The Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library in High Ridge recently received a $20,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant, which it used to purchase databases and a music streaming service.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft visited the library branch on Aug. 24 to present a ceremonial check for the grant.
Library executive director Tony Benningfield said by the time Ashcroft visited, the money already had been used to buy the US Major Dailies newspaper database; the Weiss Financial Ratings database; and the Freegal music streaming service.
Benningfield said all three programs are available for free to any Jefferson County Library card holder.
“People are always doing research with newspapers, and we wanted to grant them more access to newspapers they wanted to read,” he said. “More choices are better, in my opinion.”
The Weiss Financial Rating was purchased to help patrons improve their financial literacy, Benningfield said.
He also said he hopes everyone tries the Freegal music streaming service.
“We wanted something for not just teens. We knew it would be popular with teens, but I use it daily,” Benningfield said.
He also said he enjoyed Ashcroft’s visit. “He stayed about 45 minutes. We chatted about libraries, the importance of libraries, especially during the pandemic, everything that we do for the community,” Benningfield said.
Ashcroft also got a tour of the branch.
“I will say there were two spots in our library he absolutely loved,” he said. “First, was our genealogy center, especially once he found out not every library has one of these.”
Benningfield said Ashcroft also liked the children’s area, which he said was “bright, colorful, fun and packed full of books.”
Anyone who lives in the Northwest R-1, Fox C-6 and Windsor C-1 school districts may get a Jefferson County Library card for free. Those who do not live in those school districts may buy a card for about $80 a year.