As e-books gain popularity, many wonder what's in store for our public libraries. Well, Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library is participating in a program that solidifies its place as a community center, and not just a spot to borrow books. As as article in The Baltimore Sun notes today, two branch libraries are helping to improve the food choices of inner city residents who live in "food deserts," without easy access to supermarkets. Here's an excerpt from the article:
The Virtual Supermarket Project offers laptops so residents can order groceries online from Santoni's Super Market and pick them up the next day at the Orleans Street or Washington Village branch libraries. The libraries are in areas targeted by the Health Department for their scarcity of grocery stores and nutritious food options. In the neighborhood surrounding the Orleans Street library, there's a Burger King, a cluster of corner stores and carryouts, but not a single supermarket within walking distance. The city is using $60,000 in federal stimulus money to fund the program for the next six months.