| With technology rapidly growing, library staff and
board members began
working on grant proposals to help Beauregard Parish develop
the skills and resources needed to benefit from information
and communications technology. One of the proposals that
was funded through LSCA
(The Library Services and Construction Act, Title II, Public
Library Technology Enhancement Project [LSCA II]).
funded MEL - the first mobile electronic library in
Louisiana.
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MEL was custom designed and built
for the Beauregard Parish Library by Ohio Bus Sales Inc., of
Canton Ohio.
MEL is the first Mobile Computer Library Lab of his design
in the United States.
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MEL offers 8 network workstations, a video training
center, printer and related resources. Powered by a RedHat Linux server,
the network can be connected to the Library's ISP service by dial up
or data line. When no line is available, the unit can function as
a standlone for off-line training. An experimental wireless connection
is under development.
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