United States Libraries

What do libraries and the Internet have in common?
They’re portals to vital information, and they help people participate more fully in their communities.

The digital divide in the United States is narrowing.
Still, 40 percent of Americans--often those with lower incomes and education levels--lack online access at home. For millions of people, their local public library is the only place to get connected. Use of computers and the Internet at libraries is at an all-time high. People come to do research for school and work, find jobs, get government information, and keep in touch. 

In these tough economic times, libraries are more of an essential community resource than ever.
Libraries are safe, central spaces. Their services are free and available to all. Unfortunately, many libraries face shrinking budgets even as their use grows. Staff receive less training in technology skills, computers are becoming outdated, and Internet connections can’t handle the high-speed streaming audio and video requirements for distance education, research, and other activities. Libraries are struggling to stay up to speed in the face of too many library patrons and too little Internet bandwidth.

We’re working to bridge the digital divide.
We're helping U.S. libraries provide the free, reliable computer and Internet access that will allow patrons to make meaningful contributions to society.

Next: Our Approach

Our early investments in U.S. libraries provided computers and Internet access. We learned that it’s much easier to install technology than to sustain it. With our newest grants, we’re funding programs to allow libraries to evaluate their technology needs, purchase equipment, train their staffs, and gain public support for long-term funding. Specifically, we are:

• Targeting local needs. We focus on funding technology improvements in libraries with the greatest need—those that serve poor communities and whose computers and Internet services are at risk of becoming outdated.
• Helping libraries gain community support. Sustainable efforts grow out of strong partnerships with local and regional communities. The libraries we work with commit to match part of our grants with funds they raise locally from public and private donors. We’re also funding research, training, and tools to help library supporters explain how technology strengthens communities and why free library services deserve steady public funding.
• Providing up-to-date hardware and improved Internet connectivity. We're funding matching grants to libraries in two phases: hardware grants to replace and add computer workstations and connectivity grants to fund high-speed Internet connections.
• Offering technical assistance and training to library staff. We support WebJunction, an online learning and training portal that provides assistance to library staff in all states--especially small and rural libraries who lack training resources.
• Focusing library leaders on planning for the long term. We want public libraries to be led by resourceful leaders who prioritize their patrons’ access to technology. We fund grants that encourage these leaders to make long-term investments to ensure the sustainability of Internet access in libraries. We’re also providing training to build the skills and confidence that library leaders need to seek outside support for their long-term endeavors.