SKOWHEGAN, Maine - Skowhegan Savings today announced it has awarded a $2,000 gift to The Jackman Library Association in support of its "Improving Access to Literary Materials and Technology" project. The funds will be used to modernize the library to make it more user-friendly and efficient for the community.

"Without this funding, our 'Improving Access to Literacy Materials and Technology' project would not be possible," said Jackman Library Volunteer, Donna Frigon. "I turned to Skowhegan Savings because of their commitment to supporting organizations and projects that improve local communities."

Skowhegan Savings Check Presentation to The Jackman Library Association. Featured in the photo from left to right: Sally Hughey, Library Treasurer; Karla Tapley, Library Vice President; Donna Frigon, Library Volunteer and Donation Writer; Carolyn Tapley, Library President; Nanook Tuefferd, Skowhegan Savings- Jackman/Bingham Branch Manager; Betsy Guay, Skowhegan Savings-Jackman Branch Supervisor. In front: Carli Frigon (Left) and Carroll Frigon (right).

The Jackman Library Association is determined to improve community literacy and its project "Improving Access to Literacy and Technology" will help them continue to meet this primary mission. The Skowhegan Savings gift will allow the library to:

• Update its collections, specifically titles that meet summer reading requirements for local students
• Subscribe to an e-book lending service and provide free access to a large collection of e-books
• Purchase e-readers to lend to patrons
• Automate the library and connect to an online shared library system so materials can be more easily accessed, tracked and located

The entire project is expected to take three years to complete with the automation effort to begin in September 2013. Workshops will be held for the public to help educate them on how to use the new technology.

"We've had a branch in Jackman for three years and part of Skowhegan Savings being in business is giving back to the local community," Nanook Tuefferd, Skowhegan Savings - Jackman/Bingham Branch Manager. "Jackman is an important community to us, and this project fits our mission of supporting initiatives that enrich the community. Now the library will be able to modernize and expand its collection so that that people will not have to travel outside of Jackman to access the most up-to-date media and books - something that's very important to a small, rural community."

Organized by volunteers in 1912, The Jackman Library Association provides free library services to the towns of Jackman, Moose River, Dennistown Plantation and outlying districts as well as visitors to the region. It is estimated that 23% of the community served by The Jackman Library Association lives below the federal poverty level making free library services imperative for most community members.