Customers of the three-county Live Oak Public Library system have doubled the rate of digital checkouts, Executive Director David Singleton told the Liberty County library board at its October meeting.
“Our collections are getting stronger,” Singleton said, “and with the online system users can even see what has been ordered.” The regional libraries are part of PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) that links them with libraries in 146 of Georgia’s 159 counties.
Jo Fortner, manager of Hinesville’s branch library said there was now a full time reference librarian at the branch and that computer classes were being offered. Bonnie Boccio, manager at the Midway-Riceboro branch, said her branch provides a computer lab each Wednesday at 5 p.m. People with computer problems or questions are invited to come to the library computer lab.
The library’s financial status was reported healthy by finance chief Shari Wyly. The fiscal year ended in June with about $150,000 still in the plus column. Revenues and expenditures are keeping pace in the current, FY2020) fiscal year.
The Hinesville branch reported 136,066 visits during the fiscal year. Midway-Riceboro had 21,749 visits.
The Hinesville branch at 236 West Memorial Drive is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All Live Oak branches are closed on Sundays. The Midway-Riceboro branch is part of a developing community complex at 9397 East Oglethorpe Highway in Midway. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Wednesdays the branch opens at 12 p.m. and closes at 6 p.m.
Many services are available 24/7 through the library online, including audiobooks, ebooks, movies and television via Hoopla.
Live Oak Public Libraries is a system of 16 library locations serving a 3-county region in southeast Georgia. Each year, the Library checks out almost 1.3 million items, answers in excess of 650,000 questions, registers more than 450,000 computer sessions, and presents programs to nearly 80,000 patrons in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties.
Parker can be contacted by email at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.