Blount County Friends of the Library wins $20,000 grant

A $20,000 Tennessee state grant will help bolster digital literacy at the Blount County Public Library.

The Blount County Friends of the Library — an organization that aims to support library programming and initiatives — recently received the state’s Training Opportunities for the Public grant award. According to a press release from the office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, the grant will go towards digital literacy instructors. It can also be used to defray expenses such as solar charging stations and internet hotspots, among other possibilities. The secretary of state’s office administers the grant funds, which flow from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

“Public libraries provide essential resources and foster lifelong learning opportunities,” Sen. Art Swann, a Republican of Maryville, said in the release. “This grant will ensure our libraries continue to offer valuable services and programs to the public.”

All members of Blount County’s delegation to the state legislature were in agreement on the award. The release also quotes state Reps. Jerome Moon and Bryan Richey, both R-Maryville, as saying in a joint statement: “Libraries are vital institutions that provide access to information, technology, and educational opportunities.”

“This funding will help our local facility maintain and expand critical services to address unique needs in our communities in need,” they said.