In 2003 many Nebraska public libraries were recipients of grant funds from
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Library program enabling them to begin
or increase their public access computing programs. The total number of
computers the Gates Foundation awarded to Nebraska libraries was 377, with the
grants valued at $1,663,440.36. Grants support expanding public access to
computers, the Internet, and digital information in libraries that serve low
income communities. Libraries used the funds to purchase computers, networking
equipment, and telecommunications services for Internet access. Microsoft
Corporation donated software to libraries receiving Foundation grants.
At that time public libraries serving communities with more than ten percent poverty level
qualified for a full Library Building Grant, including hardware, software,
training, technical support, software documentation, and upgrades. Public
libraries serving communities with less than ten percent of their population
below the poverty level qualified for a Purchase
Option Grant, with the option to purchase identical
computers and receive (at no charge to the library)
software, training, technical support, software
documentation, and upgrades. Guidelines for poverty level
designation and library service population were set and administered by the Gates Foundation.
| Town |
Library Name |
Award Amount |
Total
Number of
Computers Awarded |
| Ainsworth |
Ainsworth Public Library |
$13,773.00 |
2 |
| Albion |
Albion Public Library |
$8,953.00 |
2 |
| Alliance |
Alliance Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Alma |
Hoesch Memorial Library |
$8,405.00 |
1 |
| Arapahoe |
Arapahoe Public Library |
$11,638.00 |
2 |
| Arnold |
Finch Memorial Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Arthur |
Arthur County Library |
$5,145.00 |
1 |
| Ashland |
Ashland Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Atkinson |
Atkinson Public Library |
$11,835.00 |
2 |
| Auburn |
Auburn Memorial Library |
$7,328.00 |
2 |
| Axtell |
Axtell Public Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Bancroft |
Bancroft Public Library |
$4,695.00 |
1 |
| Bartley |
Bartley Public Library |
$5,224.00 |
1 |
| Bassett |
Rock County Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Battle Creek |
Battle Creek Public Library |
$12,835.00 |
2 |
| Bayard |
Bayard Public Library |
$7,550.00 |
2 |
| Beatrice |
Beatrice Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Beaver City |
Beaver City Public Library |
$5,454.00 |
1 |
| Beaver Crossing |
Beaver Crossing Community Library |
$5,135.00 |
1 |
| Beemer |
Karlen Memorial Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Benkelman |
Dundy County Library |
$7,854.00 |
2 |
| Bennington |
Bennington Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Blair |
Blair Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Bloomfield |
Bloomfield Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Blue Hill |
Blue Hill Public Library |
$4,695.00 |
1 |
| Bridgeport |
Bridgeport Public Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Broadwater |
Broadwater Public Library |
$7,785.00 |
2 |
| Broken Bow |
Broken Bow Public Library |
$7,859.00 |
2 |
| Brunswick |
Brunswick Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Burwell |
Garfield County Library |
$8,684.00 |
2 |
| Byron |
Byron Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Callaway |
Nigel Sprouse Memorial Library |
$7,259.00 |
2 |
| Cambridge |
Butler Memorial Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Carroll |
Carroll Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| Cedar Rapids |
Cedar Rapids Public Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Central City |
Central City Public Library |
$8,530.00 |
2 |
| Chadron |
Chadron Public Library |
$7,800.00 |
2 |
| Chappell |
Chappell Memorial Library and Art Gallery |
$4,654.00 |
1 |
| Chester |
Chester Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| Clarks |
Clarks Public Library |
$7,515.00 |
2 |
| Clarkson |
Clarkson Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Clay Center |
Clay Center Public Library |
$6,179.00 |
1 |
| Clearwater |
Clearwater Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| Columbus |
Northeast Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Cozad |
Wilson Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Crawford |
Crawford Public Library |
$7,585.00 |
1 |
| Creighton |
Creighton Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Crete |
Crete Public Library |
$7,300.00 |
2 |
| Crofton |
Eastern Township Library |
$11,495.00 |
2 |
| Culbertson |
Culbertson Public Library |
$7,829.00 |
2 |
| Curtis |
Klyte Burt Memorial Library |
$4,545.00 |
1 |
| Davenport |
Davenport Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| David City |
Hruska Memorial Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Daykin |
Daykin Public Library |
$4,995.00 |
1 |
| Deshler |
Deshler Public Library |
$7,844.00 |
2 |
| DeWitt |
