Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co., WI

May 26, 2010, Page 4

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Foundation donates to public library

The Neillsville Area Library Foundation recently donated over $8,000 to the Neillsville Public Library.

The Foundation was started with money from a bequest, and its purpose is to support the Neillsville Public Library above and beyond its normal operating budget.  Foundation funds intended to be spent result from the money earned on investment interest.

This year, the library received foundation donations totaling over $8,000.

The majority of this money was used to purchase a new copier/printer/scanner.  The item was needed, because the previous copier and staff printer were beginning to need additional maintenance.

The second item the foundation purchased and donated was a hand-held barcode scanner for inventory.  The scanner will save time when completing inventory.  It allows the staff to scan the barcode of the material while it is on the shelf.  Complete inventory is a vital step in keeping track of library materials.

Last, the foundation donated a 25-percent match for the library’s seven new computers.

Through the Bill and Melinda GATES Foundation, the library will receive funding for seven new computers over the next two years.  In order to be eligible for this grant, the library needed to come up with matching funds for both years.  The Library Foundation agreed to provide funding for the 25-percent match for 2010 and the 50-percent match for 2011.

Elsabeth Johnson (l) of the Neillsville Ara Library Foundation and JoAnn Gustavson of the Neillsville Public Library display the new copier/printer/scanner purchased with foundation funds donated to the Library. Gustavson holds a hand-held barcode scanner also purchased with foundation funds. (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)