Community Technology Center Becoming Reality

The Joint Board of Directors of the Linebaugh Public Library System (LPLS) are pleased to announce that funding has been obtained to construct and furnish a new community technology center.

For the past two years, the Linebaugh Public Library System has been working on plans for a community technology center (CTC), an innovative approach not widely found. Working with the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, and the Christy Houston Foundation, what began as a dream is now one step closer to becoming a reality. “We are thankful to both our public and private partners for their financial support and for their forward thinking and planning. We strongly believe that this public Community Technology Center will enhance workforce development for our citizens through training opportunities and will become a primary avenue to on-line job research and applications. The CTC will also bridge much of the gap between technology and education that exists in parts of our community. This “shelfless” electronic library will provide something for almost every citizen in our community, and we believe it will become a model for other public libraries across our state and nation,“ stated Gary Green, Library Board Vice-Chair and Chair of the CTC Committee.

According to a recent report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation (an advocacy group for disadvantaged children and families), in the United States, 84% of all households with children in low-income inner city neighborhoods do not have computers. LPLS’s concept is to create a “digital” center filled with a variety of computers and other electronic devices (e-readers, iPads, etc.); study/meeting rooms for students and small businesses; and training and computer classes. The center will also be a valuable resource for healthcare research, digital connection to insurance benefits/payments, and even application to the Affordable Care Act.

The CTC will be located on the Hobgood Elementary School campus with plans to be open to the public within the next 18 months.

Linebaugh Public Library is located at 105 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro. Smyrna Public Library is located at 400 Enon Springs Rd. West in Smyrna. Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library is located at 317 Hwy 99E in Eagleville. MGL Library is located inside Patterson Park Community Center at 521 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro.

For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit www.linebaugh.org.