Gates grants support area libraries
THE LEADER STAFF

Pictured above, area students work on computers at Bath's Dormann Library. The local library is one of numerous area libraries that will improve their computer services through Gates Foundation grants.

The Southeast Steuben County Library was one of many libraries recently receiving grant money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

A total of 421 libraries across the state will receive money from an Online Opportunity Library Grant. The money is earmarked to upgrade computer equipment and improve the public's access to the Internet.

"Residents will benefit greatly from this wonderful grant," said Ristiina Wigg, executive director of the Southern Tier Library System. "Many local libraries have budgets of less than $50,000 per year. They are struggling to provide the traditional services people love as well as the technology users demand."

A press release from the Southern Tier Library System said a total of 33 libraries in high-need communities in Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Yates and Allegany counties will use the funds to purchase more than 114 computers, printers, routers, equipment for wireless access, training and technical assistance with the funds.

Jenny Peer, director of the Savona Free Library, said her library received $13,000 and will use the money to upgrade the district's router and purchase a new printer.

The money will be distributed over two years. The libraries have to match the grant amount. Peer said the Savona library will match 25 percent of the grant in the first year and 50 percent of the grant in the second year.

"Our patrons are very excited that we will be receiving new updated equipment in the near future," Peer said.

Peer said her library currently has three computers, which were accessed more than 1,800 times last year. She said the computers' hardware hasn't been upgraded since 2001.

Across Steuben County, 109 library computers were accessed 101,000 times last year. Chemung County library computers were accessed 47,000 times.

The Opportunity Online grant program is the fourth grant program from the Gates Foundation that has enabled the New York State Library System to secure funding to help the state's public libraries improve computer and Internet services.

In 1998, 427 public libraries in New York received a total of $16.6 million through a State Partnership Grant from Gates to make computer and Internet technology available to those state residents with no other means of access.

The Southern Tier Library System enables library users to borrow materials electronically from libraries throughout the region, provides interlibrary loans from state and national resources, provides delivery service to libraries in five counties. It also maintains STARCat, a regional online database of 1.3 million books, audio books, videos, music recordings and other material.
The amount of money
received by various
area libraries:
Addison: $18,200
Dormann, Bath:
$23,400
Taylor, H'port: $7,800
Horseheads: $23,400
Pulteney: $5,200
Savona: $13,000
Southeast, Corning:
$23,400