The Bill & Melinda Gates Library Foundation notified the State Library on February 6, 2001 that New Hampshire has been approved for a State Partnership Grant Program. With this award, New Hampshire public libraries serving communities with more than 10 percent of the population at or below the poverty level will be eligible to apply for Gates grants. According to Michael York, State Librarian, this approval means that eligible public libraries throughout the state will be able to apply for funds from the Gates Foundation to purchase computers, networking equipment, and telecommunications services for Internet access. The grants will also provide training and technical support to public library staff.

The State Library submitted an application to the foundation in November 2000 that was assessed for technological readiness, commitment to sustainability over time, and commitment to establishing programs for reaching people in the digital divide. Implementation is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2002 and continue through August 2003.

"We at the State Library are excited about the Gates program," said State Librarian Michael York. "New Hampshire has a number of libraries that can benefit from this program. We will be working to help them take full advantage of this opportunity."

Started in 1997, the State Partnership Grants are part of the U.S. Library Program of the Gates Foundation. Since it began, the program has made grants to more than 5,800 libraries in the United States, installed more than 25,000 PC's and trained more than 7,000 librarians. It is anticipated that by the end of 2003, 10,000 libraries in 50 states will have benefited from the $200 million total investment from the foundation.

New Hampshire is one of sixteen states to receive a State Partnership Grant in the final round. Others include Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to improving people's lives by sharing advances in health and learning with the global community. Led by Bill Gates' father William H. Gates, Sr. and Patty Stonesifer, the Seattle based foundation has an asset base of $21 billion.

For complete information visit www.gatesfoundation.org.