Chambersburg District Libraries

RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2002

CONTACT PERSON: Ricky Prado 717-709-0282 x216 rprado@fclspa.org

SUBJECT: Franklin County Library System Receives $42,000 in LSTA Grants

The Franklin County Library System is delighted to announce it has been approved for two Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants totaling over $42,000.  

The first grant approved is worth $34,025 and is devoted solely to the soon to be delivered new bookmobile.  The funds will be used to:

• Improve the collection of materials on the bookmobile, including new books, magazines, music CD's, videos and DVD's.
• Equip the bookmobile for Internet access.
• Paint custom graphics on the outside of the new bookmobile.

The second grant approved is worth $8,812 and is going to be used to buy computer hardware to pilot a digitization project.  "We're hoping to take a lot of our older books and pictures, some of which would be nearly impossible to replace if lost, and preserve them by scanning them into the computer, 'digitizing' them if you will," states Ricky Prado, Chambersburg District Libraries District Consultant. "Then we will be able to make some of these materials available from our website. Can you imagine downloading an 18th Century book about Franklin County onto your computer at any time of the day? From anywhere in the world?  " 

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) of 1996, a section of the Museum and Library Services Act is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a Federal agency.  IMLS makes available funds to state library agencies including the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries through the LSTA program.  State libraries may then redistribute these federal funds to support statewide initiatives and services, with technology as a broad focus.  "Public Libraries are very lucky to have such strong and supportive money sources these days," states Prado. "The folks at Commonwealth Libraries do a tremendous job in approving and administering these grants. Gary Wolfe (Commissioner of Libraries) and his hard working staff deserve a lot of the credit for our ability to improve service."

"These grants are a great example of library service 'outside the walls' that we are working towards improving." states Prado, "Everybody's busy.  A lot of folks just don't have the time to visit the library. With these two grants we're sort of hoping to bring the library to them."

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