SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College Library has been awarded another LSTA Literacy and Lifelong Learning Grant this year in the amount of $49,544 that will focus on increasing access to technology and library information resources for Harnett County students.

With the grant funds, a classroom that is connected to the Harnett Campus Library will be converted into a library instruction computer lab with 20 student computers. During times that library classes are not being taught, the lab will serve as an open computer lab for students. This will increase the Harnett Library's computer capacity from 10 to 30 computers. The lab will also have printing services with both a regular and a color printer.

In addition, a second floor study suite at the Harnett Health Sciences Center will have six open access student computers and a printer added.

"The new computers and printer will provide health sciences students with access to MS Office software, library online resources, and printing services, which were critical needs we identified in our LSTA Planning Grant last year," said CCCC Library Director Tara Guthrie.

Renovations for these projects will begin during the fall semester with plans to open the new lab and study suite before the end of the semester.

The LSTA grant program is administered by the State Library of North Carolina and funds library projects across the state that advance literacy and lifelong learning, expand access to library resources and expertise, promote partnerships and collaboration, and digitize materials important to the cultural heritage of North Carolina. For more information about North Carolina's LSTA grant program, visit the State Library of North Carolina's LSTA web page at http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/ld/grants/lsta.html.

LSTA grant funds are made possible through funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. To learn more about the Institute, visit www.imls.gov.

For more information on the Central Carolina Community College Library, visit www.cccc.edu/library.