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For more than 80 years, the Vinson Institute has worked with public officials throughout Georgia and around the world to improve governance and people's lives. From Georgia's early days as a largely agrarian state with a modest population to its modern-day status as a national and international force in business, industry, and politics with a population of almost 10 million, the Institute has helped government leaders navigate change and forge strong directions for a better Georgia.
In the Spotlight > By the Book: New Public Library Study is Under Way

By the Book: New Public Library Study is Under Way

Posted October 12, 2009
Contact: Courtney Yarbrough, cryarb@uga.edu; 706.542.6221

A new project is providing state and local library officials with a better understanding of funding and resource allocation systems and the opportunity to explore service delivery options. The Vinson Institute is carrying out the project for the state’s Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS).

The study component will consider the equity of resource allocation across the regions served by 60-plus public library systems in Georgia and the funding mechanism that distributes both state and local dollars. Budget and library service data for the previous five years will be analyzed, explained Wes Clarke, Vinson Institute faculty member and study director.

In addition to looking at the current situation, GPLS officials felt that it was important to look at future library operations, according to Walt McBride, Vinson Institute faculty member. McBride will be facilitating meetings during which state library officials and local library directors can develop pilot projects to explore innovative techniques for delivering services and running the business and support activities of library operations.

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