2. Our Mission Statement: In partnership
with the community, the Greensboro Public Library
strives to provide free and equal access to information,
foster lifelong learning, and inspire the joys of reading.
Board of Trustees
Ms. Uma Avva
Mr. Joseph M. Brower
Mr. Bob Cone, Chair
Mr. Anthony L. Dillard
Ms. Renee Griffin
Ms. Scottie G. King
Dr. Marilyn Miller
Ms. Myrtle Soloman
Ms. Norita Speaks
Ms. Patricia (Pat) Trice, Vice Chair
Ms. Goldie Wells, City Council, Liaison
Mr. Mike Winstead, Guilford County
Commissioners, Liaison
Library Leadership Team
Brigitte H. Blanton
Steven L. Sumerford
Library Director
Sandy Neerman
3. Each day, the Greensboro Public Library strives to offer our customers a world of possibilities through programs,
classes and resources. It is our goal to serve every member of our community with life-changing opportunities, in-
formation, knowledge and experiences. Our annual accomplishments reflect a strong partnership with our Board of
Trustees, Friends of the Library, volunteers and community organizations.
•This year we formed a brand new partnership with the Greensboro Regional Realtors Association as they
supported our Summer Reading program. The Realtors Association along with several local real estate
companies provided generous financial contributions and volunteer assistance.
•The Friends of the Greensboro Public Library, again, helped to sponsor Poetry GSO. This was our third
annual poetry festival and our attendance continued to grow. Luis Rodriguez was the headliner for what
became the city’s first Latino Poetry Project.
•We also formed a partnership with RF Micro Devices, Action Greensboro and several other community
organizations as we created a new initiative designed to foster business development. VentureGSO offered
programs and resources that helped entrepreneurs turn their dreams into realities.
“Building the Future” at the Library has been an important theme for us this year. During the spring and summer each
of our branches sponsored neighborhood forums to learn more about the interests and needs of our customers. We
found that the Library is faced with the challenge of serving a wider variety of needs than ever before.
•ESOL is an acronym that we hear more and more these days. English for Speakers of Other Languages
refers to programs and materials that offer immigrant populations training in English as a second language.
The Library’s bilingual materials and programs are critical in helping our newest citizens adjust to living
and working in a new country. Nearly 3,000 people participated in ESOL classes this year.
•Adult and senior learners are faced with the challenge of keeping abreast of technology as they further their
education. The Library’s computer classes and lifelong learning programs serve to make these changes less
daunting.
•Job seekers looking for the best opportunities can no longer rely on newspaper want ads alone. Access to
online resources is a key component of any job search. The Library provides guidance and computer access
to databases and resources to assist anyone making a career change. We also provide a career services
librarian for one-on-one support.
•In addition to our newer challenges, pre-school children continue to be our special responsibility because
the Greensboro Public Library is the only public institution in our community that serves all children
beginning at birth.
•The Greensboro Public Library also serves those who cannot read with literacy
materials and programs.
More than 2.5 million people came to our Libraries and we had over 600,000 visits to
our website last year. As you will see in the following pages many of our customers felt
compelled to write to us about their experiences at the Library. As we look to the future,
our goal is to provide equal access to state-of-the-art resources for everyone in Guilford
County.
Director, Greensboro Public Library
A Letter From The Director
4. Statistical Summary & General
Fund Statement 2005-2006
Visits to the Greensboro Public Library..........................................2,548,240
Books & materials at the Greensboro Public Library.........................555,644
Books & materials checked out......................................................1,396,665
Children’s & Young Adult books checked out....................................645,905
Adult programs offered.........................................................................1,583
Attendance at adult programs...............................................................15,925
Reference questions answered...........................................................210,990
Computer classes offered.........................................................................334
Computer class attendance....................................................................1,165
Library computer users......................................................................153,306
Hours of computer use......................................................................289,966
Virtual Visits to the Library’s web site................................................649,209
Children’s programs offered...................................................................2,699
Attendance at children’s programs.......................................................72,689
Children who participated in Summer Reading......................................8,410
Movie Night attendance.......................................................................2,073
Personnel..............................................69.7%
Maintenance & Operations........................8.8%
Materials Budget.....................................11.3%
Technology..........................................10.2%
Expenditures
Annual Operating Budget................$8,285,108
FundingFromCityof Greensboro............80.1%
FundingFromGuilfordCounty................15.8%
Funding From The State...........................4.1%
Revenue
County 15.8%
State 4.1%
City 80.1% Personnel 69.7%
Technology 10.2% Materials Budget 11.3%
Maintenance & Operations 8.8%
5. A New Kind Of Book
At Your Library
Some of our customers are reading less, but enjoying more books than ever. In December of 2005 the
Library added downloadable audio books to the premium resources available through our website. Now,
from the comfort of your own home, you can download audiobooks for playback on your computer or mp3
player. The Library’s collection includes nearly 1,500 downloadable audiobooks, all available for free with
your Library card.
