Thirteen Utah libraries will receive a combined $300,000 in grants given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The ways in which the grant money will be used show that libraries are evolving in their role as community education spaces.
All types of libraries are eligible for funding. Proposals must fall under one of three categories: collections, technology, and digitization. Donna Morris, Utah State Library Division Director, said that the criteria reflects the way residents use their library’s resources.
“The usage is changing. It used to be that you could use a public library by coming in the front door and checking out whatever you wanted to take home with you,” Morris said. “Now, you can download a book wherever you are in Utah or out of Utah.”
Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School in St. George is using the grant it’s receiving to create a 21st Century Publishing Lab for its students. Sandy Ferrell, the school’s principal, said that the lab will facilitate hands-on multimedia learning.
“We’re moving more toward project-based learning, we’re hoping the students with these projects that they will be able to access the technology,” Ferrell said. “But we also want to have these students create products that will be used by the school. For instance, they’ll design the banners, planner covers, multimedia presentations for the assembly, and yearbook page design.”
The lab will be a part of the school’s extension program where students can take classes in subjects such as graphic design and digital photography.
