|
The Remote Internet Access Station Project
The
McDonald County Library
is currently seeking locations for
new Public Internet
Access Stations!
In
an effort to better serve rural McDonald county residents, the
library is looking to place computers in numerous locations all over
the county. The library is particularly interested in setting up
public Internet-accessible computers in the small communities that
are furthest away from the library's current branches.
(This McDonald County Map shows areas currently covered in green... We want to turn the whole county green!)
Carrie
Cline, the Library Director,
is asking that businesses or
public/community centers in outlying areas of the county contact her
if they are interested in getting one or more of the free computers.
Right now, all that is needed is a list of good potential sites.
Thanks to various equipment replacement grants the library recently
received, the library already has virtually all of the computer
equipment necessary to provide the service to several locations,
along with the willingness to support and maintain the project for
several years.
Although
willing to consider any location, the library is most interested in
finding locations in the areas that are currently furthest from the
two library branches in Pineville and Noel. This includes (but is
not limited to):
Bethpage,
Bunker Hill, Goodman, Jane, Longview, Powell, Rocky Comfort,
Splitlog, Southwest City, and Tiff City; as well as unincorporated
rural areas, especially in the NW and SE corners of the county such
as Hart and Simsberry or Jacket.
 The
program is very flexible, and can be tailored to fit almost any
situation. Any business, or other public-accessible indoor location,
that is open to the public during regular posted hours is eligible.
The library can provide computers, displays, network hardware, even
printers and UPS (backup) power supplies. They will also set up the
systems and provide all the technical support and maintenance needed
to keep them in good running order at all times. A business
participating in this program can realize the benefit of increased
foot traffic to their door, as well as the tremendous goodwill
generated by providing this free service.
If
you have a location that may be suitable for a Remote Internet Access
Station, you are urged to contact Carrie Cline, library director, at
the Pineville Library. Please phone Carrie at 417-223-4489, or email
carecline@yahoo.com with your information.
One
of the most difficult challenges a county library faces is how to
best serve those who live a very long distance from the library, and
who don't often travel to any of the towns which have library
branches. Providing these Remote Internet Access Stations is a very
cost-effective way to bring some of the library's most useful
services to rural patrons. Re-introducing “Bookmobiles” to
travel across the county has been previously considered, but the idea
had to be shelved because the program costs involved would be
excessive, placing too much of a strain on the library's already
tight budget.
The
McDonald County Library is supported primarily by county property
tax. The library receives less than 3 cents out of every property
tax dollar collected (exactly 2.79%), which is very near the absolute
minimum that the State of Missouri allows for Public Libraries that
are eligible for State assistance. (The idea being that if local
communities aren't willing to help their own library, then neither is
the State government.) Without that State assistance, the library
would not be able to operate at anywhere near its current capacity.
#
# #
For
additional information, please contact Carrie at the
Pineville Library.
Carrie
Cline
Library
Director
McDonald
County Library
Phone:
417-223-4489
Fax:
417-223-4011
Email: carecline@yahoo.com
Web: www.mcdonaldcountylibrary.org
|
