Library subject of article in Valdosta Daily Times!

Link to Article

If you would like to contact your local policy makers, the information is below.

Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
327 N. Ashley Street-3rd Floor
Valdosta, GA  31601
Office: 229-671-2442
commissioner@lowndescounty.com

Ashley Paulk, Chairman, apaulk@lowndescounty.com
Joyce E. Evans, District 1: jevans@lowndescounty.com
Richard Raines, District 2: rraines@lowndescounty.com
Crawford Powell, District 3: cpowell@lowndescounty.com

New Reference Page on Facebook

Please check out our new Reference centric page on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/sgrlreference

New Events Calendar

Please go to our Events page for the new calendar or click here.

Overdrive now works with your Kindle!

*Please note, SGRL does not provide technical support for this service. Use at your own risk.

You can borrow Kindle books from more than 11,000 libraries in the United States to read on any generation Kindle device, free Kindle app, or in your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader. Public library books for Kindle provide the same unique features as Kindle and Kindle books, including Whispersync technology that synchronizes your notes, highlights and last page read, real page numbers, and more. This feature will become available to libraries nationwide in the coming days.

Finding Public Library Books for Kindle

Public library books for Kindle will be available at more than 11,000 libraries in the United States which work with OverDrive. From any computer, you can visit the webpage of an eligible local library, search for a book, and select a Kindle edition. Availability of books and length of loan will vary by library. Check with your local library for more information about borrowing Kindle books or to see what books are available.

Check Out a Public Library Book for Kindle

You can borrow Kindle books from your local library's website, and, with the click of a button, have them delivered to your Kindle device or free reading app.

Instructions:

1. Visit the website of a U.S. library that offers digital services from OverDrive.
2. Check out a Kindle book (library card required).
3. Click on "Get for Kindle." You will then be directed to Amazon.com to redeem your public library loan. You may be required to login to your Amazon.com account -- or create a new account -- if you're not already logged in.
4. Choose to read the book on your Kindle device, free reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader.

Note: Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. If trying to send to a Kindle device and do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, you may instead choose to load your library book via USB. Both Mac and Windows users can manage Kindle content through a USB connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this book not available for Kindle from my local library?

Availability of books and length of loan will vary by library. We recommend you check with your local library for more information regarding the availability of public library books for Kindle.

Will I be notified before my public library book loan expires?

Yes. Three days before the end of the loan period, we will send a courtesy reminder e-mail about the loan expiration. Once the loan period has ended, an additional e-mail notification will be sent. Availability of books and length of loan are determined by your local library.

How do I view the status of my loan?

You can view the status of a public library book for Kindle from the Manage Your Kindle page. Click on the "+" symbol next to any title to view more details about any book that you've borrowed including the expiration date.

You can also access all of the materials that you currently have checked out on your library's OverDrive-powered website. Within your library's digital site, look for links to My Account, My Bookshelf, or something similar.

What happens to my notes and highlights after a loan expires?

You can always access their notes and highlights through kindle.amazon.com, even after a book expires. And if you check a book out again, or purchase it from Amazon.com all of your notes and highlights will appear in the book as before the loan expired.

Are public library books for Kindle available internationally?

At this time, public library books for Kindle are only available at U.S. libraries.

What Kindle devices can I read public library books on?

You can read borrowed Kindle books on any generation Kindle device or all free Kindle apps, as well as in your web browser with Kindle Cloud Reader. Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. If you are trying to send a library book to a Kindle device and you do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, you can load your library book via USB instead.

How do I send library books to my Kindle device or reading app?

Once a public library book has been redeemed, you can send it to any registered Kindle device or reading app from the Manage Your Kindle page. Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device.

For more information, and to learn about transferring files to your Kindle, please see our Kindle Help page at:  www.amazon.com/kindletransfer

EBOOKS NOW AVAILABLE @ YOUR LIBRARY

Library users now have anytime, anywhere access to a dynamic collection of digital ebooks. 
Patrons of participating libraries can log onto the digital library website, install free software, and check out up to five titles at a time using a valid library card.  Once checked out, ebooks can be downloaded to the patron’s PC or transferred to a supported e-reader.  At the end of the loan period ebooks automatically expire and return to the collection, getting rid of late fees.

“We are looking for new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our community and ebooks are just the first step towards a more future focused library,” said Kelly Lenz, Director of the South Georgia Regional Library system.   

Ebooks offer many benefits to reads that traditional text can not and, with the increasing popularity of the technology, was a natural progression for the library.

“Ebooks are portable, save trees, and are one size fits all.  With ebooks, it's almost like the book was written for you.  You can change the letter size and the font type so that the reading experience is just as enjoyable as the story,” Systems Administrator, Sean Strickland said.

Traditionalist need not worry about the future of paper books.  Ebooks are just a way to supplement what the library already has. “We value having a deep and rich physical collection,” Lenz said, “our digital offerings are just icing on the cake.”

Currently, library users have access to over 800 ebooks with the collection growing daily.  The digital selections represent a wide range of genres including nonfiction, romance, science fiction, graphic novels and much more. 

