The state of Tennessee is providing grants to public libraries to offer services and technology for their communities.
These grants from the state will continue to make libraries hubs for learning and opportunities. In rural Cocke County, it will help people without a means to access the internet to stay connected.
The state of Tennessee offers grants for public libraries to help their communities. The grants are distributed by the Office of the Secretary of State.
"Some libraries are using them to get an instructor who can come in and teach people how to better use technology. Some libraries are doing it where they invest in hotspots or laptop computers," said Tre Hargett, Tennessee Secretary of State.
The Stokley Memorial Library received the Technology Opportunities for the Public grant, or TOP grant, for free hotspot checkouts. The money will help people without service at no cost.
Emily Majors, the library director, said she is thankful to have received a TOP grant every year since she has had this program running.
"It allows them to have internet access for working from home or doing homeschooling, anything as simple as just streaming on their TV. There are many areas where the internet connections are not very good. It's a relief every year when I do get it because it allows us to do it for free because there are other libraries that do check out hotspots and computers, but they charge," said Majors.
In Parrottsville, the grants are helping build a new library. The Parrottsville Community Library received a TOP grant for the hotspots and computer checkouts, and a tech grant to help with wiring in the new building, which the small, remote community has needed for a while.
"We're in the beginning stages of building a new library in Parrotsville, which we're really excited about and we can use it for different things like cabling to set up our systems. It's very old and the library is well-loved and well-used in that community," said Christina Wilson, the library director.
These grants and the services they fund highlight the need and importance of public libraries and librarians.
"We have lots of programs and we like to get the word out to the area and everything about all the different things, because we're not just about checking books in and out and everything. There's so many things and so many opportunities for the community to be a part of our library," said Majors.
Wilson agreed.
"It is so vital to support your local library. These small communities, it's just so important that they have that kind of access and this grant is what really gives us the opportunity to allow it, so it's for your local library," said Wilson.
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