Cottonwood Community Library gets grant, “Pays it forward”

PAYING IT FORWARD:
Colleen Nelson from the American Red Cross stands behind Cottonwood Community Library’s old computers that were donated to the relief agency.

The Cottonwood Community Library was recently the lucky recipient of a grant from Redding Rancheria, in cooperation with the Shasta Regional Community Foundation.

The grant was written by Gayle Harrington, Director of Library Services. The purpose of the grant was to update and add to the computers in the computer lab in the library. The original computers were hand-me-downs that the library had received with no word processing program to allow patrons to construct and print out documents.

Space was also limited. With the large old-fashioned monitors, there was not much room for privacy while working at a computer.

With the funds from the grant, the library was able to purchase three brand new computers with flat screen monitors and updated software.

"We feel that we are much more able to serve our patron's computer needs with the new computers. They are able to download documents and files, and also compose letters and documents now," states Gayle Harrington.

"We are finding that, due to the downturn in the economy, many more people are coming in to use computers who have never used one before. Job seeking and unemployment benefit paperwork is now being processed on our computers much more so than before. Having a more user-friendly computer lab has made a big difference for these patrons," Harrington said.

While the library felt so fortunate to be granted the funds in which to update their computer equipment, they were even more fortunate to find a home for their old computers.

Janell Morgan, secretary of the Cottonwood Community Library Board of Directors, had heard that the American Red Cross office in Redding was in need of some computers. When approached by the library, Red Cross worker Colleen Nelson proclaimed that their office would be thrilled to accept the library computers.

"While we were thrilled to have been funded by the Redding Rancheria grant to purchase new computers for our library, it did our hearts good to know that the Red Cross office could use our old computers," Harrington remarked.

"We know what it is like to be on the receiving end of someone else's generosity, and it was nice to be able to "pay if forward. This turned out to be a win-win situation for everyone," she said.