Grants helping library

The Burton Memorial Library is a busy place these days thanks in part to two technology grants.

A TIF grant from the Texas Panhandle Library Systems has outfitted Burton Memorial with two new IBM computers, a digital camera, a scanner, one black and white printer, and one color printer. Meanwhile a TIE grant acquired by the Clarendon Independent School District has netted two new Dell computers for the library. The TIE grant will also help cover the library’s phone bill and Internet connection expense.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby says attendance has gone from an average of 30 people per day one year ago to 60 to 70 people per day with some days seeing 100 or more visitors.

All of the computers are Internet accessible using the library’s ISDN line, and Blackerby says people of all ages are using the new equipment.

“We have kids from grade school through college coming in to do research, people use them for making résumés, and we get a lot of travelers through here.”

People on the road stop to check their e-mail, use the restroom, and browse the used book sale, she said.

The library’s two older computers are still available, and the staff uses them to teach very basic computer skills to patrons.

Last week, Burton Memorial got nice surprise when Jay O’Brien and associates made a substantial donation. Blackerby says the money has been put into CDs and will likely be used partly to replace aging reference materials and old chairs in the library.

The remainder may be used as seed money for another project Blackerby has in mind.

“We’d like to remodel some of the upstairs for use as meeting rooms,” she said.

The library is already a meeting site for WIC, Weight Watchers, the Donley County Tourism Committee, and several tutors and students of the literacy program.

In addition, the library is planning a storytelling program for young children in February and will be taking sweetheart pictures of any couples that want them for $2 each for Valentine’s Day.

With all this activity, is the library getting away from its traditional function? Not at all, Blackerby says.

“We also have tons of new books.”