“We consider the libraries a hub of the community,” said Marilyn Lash the St. Mary’s Library publicity specialist. Consequently, receiving the $18,200 matching-fund grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for computers, software and furniture will greatly enhance the services our county libraries provide.

The Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Trustees for the St. Mary’s County Library System held a public celebration yesterday at the Leonardtown library, 23250 Hollywood Road, to acknowledge the grant. Community donors, including Wayne Davis, were acknowledged. Phase Two of the campaign to raise $20,000 to maintain the computers was kicked off and will continue until June 2009.

St. Mary’s County Library Director Kathleen Reif announced that the county had been awarded the $18,200 with the challenge of raising $10,400 in December 2007.

“By June 2008, our community had contributed more than $12,000 towards our goal, 13 months ahead of the June 2009 deadline,” said Alan Dillingham, president of St. Mary’s County Board of Library Trustees, in reference to the Gates grant program, Opportunity Online.

Opportunity Online helps libraries maintain and improve their technology services by using the grant dollars to acquire additional local funding.

“The speed with which these funds were donated by the county’s businesses and library customers is testimony to the value placed upon strong library services by our community It is rewarding to know that we live in a county whose citizens believe that their libraries are valuable information and education resources,” said Dillingham.

Businesses that contributed to the fund-matching campaign included Amelex, BAE Systems, CACI Systems Inc., Compliance Corporation, L-3 Communications, Leonardtown Sunoco, McKay’s Community Rewards Program, Naymar Applied Sciences Corporation, Public Action Committee, Rotary Club of Leonardtown, Rub-A-Dub-Dub, Smartronix Inc., SMECO, Spalding Consulting Inc., Philip Riehl of State Farm Insurance, W.M. Davis Inc. Individuals included Roberta and James Davis, Berenice and Keith Fairfax, Susan R. Johnson, Annette and John Madel, Mike Mead, Margaret Thaler, Henry T. Waring, Martha and Larry Wise, Christine Wray and John Felicitas and Teresa Wren.

The computers will begin to arrive and be installed at the Lexington Park Library in the fall.