Dansville Public Library announced that it has been awarded an $8,450 ‘Online Opportunity Grant’ from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Dansville is one of 421 public libraries in high need communities that will be able to purchase new computers through the $4.1 million grant. Dansville Public Library will purchase 5 computers over the next two years.
The grants will be administered through the New York State Library. Libraries are required to provide matching funds to be eligible for the grants. The grant period runs through December 31, 2009.
‘Dansville benefited from the earlier round of Gates Foundation Grants in 2001,’ said Director Terry Dearing. ‘Now, as then, these funds appear at a crucial time. Two of the library’s current public access computers are in dire need of replacement with a third workstation nearly as serious. We’re extremely thankful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for these funds.’
Many libraries struggle to keep pace with technology and rapidly increasing community demand for these services. A recent national survey revealed that four out of five public libraries say they do not have enough computers to meet their community’s needs. Sixty percent of libraries report they have no plans to add public computers in the coming year, citing cost and space as major limiting factors. With nearly half of the nation’s public libraries reporting decreased or flat public funding in 2006, inadequate technology services persist in many libraries.
Libraries receiving grants are located in all 62 of New York’s counties. For a list of recipients go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/gateslib/hardware/eligible.htm
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