COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A library director in the Fountain City achieved an exceptional goal this year.
Alan Harkness, director of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, was named Library Director of the Year by the Georgia Public Library service.
In 2013, Harkness became the director of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries. The regional library system currently serves about $250,000 people with seven facilities, two bookmobiles and two automated 24-hour library kiosks.
Harkness has worked with Georgia public libraries for over 30 years, holding positions such as regional director of Piedmont Regional Library System to assistant state librarian for library development at Georgia Public Library Service.
Under Harkness’ leadership, his library system became the first in Georgia to eliminate fines for overdue materials .
“This is something that other libraries were doing nationally, but I didn’t think it would work here because we thought we needed the revenue from book fines. When a colleague, a former library director, sent me all the data from their fines free campaign in Utah, it really opened my eyes,” said Harkness. “When I saw the projected real impact on the community versus revenue, I realized it was something that would benefit our library and became very excited about it!” Harkness worked to educate the library’s board members and stakeholders about the benefits of being fines free, including increased access to library materials and reduced barriers for patrons who had stopped using the library due to fines.