Bob and Wauenta Burkley Library & Resource Center |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Dodge |
John Rogers Memorial Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Dorchester |
Dorchester Public Library |
$4,945.00 |
1 |
| Elkhorn |
Bess Johnson Elkhorn Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Elmwood |
Elmwood Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Emerson |
Emerson Public Library |
$4,835.00 |
1 |
| Exeter |
Exeter Public Library |
$4,285.00 |
1 |
| Fairbury |
Fairbury Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Fairfield |
Fairfield Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Fairmont |
Fairmont Public Library |
$11,079.00 |
2 |
| Falls City |
Lydia Bruun Woods Memorial Library |
$7,300.00 |
2 |
| Farnam |
Farnam Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Franklin |
Franklin Public Library |
$11,420.00 |
2 |
| Fremont |
Keene Memorial Library |
$19,695.00 |
4 |
| Friend |
Gilbert Public Library |
$4,855.00 |
1 |
| Fullerton |
Fullerton Public Library |
$5,362.00 |
1 |
| Geneva |
Geneva Public Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Genoa |
Genoa Public Library |
$5,224.00 |
1 |
| Gering |
Gering Public Library |
$16,390.00 |
4 |
| Gordon |
Gordon City Library |
$7,300.00 |
2 |
| Gothenburg |
Gothenburg Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Grand Island |
Grand Island Public Library |
$16,045.00 |
4 |
| Grant |
Hastings Memorial Library |
$11,145.00 |
2 |
| Greeley |
Greeley Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Greenwood |
Greenwood Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
|
| Guide Rock |
Auld Doudna Public Library |
$5,155 |
1 |
| Harrison |
Sioux County Public Library |
$11,649.00 |
2 |
| Hartington |
Hartington Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Harvard |
Harvard Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Hastings |
Hastings Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Hastings |
Republican Valley Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Hay Springs |
Cravath Memorial Library |
$11,189.00 |
2 |
| Hayes Center |
Hayes Center Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Hebron |
Hebron Secrest Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Hemingford |
Hemingford Public Library |
$7,397.00 |
2 |
| Hildreth |
Hildreth Public Library |
$7,579.00 |
2 |
| Howells |
Howells Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Humboldt |
Bruun Memorial Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Humphrey |
Humphrey Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Hyannis |
Grant County Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Imperial |
Imperial Public Library |
$13,924.84 |
2 |
| Kearney |
Kearney Public Library and Information Center |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Kearney |
Meridian Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Kimball |
Kimball Public Library |
$4,654.00 |
1 |
| Laurel |
Laurel Community Learning Center |
$11,079.00 |
2 |
| Leigh |
Leigh Public Library |
$8,447.00 |
2 |
| Lewellen |
Lewellen Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Lexington |
Lexington Public Library |
$16,045.00 |
4 |
| Lincoln |
Lincoln City Libraries (Lab) |
$33,240.00 |
11 |
| Lincoln |
Lincoln City Libraries |
|
|
| |
Arnold Heights |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| |
Bennett Martin |
$12,175.00 |
4 |
| |
Loren C Eiseley |
$12,175.00 |
4 |
| |
South |
$12,175.00 |
4 |
| Lincoln |
Nebraska Library Commission |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Lincoln |
Southeast Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Lodgepole |
Nancy Fawcett Memorial Library |
$4,835.00 |
1 |
| Louisville |
Louisville Public Library |
$7,829.00 |
2 |
| Loup City |
Loup City Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Lyman |
Lyman Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Lynch |
Lynch Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Lyons |
Lyons Public Library |
$7,604.00 |
2 |
| Macy |
Nebraska Indian Community College Library-Omaha Tribal Library |
$7,829.00 |
2 |
| Madison |
Madison Public Library |
$7,284.00 |
2 |
| McCook |
McCook Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Meadow Grove |
Meadow Grove Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Merna |
Brenizer Public Library |
$7,700.00 |
2 |
| Milford |
Webermeier Memorial Library |
$7,440.00 |
2 |
| Milligan |
Milligan Public Library |
$7,440.00 |
2 |
| Minatare |
Minatare Public Library |
$7,359.00 |
2 |
| Minden |
Jensen Memorial Library |
$7,850.00 |
2 |
| Mitchell |
Mitchell Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| Morrill |
Morrill Public Library |
$7,890.00 |
2 |
| Mullen |
Hooker County Library |
$4,654.00 |
1 |
| Nebraska City |
Morton-James Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Neligh |
Elven A. Butterfield Memorial Neligh Public Library |
$7,315.00 |
2 |
| Nelson |
Nelson Public Library |
|
2 |
| Newman Grove |
Newman Grove Public Library |
