Public Information and Communication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 1996
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Mary Jo Ryan,
402-471-3434, 800-307-2665
John Pinette Microsoft, 206-882-8080
Nebraska Library Commission Receives Grant as part of Microsoft
National Initiative
Libraries Online! Program Provides Internet and Multimedia Computing
to 41 Library Systems
Lincoln NE-The Nebraska Library Commission announced that it will
receive a grant from the Microsoft Corporation, as part of a program
to bring public access to the Internet and to multimedia personal
computers. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates announced the
national launch of Libraries Online!, a $10.5 million philanthropic
initiative to help library systems in economically disadvantaged
communities nationwide.
Based on the success of a pilot program begun last year with the
American Library Association (ALA), Microsoft is contributing
financial and technical assistance and software to a total of
41 library systems in the U.S. and Canada, bringing the number
of communities served to 215 (list attached). The Nebraska Library
Commission is one of the grant recipients. Through this partnership
project, the Library Commission will expand the capacity of Nebraska's
public libraries to provide public access to the Internet and
other electronic information (including government information)
by equipping 10 to 15 libraries with state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line
multimedia information technology resources and improving local
connectivity so libraries can promote effective use and diffusion
of information technology in their communities.
Rural Nebraskans, especially those without Internet connections
at home or at work, are disadvantaged by the rapid changes in
information technology and inadequate funding for their community
library to keep up. Communities will be chosen in collaboration
with partners on the state and local level. Criteria for library
demonstration sites will be developed in cooperation with the
Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, Nebraska's Regional Library
Systems, and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's
Governor's Global Community Initiative Project, Nebraska Development
Network, and Nebraska Rural Development Commission,. Community
library selection will be based on library staff activity to address
local community information technology needs and community potential
for development, as well as level of need.
"We are very pleased that Microsoft has selected the Nebraska
Library Commission to receive this grant," said Rod Wagner,
Library Commission Director. " The Libraries Online! grant
will enable the Library Commission to provide computer hardware,
software and technical assistance to a selected number of rural
public libraries. The Commission will work with our state and
local level partners to identify and select communities for the
project.
The Microsoft grant will provide cash, software, technical training
and support to Nebraska libraries with an estimated value of $125,000
($50,000 from Microsoft, matching funds to be identified). Libraries
Online! will enable library customers to access the world of
information available on the Internet through the World Wide Web
and to have multimedia PCs at their disposal for word processing,
spread sheets, presentation and graphic design, CD-ROM titles
and other software. The Library Commission will support local
library staff in offering training and education for new computer
users. The computers are expected to be available by March 1997
for public use.
"Through Libraries Online!, we have seen children, parents,
teachers, entrepreneurs and entire communities gain access to
a world of technology and information that simply was unavailable
to them before," Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates said.
"Today's national launch builds on our vision of information
at your fingers by empowering people with access to the Internet
and the World Wide Web. Libraries will play a pivotal role as
we enter the 21st Century in providing access to knowledge and
opportunities for everyone." Success of the pilot program
has led to a roll-out of the nationwide program. Begun as a pilot
project in October 1995, Libraries Online! was started with financial
grants and software from Microsoft to libraries in nine economically
disadvantaged rural and urban communities. During the pilot project,
ALA conducted an evaluation and found that Libraries Online! technology
is being used at maximum capacity and positively impacting the
lives of library patrons. Users include recent immigrants seeking
job opportunities, displaced workers, small business owners, students
and families.
"Microsoft recognized early on the value of the public library
in America and worked with ALA to demonstrate thoughtful leadership
in addressing the issue of access to the Internet," said
Elizabeth Martinez, Executive Director of ALA. "We are delighted
with the success of our Libraries Online! pilot program. The
immediate goal for ALA is to refine the program models and provide
information and training to all people, regardless of their age,
background or ability to pay. Today, access to electronic information
is not a luxury -- it's a necessity."
Other library systems receiving grants this year from Microsoft
are attached. ALA will continue to administer the program. Technical
support and training for Libraries Online! will be provided by
the Technology Resource Institute for Public Libraries of the
Urban Libraries Council, an association of large public libraries
and corporations with the common mission of helping libraries
best serve the public through problem solving, understanding new
opportunities and conducting applied research.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is
an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans.
"Bringing together people and information," the mission
of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development
and coordination of library and information services.
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library
association in the world. Its mission is to advocate the public's
right to a free and open information society and the highest quality
library and information services. The association's 58,000 members
are primarily librarians but also trustees, publishers and other
library supports.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software
for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people
to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every
day.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Home Page. Point your World Wide Web browser to http://nlc.nebraska.gov/.
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Other library systems receiving grants this year from Microsoft
include:
Queens Borough Public Library (New York), Elizabeth Public Library
(Elizabeth, NJ), Boston Public Library, Miami-Dade County Public
Library, Chicago Public Library, San Francisco Public Library,
Kansas City Public Library (Kansas City, MO), St. Louis Public Library,
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Minneapolis Public Library, San
Antonio Public Library, Connecticut State Library, Oakland Public
Library, Phoenix Public Library, St. Paul Public Library (St.
Paul, MN), Hartford Public Library, Macon County Public Library
(Tuskegee, AL), King County Library System (Bellevue, WA), Central
Arkansas Library System (Little Rock, AR), Wicomico County Public
Library (Eastern Maryland), Cherokee Tribal Library (Tahlequah,
OK), Multnomah County Library (Portland, OR), York County Library
System of Pennsylvania, Richland County Public Library (Columbia,
SC),Memphis-Shelby County Public Library (Memphis, TN), Utah State
Library, Nisqually Tribal Library (Olympia, WA), Timberland Regional
Library (Southwestern Washington state). Canadian sites include:
Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.
Microsoft is also building on its initial $4.4 million pilot project
by providing additional funding to the nine original participating
library systems to expand their programs. These nine systems
include:
Brooklyn Public Library, Baltimore County Public Library, Charlotte-Mecklenberg
County Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, Mississippi
Library Commission, Pend Oreille County Public Library (Eastern
Washington state), Seattle Public Library, South Dakota State Library and
the Tucson-Pima County Library.