Book titles include the latest best sellers, book club favorites, award winning authors and more. You can
search through titles, listen to previews and download up to ten books at a time. Our audiobooks are un-
abridged versions narrated by professional actors.
In addition to the downloadable audiobooks, our collection includes nearly 25,000 eBooks. An eBook can
be downloaded and read using a personal computer. As with the audiobooks, the eBooks are available 24
hours a day, seven days a week and all for free with your Library card.
Audiobook Downloads from July 2005 through June 2006...........1,381
eBooks accessed from July 2005 through June 2006....................... 439
6. Building The Future
At Your Library
With the goal of demonstrating how important the Library is to children in their com-
munity, the Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro and a quilt advisory committee
conceived a project that would bring people in the area together, especially the children.
From September through November 2005, children from surrounding neighborhoods par-
ticipated in original story writing and the creation of a story quilt. The quilt represents
ideas generated by the committees and the children’s own input.
The final project, led by writer Susie Wilde and artist Peg Gignoux, evolved into a beauti-
ful three-panel tapestry called We Need Books, Too. The children who participated enjoyed
the co-operative process and pop-up books were created to express their feelings for the
project. A festival was held to unveil We Need Books, Too in April and the quilt is now
proudly displayed in the McGirt-Horton branch of the Library. This community project
was sponsored by the Greensboro Public Library Foundation.
7. Lifelong Learning
At Your Library
“Children from across cultural, economic and social lines come together to learn that reading is a
powerful thing. They see that reading can open doors in ways that no other media can do. These
children enter the library with open and curious minds; they leave with new ideas in those minds
and, typically, new books in their hands. Finally, they are better prepared to succeed in school than
children who do not have such an early exposure. In my opinion, these benefits make the Kathleen
Clay Edwards Family Library a huge success.”
Colleen Pinyan - News & Record Letter to the Editor
8.
9. Supporting Family
At Your Library
“The Central Library has lots to offer all age groups. The librarians in the children’s room are quite knowledgeable when
it comes to the world of literature. They are willing and able to help you find that perfect book for your child. Their sto-
rytimes are wonderful - they truly love books and love children. You can’t help but know those two things after a visit
there. They allow children to be children. Three times a year the children’s room offers Family Place. This is a workshop
for parents / caregivers of 12- 41 month olds. Play with your child while Ms. Pam brings in local resources to answer
questions on child development and other child care topics. The selection of children’s books as well as new fiction is
wonderful. The entire staff is friendly and helpful.” Lynda W. (from Insider Pages)
10. Economic Development
Begins At Your Library
VentureGSO
In the fall of 2005 VentureGSO proved to be a highly
successful Library business initiative which demon-
strated the benefits of community partnerships. Work-
ing with Action Greensboro, Guilford County Schools,
Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network, the Small
Business Consortium and RF Micro Devices, our busi-
ness librarian created a program designed to encourage
business development and foster the entrepreneurial
spirit.
Entrepreneurs found programs and resources that
helped them to turn their dreams into reality. Business
owners discovered information on tapping new mar-
kets, solving employment issues, finding venture capital
and other ways to improve their chances for success.
Business Advantage
The Greensboro Public Library supports the local busi-
ness community by offering premium online business
databases, computer classes, partnerships with area busi-
ness organizations, and more. The business collection is
located at Central Library and includes current business
titles, reference tools, directories and magazines.
