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Library receives Gates Foundation Grant
By Byron Painter
Editor
Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Riverton Village Library will be getting some new computers, though not immediately.
Library Director Nancy Kocis said the library will be getting five computers, up to $2600 each. The first three, the library has to match 25 percent of the funds ($1950), with the
last two a 50 percent match ($2600 total).
Kocis does not have all the finalized information from the Gates Foundation, but it is her understanding (from what she has been told by Rolling Prairie and the state library),
that while databases cannot be bought, equipment like scanners, printers and anti-virus software can be.
Kocis admitted the library was unsure if it would apply at first, because of the matching funds issue.
It had some money available from Bob Robb memorial donations, but the $3500 raised from its Trivia Night was crucial, especially considering previous fundraisers had not
come near that much money being raised.
There is a requirement to go to a conference, but "we could not pass it up" because of the availability of the Trivia Night funds, according to Kocis, who said the decision to apply
for the grant was made in the last week before the deadline.
The library can buy more than five computers, if the money is available; there are currently five computers, all at least several years old.
The first three computers will be purchased sometime after March 2010, which is when the first check will arrive. The other two computers will be purchased in March 2011.
Of course, having room for more than five computers could be an issue, Kocis acknowledged, if the decision was to buy more than five.
Spending that amount of money "could be challenging," Kocis said. "It would be nice to have some educational software."
There are fundraising and community involvement requirements as well.
There are a total of 128 public libraries statewide to receive the grants (Opportunity Online Hardware Grants). The only other library in Sangamon County to receive a grant is
Lincoln Library.
According to a press release from Secretary of State Jesse White's office, "the program focuses on libraries that are not yet able to adequately serve their patron’s technology
needs and are also serving high-poverty communities with limited access to computers and the Internet."
By Byron Painter
Editor
Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Riverton Village Library will be getting some new computers, though not immediately.
Library Director Nancy Kocis said the library will be getting five computers, up to $2600 each. The first three, the library has to match 25 percent of the funds ($1950), with the
last two a 50 percent match ($2600 total).
Kocis does not have all the finalized information from the Gates Foundation, but it is her understanding (from what she has been told by Rolling Prairie and the state library),
that while databases cannot be bought, equipment like scanners, printers and anti-virus software can be.
Kocis admitted the library was unsure if it would apply at first, because of the matching funds issue.
It had some money available from Bob Robb memorial donations, but the $3500 raised from its Trivia Night was crucial, especially considering previous fundraisers had not
come near that much money being raised.
There is a requirement to go to a conference, but "we could not pass it up" because of the availability of the Trivia Night funds, according to Kocis, who said the decision to apply
for the grant was made in the last week before the deadline.
The library can buy more than five computers, if the money is available; there are currently five computers, all at least several years old.
The first three computers will be purchased sometime after March 2010, which is when the first check will arrive. The other two computers will be purchased in March 2011.
Of course, having room for more than five computers could be an issue, Kocis acknowledged, if the decision was to buy more than five.
Spending that amount of money "could be challenging," Kocis said. "It would be nice to have some educational software."
There are fundraising and community involvement requirements as well.
There are a total of 128 public libraries statewide to receive the grants (Opportunity Online Hardware Grants). The only other library in Sangamon County to receive a grant is
Lincoln Library.
According to a press release from Secretary of State Jesse White's office, "the program focuses on libraries that are not yet able to adequately serve their patron’s technology
needs and are also serving high-poverty communities with limited access to computers and the Internet."
Issue Date: July 30, 2009
