ON OCTOBER 4, 2018 THE RIVIERA BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY SUBMITTED A LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY ACT (LSTA) GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION OF FLORIDA.  ON DECEMBER 28, 2018 THE LIBRARY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THE GRANT FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,875.12.  THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED AS PART OF A T-MOBILE PILOT TABLET PROGRAM. 

THE LIBRARY IS OFFERING A TOTAL OF SEVENTY-FIVE (75) TABLETS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ATTENDING JOHN F. KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL, DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE ELEMENTARY AND WEST RIVIERA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.  EACH SCHOOL WILL IDENTIFY TWENTY-FIVE (25) STUDENTS WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND THOSE STUDENTS WILL COME TO THE LIBRARY TO CHECKOUT THEIR TABLETS.  BEFORE A STUDENT CAN BORROW A TABLET, THEY ARE ASKED TO REVIEW AND SIGN A TABLET BORROWING AGREEMENT, TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS IF A TABLET OR ANY ACCOMPANYING ACCESSORIES ARE DAMAGED, LOST OR NOT RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY IN A TIMELY MANNER.  PARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO CO-SIGN FOR THEIR CHILD, AS WELL.  

TENTATIVELY, THIS T-MOBILE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO RUN FOR A 2-YEAR PERIOD, HELPING TO OFFSET THE MONTHLY SERVICE FEES AND EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE STORAGE AND PROCESSING OF THESE DEVICES.