Our Business Librarian offers educational programs,
planning consultation and contacts with organizations
throughout our community that provide services and
support to businesses and entrepreneurs. The Library
served over 700 business customers with nearly 70 pro-
grams.
Career Services
The Greensboro Public Library offers one-on-one ca-
reer counseling and job search assistance. Our Career
Counselor can guide you to up-to-date resources and
can administer self-assessment tests to help you discov-
er your personal interests and career preferences. The
Library served over 1,700 job seekers during this fiscal
year.
A collection of career resources can be found in the
Reference Department at Central Library and our web-
site includes a long list of local and national job search
links. The Library also provides access to computers
and resources to help you produce a professional, job-
winning resume. ResumeMaker is an online tool that
makes writing a better resume quick and easy. Simply
fill in the blanks at each step with thousands of pre-writ-
ten phrases and keywords recommended by experts for
most careers.
11. Unique Services For Varied
Interests At Your Library
The Greensboro Public Library offers a world of
possibilities for people of all ages and all walks of
life. Each of the seven locations is home to unique
collections, programs, and services, as well as a core
collection of reference, current fiction, nonfiction,
and children’s materials. All locations offer weekly
story times for preschoolers, afternoon programs for
school-aged children, and book discussion groups.
Central Library
Located in the heart of the cultural district, Central
Library is a popular downtown destination. Custom-
ers enjoy access to more than 100 computers, includ-
ing a lab for computer training. On the first floor you
will find a large and inviting space for children and a
Popular Library offering fiction, audio books, music
CDs and DVDs. There is a Reader’s Advisory Desk
and a special section for teens and young adults. On
the second floor, you’ll find nonfiction, the North
Carolina Collection, the Business Collection, past is-
sues of periodicals, and an information desk staffed
by professional librarians. Central Library also of-
fers large meeting rooms for community groups.
Benjamin Branch
Located in the Guilford Hills neighborhood, this
Library offers a broad range of children’s program-
ming, access to computers and meeting space for
community organizations. The Children’s Librarian
at Benjamin brings books and gifts to the pediatrics
unit at Moses Cone Hospital each week for the Get
Well With Books program.
Glenwood Branch
This Library is home to the Nonprofit Resource
Center, the Greensboro Neighborhood Information
Center and the Multicultural Resource Center. Here
you will find the Library’s foreign language learning
collection, as well as materials in at least nine differ-
ent languages. Glenwood offers extensive programs
and services for speakers of other languages who are
learning English, including tutoring, conversation
clubs, and software in an ESL computer lab.
Hemphill Branch
This Library is an innovative combination of art
gallery and public library. Thanks to a partnership
with the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art,
Hemphill offers all the traditional services you ex-
pect from your neighborhood library, plus art exhib-
its and the ArtQuest studio. In addition to sched-
uled art programs, the ArtQuest studio offers open
access for self-guided art projects. Other special fea-
tures at Hemphill include a reading garden, a family
room, and a special children’s tree house. Weekly
activities include a Kids Knit! Class and the Knights
of Vandalia Chess Club.
Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch
This Library is located in the 98-acre Price Park,
which includes a bird and butterfly meadow, read-
ing garden, walking trails, ponds, and wetlands.
In addition to popular collections, this branch has
an extensive collection of nature, gardening, and
environmental resources for children and adults.
Price Park backpacks with field guides, binoculars
and more are available for adults and children to
use when exploring nature along the surrounding
trails.
McGirt-Horton Branch
This Library is home to a unique collection of home
improvementmaterials,includingbooks,magazines,
and how-to videos. Customers can even check out
tools to help with projects around the house! This
library supports an active Junior Friends group, pro-
viding community development and leadership op-
portunities to neighborhood teens.
Vance H. Chavis Branch
Vance Chavis is considered the Lifelong Learning
branch with the motto, “The library in the commu-
nity and the community in the library.” The branch
offers a computer lab with specialty training for
seniors and teens. Chavis also houses an extensive
African-American collection of both fiction and
nonfiction.
