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Goals

Welcome! We’ll be talking about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online Grants!. Goals. Ensure free, high-quality public computing access for people in high need communities Help libraries develop the skills and approaches needed to sustain high-quality technology services

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Goals

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  1. Welcome! We’ll be talking about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online Grants!

  2. Goals • Ensure free, high-quality public computing access for people in high need communities • Help libraries develop the skills and approaches needed to sustain high-quality technology services • Help libraries create a relationship with their communities to develop a long-term capacity to support free public access computing for their patrons

  3. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made the decisions which libraries are or are not eligible. • 400 libraries were poverty eligible and encouraged to run Tech Atlas. • 334 libraries ran the Tech Atlas inventory. • 134 libraries were determined to be eligible to participate in the grant program.

  4. 134 public libraries have been invited to participate: • Alliance Library System = 20 • Chicago Public Library System = 1 • DuPage Library System = 0 • Lewis & Clark Library System = 21 • Lincoln Trail Libraries System = 6 • Metropolitan Library System = 12 • North Suburban Library System = 1 • Prairie Area Library System = 18 • Rolling Prairie Library System = 5 • Shawnee Library System = 50

  5. Chicago Public Library System 18 1 1 0 12 20 5 6 21 50

  6. Step 1 Sign and return the Confirmation of Grant Participation Illinois State Library * Gwendolyn Brooks Bldg.* 300 S. Second Street * Springfield, IL 62701-1796  Fax this completed form to the Illinois State Library at 217-782-1877 prior to March 25th Confirmation of Grant Participation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Opportunity Online Hardware Grant Library: Director’s Name:  Email:  Telephone: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have determined that the following outlets in your library are eligible for an Opportunity Online Hardware Grant. ….

  7. Next… In April 2009, the Illinois State Library will submit an application on behalf of all libraries confirming their willingness to participate.

  8. $2,600 for one computer? • Consider the “cost of ownership” instead of the cost to buy a computer • The $2,600 value the Foundation assigns to a computer is designed to approximate the cost of making a computer available to the public for four years • Think of this as a “package” that includes costs for peripherals, staff training, and tech support

  9. Funds can be use for: • Public access computers: • A “public access computer” is a computer (ie desktop, laptop, thin client) available to the public that provides software applications and/or Internet access. • Computers that run online databases (such as business, research, or educational databases) for patron use are eligible • Printers and peripherals • Training • Tech support • Everything needed to keep the computers in good working order over the next four years.

  10. Funds may NOT be used for: • Replacing or upgrading staff-only computers • Computers for use by staff only are not deemed “public access computers” in this program. • Servers or computers dedicated to inter-library catalogues • Infrastructure, connectivity upgrades, or ongoing connectivity costs • Non-hardware related items such as MP3 players or projectors • Software subscriptions   • Non-technology purchases such as furniture or chairs

  11. Step 2 Attend the PLA Advocacy Conference Turning the Page advocacy training Fall 2009 (September/October??) • The term advocacy encompasses the following activities that are considered essential to increasing support for public libraries: • Building strategic partnerships • Developing effective approaches that demonstrate a library’s value • Delivering those messages through a variety of tactics • Symposium Design: Two-day, in-person event(s) at a location in IL TBD • Who Should Attend?Ideally, a 3 person team consisting of the library director/leaders of library and trustees, persons responsible for “making the ask”

  12. Step 3 Participate in the American Library Association-Florida State University (ALA-FSU) Internet and Public Funding Survey This is an online survey.

  13. Step 4: The Match • Grants will be distributed in two phases over the space of approximately two years, with a monitored and enforced escalating matching requirement • 25% in phase one, 50% in phase two – Refer to your letter for your library’s specific match. • Matching funds must be “new,” not federal LSTA funds; private funds are OK (e.g., friends’ groups, local community foundation) • For Example: Libraries eligible for 4 computers… • The value of one computer is $2,600 so the value of 4 computers = $10,400 • Phase 1 = 2 computers ($5,200 value) Your match = 25% or $1,300 and ISL will issue a check for 75% or $3,900 • Phase 2 = 2 computers ($5,200 value) Your match = 50% or $2,600 and ISL will issue a check for 50% or $2,600.

  14. Why is there a Match Requirement? • The Opportunity Online hardware grants are designed to help libraries sustain their technology and strengthen their capacity to conduct advocacy and secure local funding. • These matching grants provide an incentive to engage the community to raise funds and communicate the value of technology in libraries.

  15. What kind of written documentation is needed for match verification? • Council or library board resolution committing funds • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from official overseeing the library budget • Letter of commitment from non-governmental resource such as community foundation, corporate partner, friends' group, or other foundation

  16. Return the confirmation of participation • Attend the PLA Turning the Page advocacy training • Complete the ALA/FSU Survey • Submit written documentation to ISL to verify the phase 1 match by Feb. 2010 • Illinois State Library issues the grant check to your library • Purchase the computers allocated for phase 1 • Run Tech Atlas inventory

  17. If libraries are eligible for phase-one funding, why do they have to run TechAtlas again? Do they have to reestablish their eligibility? • The second TechAtlas run does not affect a library’s eligibility. • It is simply a way to verify that participating libraries have installed their phase-one-funded computers. • Libraries will also be asked to run TechAtlas after they have installed their phase-two funded computers.

  18. Phase 2 - Let’s do it again! • Complete the ALA/FSU Survey • Submit written documentation to ISL to verify the phase 2 match by Feb. 2010 • Illinois State Library issues the grant check to your library • Purchase computers allocated in phase 2 • Run Tech Atlas inventory

  19. Questions? 1-800-665-5576 x1Call or send an email to:kegan@ilsos.net

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