New Grant Money for Muskingum County Libraries

The Muskingum County Library System is advancing its technology.

Through a matching grant with the Ohio Lion’s Foundation and the Muskingum County Lion’s Club, five Muskingum County libraries now can loan an iPad. These will be a resource for visually impaired customers of the library. The assistant director of the library system, Blair Tom said the iPads allow customers to enlarge font or use voice features for the internet or downloaded books.

"It takes away that barrier for visually impaired customers with traditional kinds of devices," said Tom.

Muskingum County libraries have a 1 mill levy renewal on the November ballot, which it will use for technology upgrades and Tom said this grant is a good testing to see how effective they can be with new technology.

"We are looking at technology and all kinds of manors and this would give us a great test project to see is this an area or a version of an area that Muskingum County residents really would appreciate expanded access," said Tom.

John McIntire Library, both library’s in Dresden, Duncan Falls, New Concord and South Zanesvile all have one iPad to be loaned out at any time. But due to the restricted number of iPads they cannot be renewed.