Washburn library buying iPads
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
WASHBURN — The Washburn Memorial Library received a substantial grant from the Maine Community Foundation on Friday, in the form of a check presentation in the amount of $3,000. Funds will be used to purchase iPads for patrons’ use.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
LIBRARY RECEIVES GRANT — Lynwood McHatten, a member of the Aroostook County Committee which distributes funds from the Maine Community Foundation, presented a check for $3,000 to Washburn Librarian Katherine Veitschegger on May 31. The funds will be used to purchase iPads to be used by area youth.
“Today (May 31) marked a great day for the Washburn Memorial Library. Lynwood McHatten, guidance counselor for the SAD 32 District in Ashland and a member of the Aroostook County Committee for the Maine Community Foundation, presented the library with a check for $3,000, which will cover the cost of five 32 GB Apple iPads for use in the library,” said Librarian Katherine Veitschegger.
McHatten said he and other members of the committee work to match donations with organizations in need of funding.
“Donors contribute to the MCF and can designate funds to a specific area. Our committee serves all of Aroostook and is in charge of making decisions on grant applications, such as the one submitted by this library,” said McHatten.
Veitschegger said the money will be combined with other donations to purchase needed equipment.
“The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation will cover the cost of the remaining iPads, giving the library 10 total. This is also in conjunction with the TD Charitable Foundation, whose $3,751 check will cover all of the associated accessories that go along to fund this project,” said the librarian.
She said this will include items like the compatible television and stand, all of the associated headphones, cases and protective screen covers.
“We’re also fortunate they’ll cover the cost of an iTunes gift card that will allow us to purchase wonderful, interactive materials for our community’s children,” she said.
The project is formally titled the Children’s Technology Outreach Initiative Project and its purpose is to familiarize children from the towns of Washburn, Perham and Wade with some of the newest, most interactive technology available.
“Organizations like the MCF, the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation and the TD Charitable Foundation are directly responsible for making sure that our community’s children have equitable access to technology, as issues of equity and access remain problematic for places like Washburn and its surrounding communities, due to the area’s depressed economy,” Veitschegger said.
Veitschegger said the project’s vision is to “mostly serve children from as young as 2 to as old as 10.”
“We also have a group of autistic pre-teens, who along with their respective social workers could certainly utilize the technology for a predictable, self-directed weekly learning engagement,” said Veitschegger.
She said the iPads will be used at least once a week for an interactive story hour for children ages 4 through 10 and a once-weekly toddler time that would feature apps for the youngest users like “Spot the Dot” where toddlers and young preschoolers could learn colors in engaging and highly varied ways.
“I want to thank all of the members of the Aroostook County Committee for the MCF, with a special thanks to MCF board member Brian Hamel for pointing me in the direction of the MCF and encouraging me to apply. Thanks also goes to MCF Officer Pam Scheppele for communicating with me and really helping me every step of the way in the grant application process,” she said.
“A big thank you is extended to Lynwood McHatten for coming to our library in the midst of our pre-renovation craziness and really actively understanding our library’s needs. I also want to thank Bangor Savings Bank’s Houlton branch manager, Chris Nickerson, for all of her help with the project, as well as Stacey Haskell, assistant vice president and community relations manager at the bank. And finally, Michael Kelley Sr. of TD Bank who patiently listened to me about the importance of technology accessory funding, which is certainly not as cut-and-dry as other types of grants,” said Veitschegger.
“Special thanks, of course, go to Bev Turner, Washburn’s town manager, for her editing abilities and her support. And last but not least, thanks also goes to Gail Roy, assistant dean of learning resources at Northern Maine Community College, for giving me the idea to start with,” she said.
Although it’s been a long process, Veitschegger said it was an endeavor worth making.
“Writing three grants to fund this project, in addition to all of my librarian duties, is never easy. However, it is always wonderful to meet people who truly believe in your institution and understand that a project such as this has the potential to really serve and enhance the community,” said Veitschegger.
