New public computers in McCook city library

Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Nebraska Library Commission director Rod Wagner, above left, explains how grant funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were used to purchase nine new computers, printers and computer programs and hardware for McCook Public Library. Mayor Dennis Berry, on Wagner's left, one of six library commission members appointed by the Nebraska governor, attended an open house Tuesday at the McCook Public Library. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The public library in McCook, Nebraska is one of 140 Nebraska libraries sharing $3.6 million in grants to update their public computer centers.

McCook librarian Jody Crocker and her staff hosted an open house Tuesday during which Rod Wagner, director of the Nebraska Library Commission, explained a state-wide project -- called "Library Broadband Builds Nebraska Communities" -- designed to upgrade public computer resources in libraries, expand broadband capacity and advance access to employment, learning and health information and to E-Government services.

Across Nebraska, 140 libraries are enhancing their public computer centers using a $2,416,403 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce and a $1,251,786 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The total project budget is $3,668,189.

Steve Batty speaks as a member of the state library commission. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

At the McCook library, grant funds totaling $13,253.10 provided nine new computers, one color printer, one scanner, one projector, computer hardware, four double computer desk, eight chairs and one tall table for stand-up computers.

McCook Mayor Dennis Berry said that libraries have advanced from clay tablets in 2600 BC to today's computers. "Today, we're celebrating a donation by the Nebraska Library Commission" to enhance the McCook library's computer technology, Berry said. He recognized Crocker and her staff, the state's library commission, the McCook Library Foundation and the support of the people of McCook.

McCook city manager Jeff Hancock, a relative newcomer to McCook, said he has been impressed not only with the McCook library and its computer technology, but also with its role as "a gathering place" and "a safe haven for young people after school."


The McCook Library is open Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.


Wagner said federal funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce was awarded in mid-2010, and was then matched by the Gates Foundation. The three-year project gives the state commission "a great opportunity to work with communities across Nebraska," Wagner said.

Project partners, whose information will be accessible through the computer center enhancement project, are: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Center for Rural Affairs, the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Central Community College, the Nebraska Court Administrators' Office, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine: MidContinental Region, the Nebraska Community Foundation, the Nebraska Department of Labor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the University of Nebraska Medical Center/ McGoogan Library of Medicine.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: