GALILEO stands for GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online, an initiative of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. A World Wide Web-based virtual library, GALILEO provides access to multiple information resources, including secured access to licensed products, a common library management system for the USG libraries, and a digital library environment.

• GALILEO - Licensed Products and Selected Internet Resources:
  • The community of more than 2000 GALILEO institutions includes the University System of Georgia, K-12 schools, public libraries, the adult technical institutes and colleges, and a group of private academic colleges and universities. At this time, only educational institutions are eligible to participate in GALILEO. Participating institutions may access over 100 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 2000 journal titles are provided in full-text. Other resources include encyclopedias, business directories, and government publications.

• GALILEO - The Digital Library of Georgia:
  • The Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative based at the University of Georgia Libraries that works together with Georgia's libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of cultural heritage to provide access to the cultural and historical resources of the state of Georgia. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. The Digital Library of Georgia also provides digital library, photographic, and micrographic services, and supports the instruction, research, and service missions of GALILEO and the University System of Georgia through collaboration with university faculty, students, and staff, and through participation on local and national levels in the development of digital library standards, practice, and technology. The Digital Library facilitates cooperative ventures with other organizations and provides leadership for cooperative digital initiatives throughout the state.

• GALILEO - GALILEO Interconnected Libraries:
  • GALILEO Interconnected Libraries, or GIL, is an extension of the GALILEO initiative funded by the Governor and the General Assembly of the state of Georgia to enhance and expand educational opportunities for the citizens of Georgia. The successes that GALILEO has had in leveling the information access opportunities for the citizens of Georgia are being extended to University System's Libraries through GIL by providing students, faculty and staff expanded access to the information resources of the University System's Libraries.

Through collaboration and resource sharing, GALILEO seeks to provide equal access to information for all Georgia citizens. While individual libraries benefit from the cooperative sharing of resources - lower costs and increased access to a wider range of materials - the goal is to improve library services for all Georgia citizens. No matter where a citizen lives in the state of Georgia, a library nearby provides access to GALILEO. For this reason, all GALILEO participating libraries, whether public or private, excluding schools (K-12), must provide some kind of access to GALILEO for the public, whether through open access to all library facilities, limited access to designated workstations, waiting lists, or other means. In this way, participating libraries fulfill the vision of GALILEO and reciprocate the sharing spirit in which it was created. Libraries are further encouraged to participate in other collaborative and resource sharing activities such as joint training, interlibrary loan, and reciprocal borrowing.