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March 11, 2009

Trenton Library to receive $89,000 for computers, software

Times of Trenton
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BY CARMEN CUSIDO
TRENTON -- The Trenton Public Library will receive $89,000 over two years from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for computers, software and other upgrades, said Kimberly Bray, director of the Trenton Public Library.

"This is certainly the largest grant that the library has received," Bray said, adding that the first installment of $56,550 was disbursed to the library this week, with the remaining $32,500 to be received next year, Bray said.

Bray will put together a package of recommendations of what to buy with the grant funds, including for software and hardware needs and a system-wide print management and recovery system. The purchases must be approved by the library's board of trustees.

As part of the grant, the library must purchase 29 computers, which Bray said would cost around $30,000.

"The foundation determined that number (of computers). I'm not sure how they devised that, it's formulaic," Bray said.

The library system sites have about 100 computers now, and some of the 29 will be used as replacements for machines that have reached their life spans, others will spread throughout the system sites as needed. All the computers will be for public use, Bray said.

In the fall of 2008, Bray attended a two-day advocacy symposium to be eligible to qualify. She also had to verify the city had 25 percent of matching funds for technology in its budget.

The foundation's "opportunity online" hardware grants are for public libraries "serving communities with high concentrations of poverty and that are at risk of having outdated technology," according to an October 2007 press release by the foundation. The third round of hardware grants began this year.

The Trenton library system has struggled to keep its branches open in the past year owing to funding problems. A shuffling of open hours and some staff reductions helped the library to keep its branches in operation.

"We understand resources in the city, state and country are tight. ... Trenton Public Library will continue to look for as many funding possibilities to augment our services," Bray said.

Posted by tumulty at March 11, 2009 9:26 PM

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