EBSCO Information Services Announces 2019 EBSCO Solar Grant Winners
~ Grants Provide Three $100,000 Grants for Libraries to Install Solar Arrays ~

IPSWICH, Mass. — June 21, 2019 — EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) has announced its three 2019 EBSCO Solar Grant Winners. Hedgesville Public Library in Hedgesville, West Virginia; New Port Richey Public Library in New Port Richey, Florida; and Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, will each receive $100,000 to pay for the installation of a solar array. The grants offset the cost of installing solar panels and allow libraries to reduce their electricity expenditures.

Hedgesville Public Library in Hedgesville, West Virginia, is part of Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries, whose mission is to enhance the lives of county residents. The Hedgesville Public Library is the center of its community and is a common space where citizens without Wi-Fi in their homes (25 percent) can gain access to internet services, as well as print and digital materials.

Hedgesville Public Library will install solar panels on its roof to demonstrate an alternate energy solution. The money saved by the installation will free up library funds to provide additional materials, programming and services for the entire Berkeley County community. Hedgesville Public Library Director Gretchen Fry says, “The Hedgesville Branch of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library system is excited to be the beneficiary of the EBSCO Solar grant. This grant will enhance the ability of our libraries to provide excellent library service to the Berkeley County community by reducing our electric bill, utilizing sustainable energy.”

New Port Richey Public Library (NPRPL) in New Port Richey, Florida, has a mission to transform lives with a curriculum that improves literacy, engages community, advances knowledge and sparks creative expression. Known as “the jewel in the crown of the city,” the NPRPL is a forerunner when it comes to library technology. NPRPL has also made it a goal to bring communities together with an aim of providing access to nutrient-rich food from its organic gardens.

The NPRPL is approaching its centennial anniversary and is looking to rebrand and renovate as a green library. Its goal is to communicate the importance of sustainability to residents and surrounding communities. Andi Figart, Library Director, says, “The NPR Public Library extends beyond the physical walls of a building by including incredible digital materials and databases, such as EBSCO. Libraries are repositories of endless knowledge and information where users enrich themselves through self-education. What better way to impart environmental education and awareness than in an eco-friendly environment created by a green library?”

Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, has recently embarked on several innovation projects in the renewable energy sector with the intent of providing students, faculty and the community an opportunity to learn about emerging technologies. Currently, the post-secondary institution has a micro grid at its Medicine Hat campus that includes an electric vehicle charging station, solar panels and wind turbines. Recognizing the growing opportunity in this industry, the college is providing learners a chance to broaden their skills, so they are prepared for tomorrow’s workplace. The EBSCO grant will allow Medicine Hat College to expand its investment and continue its research into renewables at the Brooks campus.

The EBSCO Solar grant will provide the college an opportunity to showcase a creative and functional solar ‘garden’ that will educate students, residents and businesses in the region on how to effectively implement the use of alternative resources. The project will be incorporated into the natural landscape with the help of Built Environment Engineering Technologies and Trades students. Jason Openo, Director of Teaching and Learning at Medicine Hat College Library, says, “I am most excited about the opportunity this grant provides to our Built Environment Engineering students, who will have an authentic learning experience in designing and constructing for the library a beautiful, solar-powered classroom and community space. This literally equips them with the skills necessary to build a new future for our community and our province.”

About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service™ (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals and books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 1,000,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries, Inc., a family-owned company since 1944.
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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen McEvoy
Vice President of Communications
(800) 653-2726 ext. 2594
kmcevoy@ebsco.com