Catawba College's Corriher-Linn-Black Library has received two federal grants totaling $52,968.
The 2007-2008 grants, announced June 12, are being awarded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered through the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources and the State Library of North Carolina. The awards are made possible by LSTA grant funding from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal grant making agency. One hundred and fifty-seven applications were considered in 15 categories with requests for funds totaling $4,890,333. In all, 146 projects were approved for funding totaling $4,629, 570.
Catawba received a $21,199 Automative Systems Grant. It will cover the cost of a new server for the library's online catalog as well as system staff training. Catawba also received a $31,769 Internet Infrastructure Improvement Grant which will cover much of the library's instruction lab needs, including a printer, desktop computers and projection equipment.
Catawba's Corriher-Linn-Black Library is currently being renovated. In December 2006, its staff and resources were temporarily relocated to the second floor of Hoke Hall and four mobile units (which house library collections during the renovation). Staff and collections are schedule to move back into the facility over the Christmas holidays of this academic year.
Environmental abatement in the library has been completed and new walls have been installed. The Salisbury architectural firm of Ramsey, Burgin and Smith Architects, Inc. has oversight for the library renovation which capitalizes on existing tall ceilings, large windows and spacious public spaces.
When the renovation is completed, almost 40 percent of the library's collections will be housed in high-density or compact shelving to capitalize on the building's limited square footage. Additional features will include an information commons, more attractive seating, plenty of computers, a library instruction lab, a reading area, collaborative learning spaces, and a coffee and drink kiosk.
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