Cherokee County Public Library Announces Opening of Learning Resource Center for Students
Gaffney, SC (March 7, 2014) – Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the South Carolina State Library, the Cherokee County Public Library (CCPL) will be opening a Learning Resource Center at the Gaffney Library on Monday, March 24th, 2014. This new area will offer two iMacs and five iPads for use by students ages eighteen and under while at the library. The devices will be available exclusively for student use, and will be loaded with educational apps and research software, as well as Microsoft Office and other software to complete papers, homework, and projects. Students do not need a library card to log on to the new devices, and will be allowed to print up to ten pages for free.
Tara Smith, Youth Services Manager, said, “By receiving this prestigious grant, we have been able to supplement and enhance our services to Cherokee County students, which will help them thrive in school, transition to higher education, and become successful adults in the job market. In this digital age, it is important for us to provide students with a chance to engage with new technologies they may not have at home.”
This grant will provide excellent opportunities for the county’s youth by allowing them access to new technologies, providing a dedicated space for homework completion in the library, and offering updated homework help materials to supplement their education in school. Throughout the year, the library will also use these new resources to engage with the community through outreach to local schools, special technology-enhanced programming, and additional services.
CCPL will hold a ribbon-cutting reception to celebrate the Learning Resource Center’s opening and share information with community stakeholders on Friday, March 21st, and the services will be open to the public beginning on Monday, March 24th. Learning Resource Center devices will be available for use from 30 minutes after library opening until 15 minutes before library closing. To use the iMacs and iPads, students need only bring a parent or legal guardian to sign a release form on their first visit, at which point they can begin to take advantage of these exciting new resources.
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The Cherokee County Public Library strives to connect the community with quality resources that encourage literacy, expand learning, and enrich lives. For more information about CCPL, visit www.cherokeecountylibrary.org.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
The South Carolina State Library is the primary administrator of federal and state support for the state’s libraries. The State Library is a national model for innovation, collaboration, leadership and effectiveness. The State Library’s mission is to optimize South Carolina’s investment in library and information services. In 1969, as the result of action by the General Assembly, the State Library Board was redesignated as the South Carolina State Library and assumed responsibility for public library development, library service for state institutions, service for the blind and physically handicapped, and library service to state government agencies. Headquartered in Columbia, SC, the Library is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and other sources. For more information, please visit www.statelibrary.sc.gov or call (803) 734-8666.
