Libraries to receive $1.06 million in fed grants

Funding for 34 grants approved for library districts across the state soon will be available, says a spokesman for the Library and Archives Division of the state Department of Museums, Library and Arts.

The grants, approved earlier this year by the state Council on Libraries and Literacy, are funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the authority of the Library Services and Technology Act of 1996.

Diane Baker said state grants are approved pending the award of the federal grant -- which this year is $1,063,520.

Notices were sent out Tuesday to the grantees, Baker said.

The largest of state grants is $100,000 awarded to Washoe County for a bookmobile.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District will receive $120,000 for several grants, including a project to provide computer lab equipment that has larger-than-normal text for visually impaired and a children's on-line project.

The North Las Vegas Library District will receive $70,000 for two grants, one to make library material more accessible to the disabled and another for a family reading project.

There also are a number of statewide projects to be funded.

Nevada Sens. Richard Bryan and Harry Reid announced the awarding of the $1.06 million grant earlier this week.

"Libraries are a vital part of any community, and with the help of these dollars, the Silver State will be able to continue to provide the necessary funds to give all citizens a place to learn," Reid said.

Bryan said "the cornerstone of a superior education is an excellent library system. With these grant funds, the Nevada State Library and Archives will be able to support both local library systems and statewide educational organizations in their efforts to modernize their learning tools and bolster every Nevadan's opportunity to learn with the best technology available."

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