PATTEN – The Veterans Memorial Library learned Tuesday that it has been awarded a $10,000 technology grant from the Maine Library Commission’s New Century Community Program.

“We’re going to purchase catalog-software programming,” librarian Susan Hess said Thursday. “That will enable our patrons to access books in our library on the computer.”

Rae Bates and Rowena Harvey, two members of the library’s board of trustees, applied for the grant.

The library has more than 10,000 volumes, none of which are cataloged. Librarians who worked at the library for decades knew what books were there and could help users find them easily.

Hess has been librarian only since last May and admitted that she does not have the benefit of years of service to help her do what her predecessors did.

By having the books listed in the computer catalog file, patrons will be able to come in and browse for what they want more quickly and easily, she said.

The computerized system, the librarian said, will allow her to organize the library in a manner that will make it easier for her to take care of books purchased or given as gifts to the library.

As part of the grant, the library also will purchase another computer for Hess to use to track books that are taken out.

Hess said she plans also to develop a Web site for the library that will allow people to access the electronic card catalog by computer from their homes, as well as find out what is going on at the library.

The software Hess has chosen for the electronic catalog is the same as that used at local Katahdin High School. That way, students at the school will be familiar with how to use the Patten library system, she said.

The building that houses the library was first constructed as a Baptist church in 1848. It was converted to a library in 1928, but the original stained-glass window still ordains the front of the library.

Town Manager Rhonda Harvey said historical preservation was included as part of the town’s grant application. The town will use some of the grant money to refurbish the window.

In addition, some funds will be used to pay Hess to work during hours when the library is not open to the public to take care of cataloging or other duties that can’t always be done when the library is open.

The grant requires an equal match from the town. Harvey said the town would meet its $10,000 obligation with funds that have been set aside in an equipment reserve account.