Tom Green Libraries to Receive $50,000 COVID-19 Grant

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Tom Green County Library will be receiving a $50,000 federal grant provided by the CARES Act.

According to the office of Senator John Cornyn, the grant is a part of the $2.6 million Texas received from the Institute for Museum and Library Services under the bill approved by Congress.

The library will use the grant funds to install permanent hot spots throughout the community, with a particular emphasis on rural, outlying communities. 

The library system will work with San Angelo ISD and the county's rural school districts to identify areas where students who receive free and reduced school lunch services reside. Those areas will then be identified as areas for public and communal hot spots.

By placing hot spot stations throughout the community, this will allow residents to have closer access to Internet services closer to where people live and work.

This will allow them to complete online tasks without having to physically visit the library.

Grant funds will also support the expansion of the library’s popular hot spot lending program, the purchase of PPE, and 3D supplies to develop protective gear in-house.

“These funds will help allow Texans to safely utilize local library services and resources,” said Sen. Cornyn.  “I applaud area leaders in San Angelo for their work to obtain these grants and for putting the safety of Texans first as we continue to persevere through the COVID-19 pandemic.”