Gates Foundation's Opportunity Online PC Grant Program

August 2009

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  Note: The division's grant application has been accepted. See the August update below.

Public libraries in Wisconsin and eight other states are participating in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Opportunity Online hardware grant program. A basic overview of the grant is provided below and a more detailed Frequently Asked Questions is also available.

Overview of the grant

The Opportunity Online hardware program will grant funding to purchase public access PCs for libraries that pass two basic eligibility tests as established by the foundation.

1. Poverty: Libraries must serve a population above 10% poverty or have more than 3,000 people in poverty, based on 2000 census data. This condition also factors in a foundation-defined library service area. The foundation has already determined which libraries meet this requirement (see above list). There is no appeal process.
2. PC service level: Libraries must have at least some pubic access PCs that are more than four years old and they must have a sufficient number of PCs as defined by the foundation. This service level eligibility is determined by the library running the Tech Atlas PC inventory program on each of public access PCs.

A library must meet the above two eligibility requirements. For example, a library that qualifies based on its poverty, but that has a sufficient number of PCs less than four years old, may not receive a grant. Very small libraries that are awarded grants will likely be able to purchase 2-3 PCs, while larger libraries will likely be able to purchase 8-12 PCs or more. These numbers are just approximate.

In the first round of hardware grants in 2002, the foundation granted Gateway PCs to eligible libraries. In this new round of 2009 grants, libraries will be awarded a cash grant to purchase PCs of their choice. Participation in the grant will require matching funds over the two-year time-frame of the grant. The match is 25% the first year (2010) and 50% the second year (2011). Libraries will need to seek matching funds from sources such as their local budget, friends groups, community service clubs, etc.

To verify whether a library meets the second eligibility test, each library that is eligible based on poverty ran the PC inventory program from TechAtlas to determine the age of the library's public access PCs. The foundation uses this information to formulate a list of libraries to receive PCs. The final list of libraries to receive funding to purchase PCs is below. The actual disbursement of funds will take place in early 2010. The time frame for the grant is set by the Gates Foundation.

August 2009 update

Grant funded

In July the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation notified the DPI library division that it accepted the division's grant application. As a result, one hundred of the state's 470 public libraries and branches will receive $738,400 in foundation funding to purchase a total of 447 PCs.  The grant includes sufficient funding for libraries to also purchase software, peripherals (e.g., printers) and to provide technical support for the PCs.  The state's regional library systems are an important part of this grant too.  Most systems will coordinate the purchase, configuration and installation of the PCs and help provide technical support and other assistance. Purchase of the PCs will start in the first quarter of 2010. Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, Director of the Oshkosh Public Library, said, “In these difficult economic times our public access computers are used more than ever. Many are in continuous use from the minute the library opens until we close. The additional PCs from the Gates Foundation grant will help address the needs of our patrons for more Internet connected PCs.” The Oshkosh library will be receiving 14 PCs as part of the grant.

Turning the Page

The Turning the Page workshop will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis on Tuesday-Wednesday, Ocotber 6 and 7. The workshop is a professional development opportunity for public librarians and library supporters created by the Public Library Association (PLA). The program will provide participants with training, information, and the tools needed to become stronger library advocates. The program will begin with breakfast on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 a.m. The conference will end by 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7. Turning the Page is offered free of charge to library systems participating in the Opportunity Online hardware grants program. (The workshop is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.)

Below are key dates, actions and obligations of the grant. Please review this information carefully. Also, we have scheduled a grant update session at the May WAPL conference in Wisconsin Dells. It will be Thursday, May 7th at 3:15-4:30PM.

Dates/Actions:

Dates	Actions
February 26	Foundation notifies division of final library eligibility. Division then notifies libraries of the number of PCs they will be eligible to receive and the amount of the required local library fund match.
February 26 – March 27	Library action: Library staff and boards decide whether they want to participate.
March 27	Library action: Division must have an email confirmation from the library director stating (a) the library will participate in the grant, or (b) the library will not participate in the grant. (see participating library obligations below.)
April 24	Division sends the foundation the grant application which includes a list of all participating libraries, a detailed budget, etc.
late July	Foundation awards 2010 grant funds to the division.
Sept 2009 – March 2010	Libraries confirm that they have met the grant obligations as stated below.
March – May 2010	Division or systems cut checks to each library to purchase their PCs awarded in Year 1, 2010.

Participating library obligations:

Shortly after March 2, the division will send out instructions listing the library’s obligations. The division will then need a confirming email reply by March 27 from the director of each participating library stating that they have reviewed the obligations with their board and that they agree to them. In brief, each participating library commits to complying with four obligations required by the foundation.

1) Matching funds:

• Year 1, 2010: Libraries must certify that they have the required 25% matching funds by March 30, 2010. The match can come from friends groups, foundations, services clubs or the library’s 2010 budget.
• Year 2, 2011: Libraries must certify that they have the required 50% matching funds by March 30, 2011.

Example: A library eligible for six PCS will get funding for three PCs in 2010 and funding for three in 2011. You must agree to accept all six PCs. You cannot say that you will take three PCs in 2010 and not the other three PCs in 2011, or otherwise accept only some of the PCs.

Obviously you cannot guarantee in March 2009 that your library will have the matching funds in the library's 2010 or 2011 budgets. But the assumption is that you will identify or raise the funds by the two requisite deadlines of March 30, 2010 and March 30, 2011.

2) PLA Advocacy Training:

The library director must participate in the PLA’s advocacy training. This is a 2-day workshop to be held in the state in late September or October 2009. The location is yet to be determined. Lodging, meals and transportation will be reimbursed. It is possible to do the advocacy program online over a 4-6 hour period but we encourage attendance at the actual program.

3) ALA Survey:

The library must complete the ALA Internet and technology survey in the fall of 2009, 2010 and 2011. Many libraries have done this survey in past years and are familiar with it.

4) TechAtlas PC Inventory:

Most systems did the initial inventory for their libraries in November-December 2009. This will have to be done twice more, in July-Sepetmber of 2010 and 2011. Most systems will again run this for their libraries.

Let me know if you have any questions.

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For more detailed information, see the above FAQ. Or if you have any questions on the grant program, please contact:

Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
125 S. Webster St., box 7841 Madison, WI 53707-7841
(608-266-2127, fax 608-267-9207)
robert.bocher@dpi.wi.gov

Wisconsin Library Gates Grant Website

For questions about this information, contact Robert F. Bocher (608) 266-2127

Last updated on 3/11/2010 10:14:46 AM