Innovation Grant Allows Calculators for Students
MADISON, FL (February 7, 2023) – The North Florida College Marshall W. Hamilton Library (Library) was awarded an Innovation Grant for over $7,000 from the Northeast Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN) to assist the purchase of sixty additional TI-84 calculators for students to borrow.
The calculators are required material for many math classes, yet many students do not have the resources to purchase them. To assist students, the Library keeps a few TI-84 calculators on hand. However, at the beginning of Fall Term 2022, Jamen Brock, Coordinator of Library Services, noticed the calculators had been reserved before the first day of class and a waiting list was growing hours into the semester. Recognizing this, Brock applied for the NEFLIN grant.
“Part of NFC's mission is for accessible education, and the Library recognized the lack of calculators as a barrier between students and their educational access and success,” said Brock. “The grant allows the Library to better enable students to have a strong start in their math classes.”
Grant funds also include piloting a "Calculator Cart" to be placed outside math classrooms during the first week of classes. Students can take advantage of the new items when they arrive.
NEFLIN is a non-profit, multitype library cooperative. Established in 1992, NEFLIN’s members employ 2,720 staff at 550 public, academic, school and special libraries that serve over 4 million people. NEFLIN's Executive Director Brad Ward reported, "NEFLIN is pleased to be able to provide what we call Innovation Project funding to the North Florida College Library. Each project, from idea to results, are described to the other libraries in northeast Florida at the NEFLIN Annual Meeting. Then they can consider if they would like to replicate the project at their library."
NFC students may check out calculators by term from the Library. They may also take advantage of other recently acquired items, such as headsets and webcams, as well as a recently revamped study room. For more information on NFC student resources, go to nfc.edu/learning-resources.
###
NFC Peer Tutor, Mahogani Hawkins, uses TI-84 calculators loaned by the NFC Library to help Mason Good with his assignment.
NFC students use TI-84 calculators loaned by the NFC Library to work on assignments.