The SD State Library recently distributed $1.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to public, school, and academic libraries in South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Education July 29th press release included a quote about these funds from interim state librarian, Brenda Hemmelman: "These funds will help libraries across our state to invest in infrastructure, technology, and materials that will serve their patrons through modern, innovative facilities and practices well into the future."
Grant-funded items include the following:
- Technology to replace old computers, printers, and iPads
- Podcasting equipment
- Digitization equipment
- Books, audio books, e-books
- 3D printers and other makerspace equipment
- Furniture with embedded technology
- Library automation software
- SMART boards/Promethean boards for classroom teaching and displays
See the full press release from July 29th at library.sd.gov.
SDSL also benefited from the funds, purchasing a new Indus V-cradle scanner to replace a model that was purchased in 2013. Digitization staff members are already seeing the benefit of the new scanner, which can scan a book in 20 minutes compared to 60 minutes that the same book would have taken with the old scanner. In addition, SDSL also purchased two new microfilm/microfiche scanners for the public and SD state agencies to use.
Check out the SDSL digital collections at http://sdsdl-montage.auto-graphics.com/.
