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New Budgetary Constraints Put Hold on Digital Inspiration Center Project

Due to recent state mandated tax cuts, an ambitious project to bring high tech computer equipment for use in the local library system has been put on hold by the Brevard Library Foundation.

Called the Digital Inspiration Center, the lab area was to have been located in a 13,000-square-foot area on the third floor of the Central Brevard Library in Cocoa, which currently is being used for record storage. With the prospect of up to 20 percent cutbacks in the library system’s operating budget, a plan to move file storage to another facility has been cancelled.

“It seems pointless to continue with this project when the very area where it was to be placed will no longer be available for use,” said Foundation Executive Director Ned Kellar. “Also, these budget cutbacks mean we must place all our efforts now on raising money to support such things as books for children, maintaining the mobile library’s schedule in the community and supporting the annual community reading festival.”

As originally proposed in late 2006, the DIC would have featured the latest “cutting edge” computer equipment for use for free by local resident of all ages and abilities. The center was to be designed to offer a stimulating, modern and attractive laboratory setting easily accessed by elevator and stairs.

The idea for the center was modeled on the highly successful Virtual Village, created by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Library System in North Carolina, which allows all patrons, including those with disabilities, to use the latest high tech computer equipment and software.

“It’s a shame we had to put the Digital Inspiration Center on hold” said Kellar, “but we must concentrate our fund-raising abilities in support of valuable programs now facing some pretty horrific budgetary cutbacks.”

For more information on the work of the foundation, contact Kellar at (321) 633-1887 or email him atoject, contact Executive Director Ned Kellar at (321) 633-1887 or email him at nkellar@brev.org.