The Demopolis Public Library and the Marengo County Public Library  have been awarded two Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants from the Alabama Public Library Service.

The Demopolis library was awarded $17,872 for new adult public access computers and the Marengo County library in Linden was awarded $2,200 to buy new books.

Morgan Grimes, Demopolis Public Library executive director said she is very excited and relieved to be awarded the grant.

“We will use the funds to purchase eight new computers for the first floor,” she said. “This will help patrons when they come in to use the computers.”

Grimes said patrons come in every day to use the computers to fill out job applications, do online classes or for recreational use.

She said the current computers are about six-years-old and often they shut down during patron use, so the new computers will aid them in being more efficient.

“We will use the funds to purchase books for needed areas, we will use it to incorporate new books in every area,” Joyce Morgan, Marengo County library director said.

Morgan said this grant will be wonderful for the library and they will buy the new books this fall and early spring pending the completion of all the paperwork.

“I am really relieved so we can purchase books in every area and not have to choose which area needs new books the most,” she said.

This is the second year for the Demopolis library to receive the LSTA grant. Last year, the library received monies to purchase staff computers and computers for the second floor.

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants are federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services that are awarded by the State Library to eligible public libraries.