The Atmore Public Library has received a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to be used to upgrade the technology.

Cathy McKinley, director of the Atmore Public Library, said the grant will allow them to replace old computers.

“This grant will replace some old computers, allowing for new computers and new software for the patrons of the library,” McKinley said. “Library Partners of Atmore provided the match money that we needed in order to secure the grant. We have 11 computers in the adult/student department right now. Two of them are used for catalog access and the rest are used for Internet, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and educational software.

“The children’s department has seven computers with educational software and one catalog workstation,” she added. “We plan on having classes on resume writing and job applications. There are so many people who are out of work and many of them come in here to write their resumes. In the last fiscal year, computers have been used at least 15,523 times. Some people don’t know how to write a resume and we help them get started and go online searching for a job. There are many people who don’t have computers in their homes and we can provide for them.”

The new computers will have new software of English, History and Biology skills that will help students prepare for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. Reading and math skills software for the middle and elementary students, along with learning skills software for pre-school children will also be available.

The days when one went to the library just to read or check out books has changed. These days they have not only books, but also videos and music. The biggest changes have involved the use of technology in the world of computers. Even the catalog access is done on computers today and the card catalog has become obsolete.

“The library is used in many different ways these days,” McKinley said. “We wouldn’t be able to offer these to our visitors without the help of the City of Atmore, Library Partners of Atmore, United Fund, Poarch Creek Indians and Rep. Alan Baker, Alabama Public Library Service, local organizations and the people of Atmore.”The Atmore Public Library has received a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to be used to upgrade the technology.

Cathy McKinley, director of the Atmore Public Library, said the grant will allow them to replace old computers.

“This grant will replace some old computers, allowing for new computers and new software for the patrons of the library,” McKinley said. “Library Partners of Atmore provided the match money that we needed in order to secure the grant. We have 11 computers in the adult/student department right now. Two of them are used for catalog access and the rest are used for Internet, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and educational software.

“The children’s department has seven computers with educational software and one catalog workstation,” she added. “We plan on having classes on resume writing and job applications. There are so many people who are out of work and many of them come in here to write their resumes. In the last fiscal year, computers have been used at least 15,523 times. Some people don’t know how to write a resume and we help them get started and go online searching for a job. There are many people who don’t have computers in their homes and we can provide for them.”

The new computers will have new software of English, History and Biology skills that will help students prepare for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. Reading and math skills software for the middle and elementary students, along with learning skills software for pre-school children will also be available.

The days when one went to the library just to read or check out books has changed. These days they have not only books, but also videos and music. The biggest changes have involved the use of technology in the world of computers. Even the catalog access is done on computers today and the card catalog has become obsolete.

“The library is used in many different ways these days,” McKinley said. “We wouldn’t be able to offer these to our visitors without the help of the City of Atmore, Library Partners of Atmore, United Fund, Poarch Creek Indians and Rep. Alan Baker, Alabama Public Library Service, local organizations and the people of Atmore.”