Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 13, 2009
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Burns
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
Gates
Foundation Grant Helps Libraries Improve Free Internet Access for Nebraskans
This
month thirty-seven Nebraska public libraries became eligible to receive
$317,200
in matching grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the
purchase of 122 computers that will help improve and sustain free, quality
access to computer resources for Nebraskans. The list of Nebraska libraries that
qualified and are participating in the Opportunity Online hardware grant program
is located at
nlc.nebraska.gov/libdev/Gates/gatesfoundationopponlinegrants2009.html.
The Opportunity Online grant program, totaling $6.5 million in awards to eleven
states, will upgrade computer hardware in public libraries by helping to
replace, and in some cases add new public computer workstations in libraries and
will finance training and technical support.
Nebraska
libraries eligible for the Opportunity Online hardware grant program will match
the Gates Foundation funds with local dollars, demonstrating community support
for maintaining computer upgrades and community capacity to sustain investments
in technology access for the future. The Gates Foundation will fund travel
expenses for library staff participating in the grant program to attend
Turning the Page: Building Your Library Community, a professional
development conference offered by the Public Library Association to help
strengthen the skills and confidence library staff and supporters need to
increase awareness of the library's value and motivate local support.
"In
today's economy, it is critical that people have equal access to the information
and knowledge that are available online," said Jill Nishi, deputy director of
the U.S. Libraries initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Nearly
all public libraries in the United States provide this access, but many struggle
to keep pace with advancing technology and rapidly increasing community demand
for these services. Communities must commit the local resources necessary to
ensure all people have opportunities to benefit from technology.
"We are
dedicated to supporting libraries in their efforts to provide the latest in
computer technology to their customers, helping open up the world of information
for citizens of all ages," Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner said.
This partnership supports public access computing efforts in public libraries
and builds on previous Gates Foundation support. The extremely favorable
experience of Nebraska libraries during the previous partnerships with the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation is illustrated by the following comment:
"The
major success for this past year was the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Grant... brought more library traffic, as the patrons who want to use the
computers also check out our collection while they are here."-Grant County
Library in Hyannis
The
Nebraska Library Commission is acting as the intermediary on behalf of the
foundation for the Opportunity Online hardware grant program and will verify
completion of requirements and disperse the grant funds to local libraries. As
the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the
library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library
Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and
information services, "bringing
together people and information."
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The most
up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always
available on the Library Commission Website,
nlc.nebraska.gov, search on News Releases.
Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation
Guided
by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In
developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them
the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United
States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest
resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and
life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and
Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and
Warren Buffett. Learn more at
www.gatesfoundation.org.