Stacy Lienemann said there are two computers in the kids section of the St. James Library.

Wait — make that one.

“I just got done putting an out-of-order sign on one of them,” said Lienemann, the library’s assistant director. “They’re getting very old.”

Then it’s a good thing the St. James Library was among 51 southern Minnesota organizations to receive a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation during a presentation ceremony this week in Owatonna.

Through its partners at Capstone Publishers and IBM Corp., the foundation distributed more than 4,000 books and 35 Young Explorer Learning Systems during its annual early childhood grant ceremony. The books were of various titles and aimed at elementary students. The Young Explorer computers, valued at more than $2,000, are interactive computer stations featuring math, science and reading software for young students.

Lienemann said the St. James Library is receiving five of the Young Explorer computers. And that means she can take down her out-of-order sign.

“This is a beautiful new building,” said Lienemann of the library that is not yet a decade old. “These computers will be a bright and exciting addition, and we’re just thrilled to have them.”

Mankato’s Early Childhood and Family Education office received a Young Explorer system for the second straight year. Now, the district will have one machine at all of its ECFE sites: the Early Childhood Center in North Mankato, the Lincoln Community Center and Eagle Lake.

Sheryl Reed, who works at the Eagle Lake ECFE center, said the computer systems serve a variety of purposes.

The oversized features of the keyboard and the kids-style mouse and monitor introduce young children to the nuances of using technology. And the software — which includes games such as “Bailey’s Book House” and “Millie’s Math House” — covers everything from literacy to math skills to science knowledge.

“There’s sorting programs and picture sequence games,” Reed said, “all kinds of things that we do in the classroom anyway.”

A wide variety of organizations received the Young Explorers this year, from preschool programs to elementary schools to libraries.

Macy Kissling said her school-age care program in Waseca will use its machine especially for summer programming where school preparedness is the focus. Mary Jo Hensel received two machines to bolster school readiness in the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District.

Gwenn Wolters, coordinator of Wellcome Manor Family Services, received a Young Explorer last year. Wolters said the machine was placed in the preschool room and proved even more valuable than expected because it was easily adaptable and easily incorporated.

“The kids loved it,” Wolters said. “And the teacher loved it because it was so relevant in our program plans.”

To date, the donor-supported foundation has invested more than $38 million in the region through grants, loans and community partnerships.