The Clay County Public Library received some extra help thanks to a $1,500 Tennessee State Library and Archives Grant.
Library Director Judith Cutright said part of the funds have gone to providing internet access to the community.
“It has helped us tremendously,” Cutright said. “We are able to provide five Wi-Fi hotspots for our patrons. Several of them have already been used for the children that are doing the distance learning.”
Cutright said the grant also covers the hotspots monthly $200 bill for the next ten months. She said she hopes to apply for more funding to purchase more hotspots for the community to use.
Additionally, the funds have allowed the library to purchase new cleaning supplies.
“We have a disinfectant that we wipe down all of our material with, and we also wipe down and spray the interior of the library whenever we have someone come in and after they leave,” Cutright said. “Some of those disinfectants when you can get them can be quite costly.”
Cutright said she and the library staff are doing anything they can to ensure the community can continue to visit the library. She said this institution is important now more than ever.