$8,565.00 |
2 |
| Niobrara |
Nebraska Indian Community College Library-Santee Tribal Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Niobrara |
Niobrara Public Library |
$11,120.00 |
2 |
| North Bend |
North Bend Public Library |
$8,259.00 |
2 |
| North Loup |
North Loup Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| North Platte |
North Platte Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Oakdale |
Oakdale Public Library |
$7,510.00 |
2 |
| Oakland |
Oakland Public Library |
$11,549.00 |
2 |
| Oconto |
Oconto Public Library |
$11,649.00 |
2 |
| Ogallala |
Goodall City Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Omaha |
Eastern Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| O'Neill |
O'Neill Public Library |
$7,590.00 |
2 |
| Orchard |
Orchard Public Library |
$7,215.00 |
2 |
| Ord |
Ord Township Library |
$11,120.00 |
2 |
| Orleans |
Cordelia B. Preston Memorial Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| Osceola |
Osceola Public Library |
$9,235.00 |
1 |
| Oshkosh |
Oshkosh Public Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Osmond |
Osmond Public Library |
$7,565.00 |
2 |
| Oxford |
Oxford Municipal Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Palisade |
Palisade Public Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Palmer |
Palmer Public Library |
$2,355.00 |
1 |
| Pawnee City |
Pawnee City Carnegie Public Library |
$11,079.00 |
2 |
| Paxton |
Paxton Public Library |
$5,054.00 |
1 |
| Pender |
House Memorial Library |
$11,420.00 |
2 |
| Pierce |
Pierce Public Library |
$18,854.44 |
2 |
| Pilger |
Pilger Public Library |
$8,355.00 |
2 |
| Plainview |
Plainview Carnegie Library |
$9,652.08 |
2 |
| Plattsmouth |
Plattsmouth Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Plymouth |
Plymouth Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Polk |
Polk Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Ponca |
Ponca Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Ralston |
Hollis and Helen Baright Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Randolph |
Randolph Public Library |
$11,079.00 |
2 |
| Ravenna |
Ravenna Public Library |
$7,600.00 |
2 |
| Red Cloud |
Auld Public Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Rushville |
Rushville Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Saint Edward |
Saint Edward Public Library |
$7,428.00 |
2 |
| Sargent |
Sargent Township Library |
$11,220.00 |
2 |
| Schuyler |
Schuyler Public Library |
$11,925.00 |
2 |
| Scottsbluff |
Panhandle Library System |
$2,380.00 |
1 |
| Scottsbluff |
Scottsbluff Public Library |
$15,995.00 |
4 |
| Scribner |
Scribner Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Shelton |
Shelton Township Library |
$11,035.00 |
2 |
| Sidney |
Sidney Public Library |
$11,258.00 |
2 |
| Snyder |
Snyder Public Library |
$4,905.00 |
1 |
| South Sioux City |
South Sioux City Public Library |
$16,045.00 |
4 |
| Spalding |
Spalding Public Library |
$7,575.00 |
2 |
| Springview |
Keya Paha County Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Stanton |
Stanton Public Library |
$11,035.00 |
2 |
| Stella |
Stella Community Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Stratton |
Stratton Public Library |
$5,080.00 |
1 |
| Stromsburg |
Stromsburg Public Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| Superior |
Superior Public Library |
$8,405.00 |
2 |
| Syracuse |
Syracuse Public Library |
$7,550.00 |
2 |
| Table Rock |
Table Rock Public Library |
$4,695.00 |
1 |
| Talmage |
Talmage Public Library |
$7,579.00 |
2 |
| Tecumseh |
Tecumseh Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Tekamah |
Tekamah Public Library |
$5,224.00 |
1 |
| Thedford |
Thomas County Library |
$7,579.00 |
2 |
| Trenton |
Trenton Public Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Ulysses |
Ulysses Township Library |
$7,534.00 |
2 |
| Valentine |
Valentine Public Library |
$4,585.00 |
1 |
| Verdigre |
Verdigre Public Library |
$7,215.00 |
2 |
| Verdon |
Village of Verdon Library |
$5,155.00 |
1 |
| Wakefield |
Graves Public Library |
$7,525.00 |
2 |
| Walthill |
Walthill Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Wauneta |
Wauneta Public Library |
$11,148.00 |
2 |
| Wausa |
Lincoln Township Library |
$7,659.00 |
2 |
| Wayne |
Wayne Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Weeping Water |
Weeping Water Public Library |
$11,210.00 |
2 |
| West Point |
John A. Stahl Library |
$11,035.00 |
2 |
| Western |
Struckman-Baatz Memorial Library |
$4,974.00 |
1 |
| Wilber |
Dvoracek Memorial Library |
$7,315.00 |
2 |
| Wilsonville |
Wilsonville Public Library |
$7,760.00 |
2 |
| Winnebago |
Little Priest Tribal College/Public Library |
$7,190.00 |
2 |
| Winside |
Winside Public Library |
$7,690.00 |
2 |
| Wisner |
Wisner Public Library |
$8,405.00 |
1 |
| Wolbach |
Wolbach Public Library |
$11,010.00 |
2 |
| Wymore |
Wymore Public Library |
$11,217.00 |
2 |
| York |
Kilgore Memorial Library |
Purchase Option |
|
| |
Total |
$1,663,440.36 |
377 |