National Association of Counties
July 15, 2002
Prepared remarks by Richard Akeroyd, former director, International Library Initiatives
Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us today. It is a pleasure to be at this year's National Association of Counties conference. I'm joined today by two of my colleagues – Mary Hedrick from the Harrison Regional Library System in Shelby County, Alabama, and Tom Jaques, the state librarian of Louisiana.
We're thrilled to be here today to talk about the movement we have been a part of to give everyone equal access to computers, software and the Internet – regardless of how much money they make, where they live, or what race they are.
During our panel presentation, we'll talk about why the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has tackled this issue and how our nation's public libraries have truly adopted this as a new mission. We'll hear from Tom and Mary regarding what has worked well within their state and counties regarding efforts to build and sustain public access computing services. And, we'll explore ways that county leaders can work with libraries and other community organizations to ensure everyone has access to these services that we know change communities for the better.
Unfortunately, the current situation in counties across America is that not everyone has access to these tools. There continues to be a sharp disparity between those who have access to computers and digital information and those who don't.
This divide falls mainly across income and race lines. In fact, only one in four of America's poorest households has a computer at home, compared to 8 in 10 homes that earn more than $75,000 per year. And, Hispanics and African Americans lag behind whites in computer and Internet use.
This gap has been around since the introduction of technology. In 1997, Bill and Melinda Gates committed themselves to making sure that regardless of where someone lived in the U.S. or how much they earned, they would have access to the unprecedented benefits of digital information technology.
As children, both Bill and Melinda benefited immensely from the remarkable resources that public libraries offered. It was natural when they began to think about how to attack the problem of what is called the "digital divide," they saw libraries as a solution. They gambled that if the foundation could provide the early capital, the software, the hardware, and the training for library staff in our poorest communities, we could reach one very simple goal – giving the people who need it most, free access to modern computers, advanced educational software and the Internet could substantially improve their lives. This was in fact, Bill and Melinda's first large-scale philanthropic effort.
We see libraries as the perfect environment in which to provide public access to digital information. Their doors are open to everyone. They are often open in the evenings, on weekends and in the summer. Libraries are found in nearly every community and are staffed by people whose job it is to help people discover information they need, whether in books or over the Internet. Even the smallest libraries, when operated with efficiency, clarity, and vision, can bring the vast world on information to their communities. Unfortunately, library systems serving rural and urban communities tend to be among the most poorly funded and the least endowed with computers and librarians trained in technology.
With an original commitment of $200 million, the Gates Library Foundation (as it was then known) promised to provide computers with Internet access, technical assistance and training to libraries in low-income communities throughout the United States.
Five years later, the numbers tell an amazing story:
- We've donated more than 38,000 computers in 32 states.
- We've reached more than 8,500 actual library buildings.
- We've provided more than 48,000 training opportunities for library staff.
- In fact, our trainers have logged thousands of miles, installing computers and training library staff throughout the nation.
But our work is not done. We are still hitting the road in the remaining 18 states. By the end of 2003, the foundation will have reached more than 10,000 libraries across all 50 states.
To show our reach, here's an example of libraries offering public access to the Internet before foundation grants.
(Visual: Map of Alabama libraries offering public access, 1997)
And here's Alabama after we gave grants.
(Visual: Map of Alabama libraries offering public access, 1998)
This map indicates all the public libraries projected to receive grants by the year 2003. (Visual: U.S. public libraries receiving grants)
Computers have become such a natural part of our lives that residents come to expect – and rely on – technology services in their library. The foundation has been trying to help counties meet these expectations. We do not want our grants to replace county funding, but we do hope they will inspire continued funding from a variety of sources.
The key to sustaining this new technology in libraries is collaboration among local government, the private sector, foundations, nonprofits, and libraries.
At the same time we are working with U.S. public libraries, we also have a Native American Access to Technology Program to provide computers and Internet access to tribes in the Four Corners area of the United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah). This program provides access to digital information, tools and technology that will help native communities preserve local culture and heritage.
We support libraries internationally too. Our past grants have included working with public libraries in the United Kingdom and Canada, and we are currently supporting efforts to bring public access computers to libraries in Chile and Mexico. We also give an annual award recognizing international libraries and organizations that are taking pioneering steps to provide access to technology. These international initiatives support libraries throughout the world to help individuals improve their lives through information and technology.
But giving away computers and money is easy. What has been most impressive about this effort is how public libraries in communities large and small have embraced this new technology. We hear incredible stories everyday.
There's a library in Virginia that used the foundation grant to leverage additional money from the state. They use this money to provide computer training to out-of-work tobacco farmers on Gates computers so the farmers can move into new careers.
Many libraries offer regular classes on how to use the computers. One of my favorite success stories is that of 71-year-old Bernie Weber and 78-year-old Barbara Withington. They decided to take computer classes at their public library so they could start their own contracting business. They knew they needed to learn computer skills in order to compete in today's high-tech world. Today their business is going strong. Barbara and Bernie now own their own computers, which they use frequently for their business.
The libraries' technology services are also attracting non-traditional library patrons. A library in Fort Collins, Colorado, has Spanish-language computers for their large Hispanic population. A library in Escondido, California, set up a Teen Hot Spot with computers, homework tables and books so teenagers would have an educational and safe place to hang out after school.
I'm sure our next speaker, Mary Hedrick, has seen similar successes in her community.
Other speakers:
(Mary Hedrick, Harrison Regional Library System in Shelby County, Alabama)
(Tom Jaques, Louisiana State Librarian)
As you can see, libraries have done wonders in the past few years connecting all Americans to technology, and our hope is that the we will come to think of the public library not only as a champion of books and knowledge, but as a major access point to the benefits of the digital age.
To make this happen, however, libraries will need ongoing support from you as county leaders and from other foundations, businesses and individuals. As Mr. Jaques referenced, there will be ongoing needs for funding to pay for upgrades, staff training and faster Internet connections. This is a good investment.
The ability to use computers and manage digital information is increasingly important for people to succeed in their education and careers. This technology improves the education of children, helps individuals in their quest for meaningful employment and provides critical information for the elderly. It is critically important that this technology is available to everyone, regardless of race, gender, income or age, so we all are on equal footing when it comes to lifelong learning.