The Polk County Public Library has been awarded a $19,000 grant to be used for upgrading the computer lab in Columbus.
The library will use the funds to replace all the public computers and add three new workstations. The library will also create two “express stations,” which will be standing Internet access points for checking emails, printing boarding passes and other quick tasks.
LSTA funds awarded by the State Library of North Carolina are made possible through funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.
These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. At the Polk County Public Library, the LSTA grant will provide purchase of 16 computers and furniture.
Library director Cindy Nanney said, “The majority of the usage in our computer lab supports patrons that do not have access to online resources or computers at home. The upgraded computers will give our patrons a portal to emerging technologies and also alleviate waiting times. We are excited to continue to support the needs of our community.”
PCPL received one of the 112 competitive grants for fiscal year 2011-2012 awarded to North Carolina libraries from this year’s federal allotment of $4,160,471. The LSTA grant program administered by the State Library of North Carolina funds projects across the state that help libraries deliver learning opportunities for a lifetime, support libraries in their mission to provide cost-effective access to the Internet and to information expertise and make library resources more accessible to all users.
The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. Through the LSTA Grants to States program IMLS provides funds to state library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public, academic, school, special and research libraries.  To learn more about the ionstitute, please visit www.imls.gov.
For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lsta/lsta.htm, or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-807-7400.
For more information about our local library, visit our website at www.polklibrary.org.