Given each year by Global Libraries, the foundation's Access to Learning Award recognizes the innovative efforts of public libraries or similar organizations outside the United States to connect people to information through free access to computers and the Internet.

Learn more below about our award recipients' inspiring work to bring new knowledge and tools to people and communities around the world.

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Highlights

Accepting Applications for 2009 Award

We invite you to apply for the 2009 Access to Learning Award. Applications are due via email by Oct. 31, 2008 (please note new, earlier deadline).

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2007: Northern Territory Library, Australia

In extremely remote, underprivileged communities, an innovative technological solution that helps preserve culture is drawing Indigenous Australians into local libraries.

2006: Rural Education and Development (READ), Nepal

READ Nepal works with villages to build self-supporting libraries (funded through community projects) that provide free access to computers and the Internet, books, multimedia tools, and more.

2005: Bangladesh's Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha converts indigenous boats into mobile libraries that provide free computer and Internet stations and training to agricultural communities in a northern watershed.

2004: Denmark's Aarhus Public Libraries and the China Evergreen Rural Library Service Center

Two organizations were honored in 2004 for providing free computer and Internet services to immigrants and refugees in Denmark and to townspeople in remote areas of China.

2003: Smart Cape Access Project

Smart Cape Access Project installed computers and Internet access in public libraries in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town to give residents free access for the first time in South Africa.

2002: BibloRed

BibloRed is a network of 19 public libraries in Bogotá, Colombia that offers free access to computers and the Internet in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

2001: Proyecto Bibliotecas Guatemala (Probigua) and Argentina's Biblioteca del Congreso

Two organizations were honored in 2001 for providing free computer and Internet services to rural communities in Guatemala and to millions of urban dwellers in Buenos Aires.

2000: Helsinki City Library

Helsinki City Library in Finland was among the world's first libraries to offer Internet access to the public, including poor residents and refugees. It also created the Information Gas Station.