October 7, 2019 - Prior to its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, October 21, 2019, the Madera Oversight Coalition will present a check for $25,000 to the Friends of the Oakhurst Branch Library for the benefit of the local library.
The presentation will occur in the parking lot of the library’s Community Room where MOC meets monthly at 49044 Civic Circle Dr., Oakhurst.
According to MOC Treasurer William Whitehead, the donation is from money recovered in previous litigations in which MOC was involved now being used for educational projects in Eastern Madera County.
“It is a pleasure for MOC to make this donation to the Oakhurst Library. After all, we’ve been using their facilities for our meetings for the past 15 years at no cost,” he said.
The donation will be presented to Laurie Ballard, president of the Friends of the Oakhurst Branch Library, for the benefit of the local library. Also expected at the presentation are Madera County Librarian Patrick Fitzgerald, Oakhurst Library Branch Manager Dale Rushing, and Madera County 5th District Supervisor Tom Wheeler.
According to Rushing, a portion of the donation will be used to purchase 15 Chromebooks and 15 Smart Spots for use by local middle school, high school and junior college students/patrons only which can be checked out of the library on a semester by semester basis. She explained that Chromebooks are similar to iPads and Smart Spots are like Hotspots used to access the Internet.
“The purpose of this purchase is to help students without Internet access at home do their Internet assignments at home. The library’s website has many trusted search engines that have true databases students with a library card can access if they have the Internet,” she explained.
The balance of the donation will be used to purchase other library items, she added.
“The Madera Oversight Committee was very gracious to grant us this money for not only the Chromebooks and Smart Spots, but to cover other library items as well,” she continued.
The primary objective of MOC is to encourage responsible growth through adherence to Madera County General Plan Policies, California Land Use Law and to promote the health, safety and welfare for all within Madera County.
For more information about MOC, email moc@sti.net or visit www.moc1.org.
Source: Oakhurst Branch Library
