Opportunity Online Grant Program Wrap-Up

In spring 2009, the Illinois State Library contacted eligible public libraries in the state with an invitation to participate in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Opportunity Online Hardware Grant Program. The program helped public libraries and their communities build long-term capacity for supporting free computer and Internet access in public libraries. The initiative focused on libraries that are unable to adequately serve their patrons’ technology needs, as well as high-poverty communities with limited access to computers and the Internet.
Eligibility was based on economic need and age of computers.

The program has now concluded in Illinois and has been an overwhelming success. The State Library awarded $1,012,050 in Opportunity Online grant funds provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A total of 109 Illinois library agencies representing 120 library buildings successfully completed all the requirements for the program. One of the key components of the program required grantees to raise matching funds equal to or exceeding the partial value of the computers donated.

The required match was a useful tool in building local partnerships and practicing advocacy. Participating libraries took part in “Turning the Page,” an advocacy-training program provided by the Public Library Association to build confidence and skills for raising the matching funds. Libraries successfully raised a total of $583,778 in matching funds, including:

• $189,577 from public funds,
• $45,298 from foundations or corporations,
and
• $348,903 from fundraising activities
and general donations.

Using a combination of grant dollars and matching funds, 690 new public access computers were purchased and installed for the benefit of library users in communities across Illinois. These computers, with e-mail and Internet access, are vital tools to help people find jobs, further their education, conduct research and share ideas. A list of Illinois libraries that participated in the program is available here.