PRESS RELEASES
BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
AWARDED GRANT FROM THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
- $301,500 To Update Computers in Libraries with Greatest Need -
Buffalo , NY – The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL) has been awarded a grant in the amount of $301,500 from the Global Libraries Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to provide sustainable public access computer hardware and software upgrades to libraries in the Cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna that received previous support from the Gates Foundation. Monies will be expended from March 2006 to December 2008, according to Shirley Whelan, Corporate Information Officer, and are able to fund:
- Complete public access computer systems (CPUs, monitors, keyboards and mice)
- Individual components for upgrade (hard drives, additional memory, video, networking, or other cards)
- Any software for public access computers
- Support services, such as extended warranty/ technical support and replacement services purchased from the original equipment manufacturer or other support vendor
- Installation, configuration, or customization of security settings (e.g. for computer software or hardware security solutions)
“ Although budget cuts forced the closing of 15 libraries in 2005,” said B&ECPL Director Michael C. Mahaney, “computer use among the remaining 37 locations declined less than 1% System-wide when comparing statistics from January 2005 and January 2006. This is a clear indication that the community need s computer resources, and the library plays a vital role in providing them.”
“Libraries deserve to have the necessary resources to provide library patrons with efficient technology,” said Martha Choe , director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries program. “It is now important for libraries to receive continued support from the community—government, businesses, foundations, and citizens—to maintain this technology and provide upgrades in the future.”
The B&ECPL has now received more than $900,000 from the Gates Library Foundation to support public access computing. The Library received its first Gates Foundation grant of $425,000 in 1998 and has received other awards in subsequent years.
“In 1996, just one in four library systems offered public access computing,” said Steven L. Britt, Program Manager for the Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant Program. “Now, nearly every library does, and 14 million Americans regularly use these computers. The mission of connecting libraries to the Internet has been accomplished; the challenge now is to help public libraries stay connected. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation remains committed to its goal of equalizing access to the Internet and computer resources.”
“We are extremely grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its ongoing, generous support of public libraries,” said B&ECPL Board Chair Rebecca Pordum. “I must also take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the professional staff of the Library who work so hard to supplement our limited pool of public funding.”
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System is dedicated to connecting Erie County 's diverse communities with library resources that enrich, enlighten and entertain.