Good news! Eighty-five Vermont public libraries have been selected to participate in the first round of eligibility for the new Gates Opportunity Online Hardware Grant program.

In January 2007, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched a new five-year grantmaking strategy as part of their U.S. Libraries initiative to help public libraries across the county sustain high-quality computer access for their patrons.

Public library eligibility for these grants was based on two key elements:

• The library must serve a community with a high concentration of people living in poverty, and
• Library’s computer hardware is vulnerable to becoming obsolete.

It is important to understand that initial eligibility does not automatically secure a hardware grant for any library.  In order to win approval, a library must first inventory its public access computer(s) and workstations using the online tool TechAtlas. If the Foundation, based on the inventory results, determines the library is in need of a hardware upgrade, (based on age of current equipment and number of people living in poverty) the library will be asked to commit to the other requirements of the grant:

• Commitment to provide a funding match over the term of the two-phase grant program (25% in phase one, 50% in phase two)
• Participation in an American Library Association Internet and Public Funding Survey
• Participation in Turning the Page, a Foundation-supported advocacy symposium

Once all of the above grant requirements have been met, the Gates Foundation will make a final decision about which libraries will receive a grant award.

The Department of Libraries encourages all public libraries that are listed as eligible to apply for the Opportunity Online Hardware Grant. A letter of explanation will be sent in November to all eligible libraries.

The Department of Libraries is partnering with NELINET to provide assistance to libraries as they move through the grant process. Please be reassured that DOL and NELINET will be available to help libraries with this process and will keep libraries up-to-date with requirements and deadlines.

For more information, contact: Michael Roche, Northeast Regional Library at: 802-748-3428
More detailed information on the grant program can be found on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation page on this web site.

These Vermont public libraries have met initial eligibility requirements:

Albany Town Library, Albany

Alburg Public Library

H.F. Brigham Free Library, Bakersfield

Barnet Public Library

Aldrich Public Library, Barre

Barton Public Library

Jones Memorial Library, Barton/Orleans

Bennington Free Library

J.G. McCullough Free Library, North Bennington

Benson Public Library

Island Pond Public Library

East Burke Community Library

West Burke Library

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington

Alice M. Ward Memorial Library, Canaan

Castleton Free Library

Chittenden Public Library

Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester

Blake Memorial Library, East Corinth

John W. Simpson Memorial Library, Craftsbury Common

Craftsbury Public Library

Pope Memorial Library, Danville

Dailey Memorial Library, Derby

Brainerd Memorial Library, West Danville

Haskell Free Library, Derby Line

Enosburg Public Library

Essex Free Library

Brownell Library, Essex Junction

Fair Haven Free Library

Haston Library, Franklin

Glover Public Library

Grand Isle Free Library

Greensboro Free Library

Hancock Free Public Library

Hartford Public Library

Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park

Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick

Leach Public Library, Irasburg

Isle la Motte Free Public Library

Johnson Public Library

Lowell Community Library

Alden Balch Memorial Library, Lunenburg

Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndon

Middletown Springs Public Library

Milton Public Library

Montgomery Town Library

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier

Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville

Baldwin Memorial Library, Newbury/Wells

Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport

Brown Public Library, Northfield

Norwich Public Library

Orwell Free Library

Pawlet Public Library

Peacham Library

Maclure Library, Pittsford

Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield

Poultney Public Library

Solomon Wright Library, Pownal

Proctor Free Library

Quechee Public Library

Wilder Branch Library, Quechee

Readsboro Community Library

Arvin A. Brown Public Library, Richford

Rutland Free Library

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

Pierson Library, Shelburne

Platt Memorial Library, Shoreham

Shrewsbury Library

South Burlington Community Library

South Hero Community Library

Stamford Community Library

Tunbridge Public Library

William and Lucy Rand Memorial Library, North Troy

Walden Community Library

Gilbert Hart Library, Wallingford

Davies Memorial Library, Waterford

Wells Village Library, Wells

West Rutland Free Library

Ainsworth Public Library, Williamstown

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston

Winooski Memorial Library

G.M. Kelley Community Library, Wolcott

Woodbury Community Library