Opportunity Online Hardware Grants
We’re providing Opportunity Online hardware grants to help libraries in 32 states replace and add computer workstations for patrons.

We are making two-year matching grants available to eligible libraries that serve communities with high concentrations of poverty and with technology services that are at risk of becoming obsolete.

Opportunity Online hardware grants vary in amount to reflect the needs of different communities. Libraries must provide local matching funds to be eligible for the grant.

Eligible States in 2007 and 2008-2009
We are taking a phased approach to our Opportunity Online hardware grants.

Ten states were invited to participate in the program in 2007: Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming.

The following 11 states have been invited to participate in the program in 2008: Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.

The remaining 11 states eligible for grants in 2009 are: Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. In fall 2008, we will contact theses states to introduce the program and begin assessing local need.

(The 18 states we awarded grants to in 2005 and 2006 under our Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grants program are not eligible for Opportunity Online hardware grants.)

If eligible for the Opportunity Online hardware grants, libraries will be contacted and invited by the foundation to participate in the program, which will be administrated through an intermediary in each state.

The U.S. Libraries initiative does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.