of Atlanta, including that part of the City located in DeKalb County.  Of these, two are temporarily closed: M.L. King and Carver Homes.

Data compiled by the Library system shows that library circulation for 2002 increased approximately 2 % over circulation figures for 2001.

Anticipated Future Conditions

The Library has researched demographic factors that will impact its service delivery in the future.  Included among those factors are the following:

1. The Library Service area includes 859,172 residents, 428,000 of whom live within the city limits.
2. The senior citizen population continues to increase.

The Library System has identified the following activities as priority areas of need:

1. Additional funds other than those received through the county’s annual budgeting process.
2. Increased availability of books and other information sources.
3. Hours and services better adapted to meet community needs.
4. Ability to respond to the diverse needs of a population that is rapidly changing racially, culturally, and ethnically.
5. Ongoing training of staff to promote competency and efficiency.
6. More services for students, personal learners and preschool children.
7. Consistent receipt of a high level of financial support from Fulton County to enable the Library System to leverage other sources of revenue.

Current Policies

1. Improve reference and research services; improve library-user satisfaction rate.
2. Plan for, provide and use computer and communication technologies, as they become economically feasible.
3. Provide more effective programming (workshops, lectures, story hours, etc.).
4. Increase and improve the community’s access to information through expanded cooperation agreements between the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library system and other libraries.
5. Establish effective communication and cooperation between the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and local elementary and secondary schools.
6. Explore alternate means of book acquisition such as donations.
7. Continue a government information service program to provide specialized information to local government officials.

Current Programs and Projects

The Library system has three (3) capital projects underway which include:

1. Central Library:  Renovations to the Central Library related to health and safety issues.  Projected completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2003.
2. East Atlanta Branch: The Library System intends to build a replacement facility to serve the East Atlanta Community.  Project completion is expected during the first quarter of 2004.
3. Ocee Library:  The Library System intends to build a new facility to serve the Ocee Community of North Fulton County.  Project completion is expected during the first quarter of 2004.
4. M.L. King Library: Planning has started for a new library.  $350,000 has been appropriated for the project.
5. Carver Library: The Carver Library Kiosk was closed.  Funding, site and construction matters are being explored.
6. Special Needs Resource Center: The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System received a $20,000 grant to develop resource centers, at three locations, for the parents of special needs children.  These collections will offer information about community resources, support services and special circulating materials.  The collections will be located at Central Library’s Children’s Department, Southwest Regional Library and the Sandy Springs Regional Library.

Ongoing programs include:

1. Center Literacy Program:  The program was established at the Central Library to serve the needs of adults desiring to learn to read or improve their reading skills.
2. Homework Help Center for Students:  Staff members assist students with homework assignments; provide instruction and guidance in the use of library resources.  This service is available at 15 branches.
3. Teen Technology Center: The Center, located in the Central Library, provides computer work stations, with CD-ROMs and software to support school assignments, Internet, word processing, and access to a variety of electronic databases.  The Center’s resources can be accessed on-line from any branch.
4. Early Learning Center for Preschoolers:  This program seeks to educate parents about the importance of encouraging reading and developing reading skills in young children.
5. Bookmobile: Currently the bookmobiles provide library services to 45 sites. Information Line:  Patrons who have a question, but cannot find the answer, can call the Information Line, which is the Library System’s telephone reference service.

2004 Current Programs and Projects

Project List 15-3:  2004 CDP Completed Programs and Projects

NOTES

1. MAP

Branch: Ann Wallace                                      

Action required: Remove from the map, the branch closed before the Olympics

Branch: West Hunter                                       

Action required: Change the name to Washington Park

Branch: Dunbar                                               

Action required: Change the Name to Mechanicsville. The Mechanicsville Branch, 400 Formwalt St. began construction under the name of Dunbar Branch.  The name was changed to Mechanicsville Branch to honor the community of Mechanicsville.

Changes to text are shown in bold italics.

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