Governor Announces Grants to Libraries – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

DENVER -- Governor Bill Owens announced a $3.4 million grant for Colorado public libraries from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant is for equipment, services and training to increase public access to computers and the Internet, making libraries gateways to the digital world.

"Colorado is leading the way in our fast-changing digital economy," said the governor. "This grant will be helpful as we move to bridge the digital divide and to provide more opportunities for all Coloradans."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Library Program partners with public libraries to provide access to computers, the Internet and digital information for patrons in low-income communities across the United States. The Foundation's $3.4 million grant, to be administered by the Colorado State Library, will be used for computers, printers, and some connectivity equipment. It also includes the value of training, technical support and publications. An additional donation from Microsoft of free software will be loaded on the computers.

The Foundation has eligibility standards that help to determine which libraries will receive grants. Any public library in the state that meets standards can receive support. The library must serve an area of greater than 10 percent poverty base. Grant application workshops, training, and computer installation will begin next year.

An estimated 54.5 percent of the state's adult population lacks Internet access at home, work, or school. One of the Foundation's goals is to increase free access to information. Although most Colorado libraries currently have some Internet access, several of them have out-of-date equipment or insufficient equipment for patron needs.

The grant will help Colorado libraries build bridges across the "digital divide" that affects both children and adults. Recent studies show that 'computer literacy' is increasingly important to success at school and in work. "Falling Through the Net" (National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1999) says, "Many Americans who obtain Internet access outside the home rely on such places as public libraries," which are open to all.

Nationally, a total of four rounds of funding from the Foundation will occur through 2003 to serve the entire country. Colorado and 14 other states make up the third round of funding, which began in 1999 and will continue through 2002. Libraries should call Colorado State Library for information, 303.866.6900.

The Colorado State Library, part of the Colorado Department of Education, is a library and leadership development agency, which administers federal programs, serves as a state documents depository, conducts research, manages libraries at state institutions, and supervises the Colorado Virtual Library.