Johnson City Library News

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) recently awarded funding to Johnson City Library under the TSLAC CARES Grant program. The library was selected to receive a grant of $19,200 to advance digital equity in Johnson City and Blanco County. Provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the funding will be used by the library to expand digital inclusion efforts and provide technical support, which has become so important because of COVID-19. Thirty‐seven other libraries across the state have also received grants through this program.   

“All community members have the right to digital resources like high-speed broadband that are essential for learning, working, and daily life.”  Our library strives to provide barrier‐free access to broadband, and this CARES Act grant will put us closer to that goal. The communities we serve will benefit tremendously from this funding, and we look forward to implementing new programs and expanding our existing resources to support digital equity for all our patrons,” said Library Director Maggie Goodman.  

Different segments of the community were taken into consideration with grant expenditures: younger children and families, school-age children and families, and seniors. The grant will be used to offer hotspots, iPads and Kindle Fires for check out with a library card for students doing distance learning. We are creating an outdoor space for all kinds of programs that will be safer and allow social distancing as a response to COVID-19.  The space includes a 65” TV with sound system so people can sit in their cars or on the porch for the programs.  Another outdoor venue in the planning is a walking path around the library.  The path will have interactive/educational signage on many topics including stories.  Other programs offered are craft classes at the JC Housing Authority, and home book delivery and computer literacy training.  In conjunction with the Science Mill, several short films will be made that highlight science and the Texas Hill Country.  These will be available for free, so you can get out and enjoy our beautiful countryside without leaving home. 

The library is honored to have been awarded this grant that is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services through a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (Grant #LS-246561-OLS-20).* (2021). As your community library, we try hard to provide new and better ways to serve especially now.  Please call the library at 830-868-4469 to find out more about this grant and all other services the library provides.