LME Library and Project Next Generation Grant

The Lillie M. Evans Library District was one of 29 public libraries statewide awarded a FY20 Project Next Generation (PNG) grants by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. Project Next Generation (PNG) offers grant funding to public libraries for establishing educational, after-school programs that not only provide access to computers, software and various technology devices, but also hire mentors who are crucial to helping students develop self-confidence and pride in their newly acquired skills. The goal of PNG is to bridge the digital divide by making recent technologies accessible to students who have limited access to computers.

The LME Library will be starting a Technology Ambassador program in fall 2019. We plan to:

• recruit and train junior high and high school participants to use some of our community’s most requested maker technology—audio/video production, Cricut machines, Silhouette machines, and 3-D printing.
• assemble and create written, video, and linked resources to provide documentation of targeted technology.
• create a technology ambassador program with participants team teaching adult learners who want to utilize these technologies.

Learners will cycle through training, documentation and teaching before moving on to the next technology. The goal is to increase access to maker technology in our rural community and allow students and community members to develop knowledge and skills. It will also provide inter-generational interactions and reinforce the library as a community anchor.

For the complete press release, go to: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/news/2019/july/190723d1.pdf