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 Posted to: nj-pub-libs Discussion Group 1/7/2005 The New Jersey State Library is pleased to announce that the State Library has received $195,720 in matching "Staying Connected" Grant Program funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on behalf of the state's public library systems and public libraries. With these funds, the State Library plans to offer workshops for public library staff on the importance of computer security as it pertains to maintaining safe and reliable Internet access for customers. An added benefit of these workshops will be handouts containing information that the participants can use immediately to update their library's computer security; a web site that will be developed with links to helpful security sites, and additional half-day programs on technology planning for public libraries. These workshops will be held statewide in November 2005. Through the auspices of the grant, technical support will also be provided to public libraries in the form of security audits and related consulting services. A competitive grant process will be developed to determine the libraries that will be the beneficiaries of these audits and consulting services during the spring and summer of 2006. As a final component of the grant award, replacement public access computers will be purchased for public library buildings that serve communities of persistent poverty. Computer replacement is scheduled for fall 2006 and priority will be given to libraries that previously received computers from the Gates Foundation. The Staying Connected grant is the third in a series of public access computing grant programs funded by the Gates Foundation. In 2002, 471 computers and software valued at $1.8 million were awarded to public libraries throughout New Jersey in order to provide public Internet access for buildings that serve patrons living in areas with poverty levels of 10% or greater. A Gates Training Grant for $63,150 was received in 2003. So far, 290 librarians from 200 libraries have attended programs on emerging technologies, multi-cultural training and creative training techniques. Additional training programs are being planned for front-line staff. The program goal of sustainability of public-access computing in public libraries is being attained with the generosity of the foundation. "All of the Gates grants have made a tremendous difference in the lives of people throughout our state, allowing them access to information and ideas which might otherwise be denied them" stated Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer, Grants Manager in the Library Development Bureau of the New Jersey State Library. "The State Library is most appreciative of the importance that the Gates Foundation has placed on public libraries and the trust that they have placed in us to continue our mission of free public access in the computer age." For further information on the "Staying Connected" grant, contact Kathleen Peiffer, Library Development Bureau, New Jersey State Library at 609-292-9623 or by email to kpeiffer@njstatelib.org South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative Paint Works Corporate Center 10 Foster Avenue - Suite F-3 Gibbsboro, NJ 08026 Phone: 856-346-1222 Fax: 856-346-2839 Delivery # 3818 Directions to SJRLC Karen Hyman, Executive Director: hyman@sjrlc.org Peter Bromberg, Program Development Coordinator & Web Master: bromberg@sjrlc.org The South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC) is a multi-type library cooperative serving over 600 member libraries in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. SJRLC is part of the New Jersey Library Network linking over 2500 libraries statewide. SJRLC services are funded from state tax funds appropriated by the New Jersey Legislature for the New Jersey Library Network. |
