South Carolina public libraries get $4.3 million from the Gates Foundation

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The South Carolina State Library announced Friday that $4.3 million in grants will come to South Carolina public libraries from the Gates Learning Foundation. These grants represent the largest private grant awarded to public libraries in South Carolina's history according to Jim Johnson, director of the South Carolina State Library.

"We are pleased to announce these grants from the Gates Learning Foundation which will provide hardware, software, technical support and training to public libraries across the state," Johnson added.

The South Carolina State Library prepared the initial grant needs assessment for the state to qualify for these grants. Each library prepared and submitted its own grant.

"South Carolina is at the forefront of information technology in our libraries," Johnson said. "The State Library, in cooperation with the State Office of Information Resources (OIR), connected every public library system including all branch libraries for Internet access and made DISCUS, South Carolina's virtual library, available to public and academic libraries and all public K-12 schools." These grants will help libraries enhance and expand their information resources and equalize information access for all citizens in the state."

In addition to the gift from the Gates Learning Foundation, Microsoft Corporation will donate software with an estimated retail value of $1.2 million to all libraries receiving foundation grants.