By Katy Ruth Camp

krcamp@mdjonline.com

MARIETTA - Cobb County Library System's new director isn't exactly new. Helen Poyer became the library system's director in June of this year after joining the system in February 2006, after serving as the South Cobb Regional manager and then as the Associate Director of Branch Services.

Prior to moving to Cobb, Poyer worked for 27 years in the Illinois library system. "We moved here in February, and I remember the first thing I thought was, 'oh my gosh! There are flowers!'" Poyer said with a laugh. "I'm very grateful to be here and to be a part of the Cobb community."

Poyer's husband, David, is a professor of economics at Morehouse College and they have three grown children. She said that her first priority when she took over the system was to establish a new Web site. The site, which should be finished by late September or early October, will be more user-friendly to citizens and will make navigation and accessibility easier, Poyer said.

"Our hope is to make the libraries operate on a sort of 24/7 basis," Poyer said. "We want parents to be able to log on before or after library hours if they need to help their children with a project or school report, and to be able to do everything online without worrying about making it to the library before it closes."

Another of the library's newest projects is the development of podcasts for the various libraries' events. Poyer said that the system hopes to launch videos that will range from how-to features, such as how to look up a certain topic and where to find the books, to videos of story time events so that parents can show their children, even if they can't physically be present for the readings.

One of the library's current features includes what they call the play away, which Poyer said is a small device no bigger than a credit card that users can check out for free to listen to audio books while they garden or exercise.

The library also launched their Computer Mobile Lab course this summer, which teaches computer training courses via the libraries' laptops.

Poyer said that the libraries have noticed a significant growth in activity since the downturn of the economy. "People are coming in to perform job searches, get help with their resumes and just explore information on alternate career options," she said. "People are also taking advantage of being able to check out a book or audio book or DVD from the library, rather than having to pay to buy it. We always tell people, and really do believe, your library card can be the best card in your wallet."

As the year progresses and Poyer's plans for the system come to fruition, she said that much of the recognition should fall on her staff. "I am absolutely excited to be here and am very fortunate to have a very hard-working, very supportive staff. They are wanting to serve their communities by helping those who want to learn, and they're knowledgeable about how the system works."