The new computers were purchased by the library with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
That brings the library's total to six computers that offer Internet access and one computer with just word processing. Sharon Cleveland, head librarian, hopes to add at least one more word processing computer, for those types of computers are used heavily by students doing reports.
A Spanish language computer was also supplied to the Library by the Gates Foundation and according to Cleveland, has seen a good bit of use in the past weeks by the Spanish community.
Cleveland also stated that HON Industries donated all of the computer tables in use at the library.
The Gates Foundation Library Program was created with the goal of bringing access to computers, the Internet and technical training to public libraries serving low-income communities across the United States and Canada.
Libraries are already regarded as learning centers that offer a variety of books, magazines, newspapers and a vast number of other educational tools.
Combine that with readily available computers and Internet access and that creates a place for people, both young and old, to expand their knowledge about any topic under the sun.
The library has already seen an interest in the community regarding the new computers. Cleveland states that before the Gates' computers the library had about 312 patrons to use the technological facilities. Since then, the number has increased to 448.
The computers offer researching tools for older patrons as well as small children.
Some software included on the computers are Office 2000, FrontPage 2000, Encarta Research Organizer, Encarta Africana 2000, Expedia Streets and Trips 2000, Success Builder Algebra and Geometry. For children, software includes The Cat In the Hat, Barney Under the Sea, and Arthur Math Carnival.
Surveys conducted by the National Center for Education and Statistics show that nearly 45 percent of households frequent their public library, and among households with children under 18 years of age, 61 percent had visited a library within the last month.
It is critical for school age children that do not have home Internet access, to have a place to learn and study for class assignments such as research papers and book reports, and the library can meet that demand.
For members of the community who are computer illiterate, the Cedartown Library offers classes on basic Internet research on the last Friday of each month from 9:30- 10 a.m.
For those interested in genealogy research, the library offers training session also on the last Friday of each month from 10:30- 12 p.m.
In addition to the new computers, the library also offers a wide selection of books, books on tape and videos that be checked out free of charge with a library card.
The library also hopes to be making some cosmetic changes to the children's section.
"We are in the process of re-decorating the children's' room with a Renaissance type theme. We also hope to add a reading area and also a fun and colorful mural on the back wall," Cleveland stated.
The Library's hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. through 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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