FREEPORT — The Freeport Area Library today will unveil a new $25,000 technology center.

The new equipment consists of three desktop computers, a laptop computer, a wireless printer and laptop privacy stations that will allow people to plug in their personal laptops.

That section of the library also received electrical work, new vinyl flooring, and shelving walls to display artwork.

Funding for the project came from a grant from NiSource Midstream Services, a Columbia Pipeline Group company.

“It was a dream come true,” Nancy Hagins, the head librarian, said about the funding. “I know the board of directors were all elated.”

The library applied for the grant a year ago and was awarded the money last spring.

Construction of the center took about six weeks and was finished about three weeks ago.

State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-60th, will join the library board and representatives from NiSource to speak at the unveiling of the center at 4:30 p.m. Invitations were sent to about 100 volunteers who work with the library.

Hagins said grants are crucial to privately funded libraries such as Freeport.

“The community supports the library,” Hagins said. “We get no public funding, so we need a grant or donations if we hope to have something like this.”

With the technology center, Hagins said the library hopes to create new computer programs for the community.

“It was a much needed upgrade,” Hagins said. “We have fiber optic (Internet service) here, so it’s nice to have computers that run this well.”

The library has been serving the Freeport, Buffalo Township, South Buffalo Township and outlying communities since 1937.