MCP 10.19.17 Technology grant Library

The McDonald County Library received a LSTA Technology Mini-Grant of $14,158.

This is the third grant from IMLS this year.

"We are so very appreciative," said Retha Mitchell, interim director of McDonald County Library. "Our 2017 Summer Reading Program was financed mainly with a $12,000 award by them. They also awarded us a Public Library Collection Development Grant of almost $5000 that allowed us to purchase materials for all of our branches."

IMLS is an abbreviation for the Institute of Library and Museum Sciences. Their mission is stated as: "The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission has been to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. For the past 20 years, our grant making, policy development and research has helped libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive."

This latest grant allows the computers at Southwest City to be replaced with newer models. Library computers are recommended to be replaced every five years to prevent problems and costs incurred to service older models that are presenting problems and prevent slow processing times. The computers at Southwest City are the ones installed when the library opened in May 2011.

"It has been 7-and-a-half years and we have been fortunate that we have not had more issues than we have had," Mitchell said. "Earlier this year, Tyson Foods donated the money to replace the computers in Noel and we had been hoping that funding would be available to replace (the ones in Southwest City) as well. That hope became reality when we were notified that we had been awarded this grant at the end of August."

The grant will replace eight public computers, two circulation computers and two children's computers, for a total of 12. In addition, it provides funds to replace the main server located in Pineville, which is badly needed.

"The grant requires a 25 percent match, but that is a small layout for such an expensive upgrade," Mitchell said. "We are fortunate to have this financial support to keep our computers up-to-date and our system functioning at top performance."

The library will note the origin of the computers by attaching a label or written acknowledgment on the computer.

"Wherever you see this logo whether at a library or museum, you will know that that particular computer, book or other item is found there, has been purchased with funds provided by this philanthropic group and that the facility where they found them, is a recipient of this valuable organization," Mitchell explained.

General News on 10/19/2017