I got word yesterday that the library I have been doing community service with has won a very big grant from Bibliomist! When I first arrived here, I met with the director to introduce her to the program. She was somewhat interested, but wary because she had applied for another type of grant through this program and was turned down. I worked hard at trying to gather all the relevant information for her. I was in touch with the organization in Kiev because at that time the Bibliomist website was in Ukrainian and of course, I couldn't understand any of it. (It is now in English). She decided to fill out the forms for the grant and it proved to be a fruitful endeavor.
Bibliomist is in partnership with IREX International, Global Libraries (part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), USAID, Microsoft, and ULA (Ukrainian Library Association). Bibliomist seeks to bring Ukrainian libraries into the 21st century. They are attempting to model themselves after American libraries. I read that some Ukrainian librarians were invited to tour some of our libraries back home and were astonished at the services they offer their patrons. It's true our libraries are amazing places. Where else can you get free books, music, and movies, as well as sit in on a lecture or take a free class?
The LEAP (Library Electronic Access Project) grant will allot my library free computers, scanners, printers, and webcams. It will be a big boost for our town. It will help the unemployed find work, students to do research, and educate the community on local and national services offered. In trying to make over our library into a vital community center, I believe it can service the residents like nothing else has before.
What's the next step? Implementing a series of programs that will educate the library patrons on the use of the internet, basic computer usage, and how to use programs such as Word and Excel. The focus is on children, the elderly, and the handicapped. I am really excited to begin this new phase of my service
If anyone is interested in learning more, please visit:
http://www.irex.org/project/bibliomist-global-libraries-ukraine
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