Island libraries receive grant from Bill and Melinda Gates

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island -- Eleven Prince Edward Island libraries will receive new computer hardware and increased Internet access in the New Year thanks to the generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"I am very pleased to announce that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a generous gift of $254,166 to 11 of our libraries," Education Minister Chester Gillan said. "It is a gift that will help in our efforts to ensure all Islanders have access to technology." Separately, Microsoft Canada will donate software with a retail value of $74,970 to all libraries that receive a Foundation grant.

According to a July 1999 Statistics Canada study, individuals from families with the highest income levels are nearly five times more likely to regularly access the Internet than those in the lowest income households. In an effort to bridge this gap, known as the "digital divide", the Foundation provides computers and Internet access to low-income communities throughout Canada and the United States by awarding grants to libraries that serve areas where 17.6 per cent or more of the population are low income earners.

"The Foundation chose libraries as the vehicles for Internet access because they have a long and democratic history of welcoming all people and providing the tools for life-long learning," said Richard Akeroyd, Executive Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Library Program, which is based in Seattle, Washington.

Gillan said the Government of PEI shares the Foundation's vision of access to information. "The Provincial Library Service, as well as the Technology Section of my Department are active partners in this initiative", said Gillan. "Several staff within the Department of Education have received technical training on the equipment and services included with this gift. We expect that the equipment will be available to Islanders early in the new fiscal year."

Communities receiving grants include: Alberton, Charlottetown, Georgetown, Kinkora, Montague, Summerside, Souris, St. Peters and Tignish.

"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is to be commended for its focus on improving people's lives through learning," said Gillan.