For more information on OverDrive please visit Georgia Download Destination online. 

Getting Overdrive to work with your Iphone/Ipad.

This information is provided as-is with no support or acceptance of responsibility on behalf of South Georgia Regional Library. The full article should be read at Iphone / Ipad with Overdrive.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• An iPhone or an iPad
• The latest version of the free Bluefire app
• An Adobe ID used to authorize the Bluefire app (Note: you just need the ID; you don’t need Adobe Digital Editions for this to work)
• A library card at a library that offers OverDrive ebooks (try looking at the Sony/OverDrive Library Finder to get started)
• An email account accessible on your mobile device (as noted in the comments, you’ll have to use the native mail app on your device, not a Gmail or other app)
  

Need to Schedule a Meeting at Main?
The meeting room forms for 300 Woodrow Wilson Drive are now available online. You must print out and fax the completed form to 229-333-0364. Please note the changed policy for meeting room scheduling. The forms are in PDF.

Meeting Room Use Guidelines

Meeting Room Request Form

Free Park Passes Available at the Library

Your library card is a passport to adventure thanks to a partnership between Georgia’s public libraries and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.  A valid PINES library card allows any patron to borrow a Georgia State Park “ParkPass” and Historic Site pass from their local libraries. The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks and historic sites statewide.

Anyone who holds a valid library card from the South Georgia Regional Library system can check out a ParkPass folder for up to seven days. Folders include an annual ParkPass that exempts visitors from paying the daily parking fee at any Georgia state park, an annual Historic Site pass good for free admission for one visitor to any of Georgia’s 18 state historic sites. It also includes a copy of the “Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites” featuring descriptions, photos, directions and a map of all 63 state parks and historic sites.

Now in it’s second year, the GO Georgia campaign challenges Georgians especially families and children, to participate in family-friendly, nature-based, healthy outdoor recreation in the beautiful, secure surroundings of Georgia’s state parks. The state’s Get Outdoors Georgia web site, www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org, offers state residents information, activities, and more for families and individuals.

Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites encompasses 63 properties that preserve the state's diverse environment and history. Included are 45 state parks, three state historic parks and 15 historic sites, stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Colonial Coast. Together, the sites offer an exceptional variety of resources, including mountains, canyons, forests, fields, marshes, waterfalls, lakes, swamps, rivers, battlefields, historic homes and Native American artifacts.

Among the park system’s most popular attractions are Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site, Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site in Cartersville, Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Roosevelt's Little White House Historic Site in Warm Springs, Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls and Unicoi State Park in Helen.

Because of the expected popularity of the ParkPass loaner program, families interested in borrowing a ParkPass from their local public libraries are advised to plan early, as supplies of the ParkPass and related folders are limited. To see a list of parks and historic sites covered by the passes, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. For more information about GO Georgia visit www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.

SGRL WIKI

SGRL also has a wiki website maintained by our reference librarian Eric Mathis. The wiki contains information and links for interesting subjects and may feature pictures, maps, and event information. The wiki is accessed via http://sgrl.pbwiki.com/ Enjoy!!!

HISTORY

Like all big dreams, a public library in Lowndes County began as a small hope in the hearts of a handful of individuals.  According to history, this group of visionaries, calling themselves a library association, formed in 1876.  Early champions were the Columbine Club, a local ladies group, who purchased $40 worth of books, housing the collection in a room in City Hall.  Lovingly staffed by volunteers, this first library would soon relocate to a room at the Wymodausis Club, then on to the Corbett Building on Central Avenue, before its return to City Hall.  This winding journey would last nearly forty years.  Finally, in 1912, the same year the R.M.S. Titanic’s maiden journey across the Atlantic would make headlines, the journey toward a permanent public library location would also end, though its demise would be anything but tragic.  A corner piece of property at Central Avenue and Briggs Street in Valdosta was the reward, purchased for $3,750, upon which would be erected the Carnegie Library, named for the Carnegie Foundation, a contributor.  Librarian Margaret Jemison opened the newly finished $18,000 library for the first time in 1914.

We invite you to apply for a library card and enjoy all the privileges, services and programs we offer.
Membership is free to Georgia residents and open to all ages.

The South Georgia Regional Libraries are part of the PINES Library System. One of the major benefits of PINES is the dramatically increased access to combined library collections, statewide. PINES enables its users to enjoy the benefits of a shared collection of 8 million books and materials from over 250 libraries, that can be delivered to their home libraries at no charge.

PINES customers have the flexibility to use any or all of the participating libraries as if their home library. Customers can return materials to any PINES library, from the mountains of Georgia to the coast, but customers don't have to travel to other libraries to get access to materials in those collections. Customers can simply use the online system to request that materials be delivered to their local library, at no cost to the customer. PINES ships many materials between libraries.

To get a library card visit any of our libraries or print the online application.

Already a member? Learn about your rights and responsibilities.

Website Information
Editting and content by system administrator - Sean Strickland.
Historical information provided by library manager - Janet Register.