The DeKalb County Public Library (DCPL) is the public library system of DeKalb County, Georgia in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The library system headquarters are at the Darro C. Willey Administrative Offices in Decatur.[2]
| DeKalb County Public Library | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Decatur Library - serves as central library | |
 | |
| Established | 1907 |
| Branches | 22 libraries 1 homework center |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 2,897,070 (2018) |
| Population served | 745,417 (2018) |
| Members | 195,711 (2018) |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $19.6 million (2019) |
| Director | Alison Weissinger[1] |
| Employees | 239 (2019) |
| Website | dekalblibrary.org |
Its collection includes over 850,000 books and over 19,000 downloadable e-books; collections of over 400 magazines, academic and scientific journals, and newspapers; and audiovisual materials including videotapes, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs.[3][4] Library patrons can also access a variety of databases and online references through the GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online) system. The library currently operates 22 branches located throughout the county, with construction of two additional branches planned.[5]
DeKalb County Public Library offers literacy services, such as Adult Basic Education (ABE) which helps adults learn basic skills in math, reading, and language development. English as a second language (ESL) classes are held at the branches and provide advanced instruction in the speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and syntax of English for speakers of other languages. The library offers online resources and learning tools including access to databases such as learningexpress. The library has test preparations resources for exams such as GED, ASVAB and many others. Literacy outreach programs include Project Horizons, Project Reap and Health Literacy.
As of 2018, the library served a population of over 745,000, of whom almost 196,000 had library cards.[6] As of fiscal year 2019 the library system a staff of 239 employees, and a budget of over $19.5 million.[7]
List of branches
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History
editThe first public library in the county was opened in 1907, in Lithonia. In 1925 a larger public library was founded in Decatur, the county seat of DeKalb County. In 1952 branches of the Decatur Library were established in Brookhaven and Doraville, and the Decatur Library was renamed the Decatur-DeKalb Library.[9] The previously independent public library in Lithonia also joined the Decatur-DeKalb system, although the Lithonia library maintained a separate library board until 1971.[10] As the DeKalb Regional Library System, the library provided services for neighboring Rockdale County from 1951 to 1989, and also for Newton County from 1953 to 1989; in 1989 the regional library system was disbanded and each of the three counties established its own separate library system.[11]
Library systems in neighboring counties
edit- Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System to the west
- Clayton County Library System to the south west
- Gwinnett County Public Library to the east
- Conyers-Rockdale Library System to the south east
- Henry County Library System to the south
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Administrative Staff". DeKalb County Public Library. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ Contact Us. Retrieved on March 31, 2019. ""DeKalb County Public Library Darro C. Willey Administrative Offices 3560 Kensington Road Decatur, GA 30032""
- ^ Statistics: Fiscal Year 2018 Statistics Retrieved on March 31, 2019
- ^ Library Collections: Periodicals Retrieved on March 31, 2019
- ^ Branches Retrieved on March 31, 2019
- ^ DeKalb County Public Library homepage: Statistics
- ^ FY2019 Budget, As passed February 26, 2019, DeKalb County, Georgia, pp. 239-245
- ^ "Decatur Library Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine." DeKalb County Public Library. Accessed October 27, 2008.
- ^ DeKalb County Public Library homepage: About Us: History
- ^ DeKalb County Public Library homepage: History of the Lithonia Public Library (via Internet Archive)
- ^ Newton County Public Library homepage: A Short History of the Library Retrieved March 31, 2019