12. Poetry GSO At Your Library
“Going into our third year, it is safe to say that Poetry GSO is changing the literary landscape in Greensboro. It has
become an event that people eagerly await each year. When we first launched the program we heard people say things like
“I just don’t get poetry.” However, thanks to the hard work of library staff and community volunteers, Poetry GSO has
tapped into a love of poetry that flows, like an underground stream, through our culture.”
Steve Sumerford, Poetry GSO Director
13. About Poetry GSO
Poetry GSO was conceived in April 2003 by the Greensboro Pub-
lic Library and several community partners who shared a common
desire to celebrate poetry. Greensboro has been home to many re-
nowned poets including Randall Jarrell who lived here from 1947
to 1965. Jarrell was the Poetry Consultant to the Library of Con-
gress (a title later changed to United States Poet Laureate) and it is
his face that appears in the Poetry GSO logo.
In April 2006 Poetry GSO collaborated with El Centro de Acción
Latino to sponsor the city’s first Latino Poetry Project. This col-
laboration was a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the com-
munity to learn more about Latino culture.
PoetryGSO was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, with
funding from the NC Arts Council, NC Humanities Council,
United Arts Council and the Community Foundation of Greater
Greensboro.
2006 Poets
Luis Rodriguez
Activist, award-wining poet and author Luis Rodriguez is con-
vinced that a writer can change the world. Indeed it is through
education and the power of words that Rodriguez saw his own
way out of the barrio of East L.A. and broke free from the years
of violence and desperation he spent as an active gang member.
Achieving success as an award-winning Chicano poet, Luis Ro-
driguez was sure the streets would haunt him no more–until his
young son joined a gang himself. Rodriguez fought for his child by
telling his own story in the bestseller Always Running: La Vida Loca,
Gang Days In L.A., a vivid memoir that explores the motivation of
gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevi-
tably claim its participants. The author addresses the issues of race,
class, gender and personal rage through dialogue, story, poetry and
art. He conducts workshops, readings, and talks in juvenile deten-
tion facilities, migrant camps, universities and public schools.
Ekiwah Adler-Belendez
Poetry GSO introduced this 18 year old poetic prodigy from Mex-
ico to a new audience. Ekiwah was labeled a child prodigy at age
12 when he published his first book of poetry, Soy (I Am). He has
since published two more volumes of poetry Palabras Inagotobles
(Neverending Words) and Weaver, each of which has been widely ac-
claimed by critics. Born with cerebral palsy, Ekiwah has said that
“I cannot walk by myself, yet in my poems I not only walk, but give
myself license to have eight legs and experience movement.”
Ana Istarú
Ana is a poet, playwright and actor from Costa Rica. One of Cen-
tral America’s most highly regarded writers, Istaru first attracted
international attention when her poetry collection Fever Season won
the prestigious EDUCA prize for poetry in 1984. In addition, her
acting talent has earned her the Costa Rican equivalent of an Os-
car. As a playwright, two of her works, Baby Boom in Paradise and
Men in Marinade, have won prizes in international competitions.
14. “The library to me is as the Constitution is to the United States: It’s always needed,”
said Michael Betts, a member of the Greensboro Public Library’s Strategic
Planning Committee. - News & Record
15. Creating Community
At Your Library
Friends and neighbors come together for Library
events throughout the year. The Greensboro Public
Library offers free programs for every age and many
interests: art classes, author visits, book discussions,
business seminars, chess clubs, computer classes,
cultural festivals, game nights, genealogy, knitting
groups, movie nights, nature programs, origami,
poetry slams, rock bands, story times and more.
During the summer months the Greensboro Public
Library, in partnership with several community or-
ganizations, offers Summer Movie Night. This is an
ideal opportunity for families to get together with
other folks in the community to enjoy live entertain-
ment and a movie. People bring blankets and picnic
dinners to the lawn in front of the Price-Bryan Am-
phitheater for family fun and free entertainment.
In August, the Hemphill Library and the Green
Hill Center for North Carolina Art hosted the
First Annual Community Cultural Arts Festival.
The Hemphill neighborhood is rich in cultural di-
versity and the festival offered music, dance, food,
games, stories and art from around the world.
16. The Greensboro Public Library
A World Of Possibilities
www.greensborolibrary.org
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