UPGRADE FOR LIBRARY — Darzania Kaczmarczyk, a circulation worker at the Cleveland Bradley County Library, stands next to one of the new computers recently purchased by the library. The library purchased 15 new computers and monitors and six additional monitors with grant money from the Tennessee Department of State. These computers will replace the older computers in the library. Banner photo, JOYANNA WEBER
Andrew Hunt, Cleveland Bradley County Library director, said the library received the money in June after applying for the grant in November 2009. The library then matched the grant giving them $15,400 to use for technology. The grant is part of a program by the Tennessee Depart-ment of State to fund technology for public libraries across the state.
“Money is extremely important to the life of the library ... (and) technology is an important part of how the library functions,” Hunt said.
Hunt said the library has been given technology grants from the Tennessee Department of State since 2004. Hunt commented he is “glad the state had the vision to channel this money for technology.”
According to a press release issued Tuesday, State Rep. Kevin Brooks said it is important for government “to provide our local libraries with support they need to offer excellent services to our citizens.”
These technology grants allow the libraries to replace computers, keep up with the latest technology and make this technology available to the public.
The Cleveland Bradley County Library usually replaces a computer after it has been in use for seven years.
“Being able to replace (the computers) in a timely manner is important.” Hunt said.
He said 15 new computers a year are the minumum number that allows them to keep this replacement cycle for its more than 130 computers, 82 of which are accessible to the public.
The library is also using part of the grant to update their computer management system, which is how patrons are able to access computers.
Information technology manager Kevin Stover said the technology purchased with the grant will allow the library to “serve more people better.” He also said the new system of logging on will be “less headache for patrons” then the previous system.
The Cleveland Bradley County Library also has plans to purchase computers for the children’s area in the near future with a Broadband Technology Opportunity Program grant as part of stimulus money from the federal government.
