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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 10:55:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jacqueline Mundell <jmundell@ala.org>
To: Library and Information Technology Association List
<lita-l@ala1.ala.org>
Subject: Bill and Melinda Gates establish library foundation -Forwarded
NEWS RELEASE
American Library Association
For Immediate Release
June 24, 1997
Contact: Joyce Kelly/Linda Wallace 312-280-5043/5042
Laury Bryant/Play Pen Communications 206-281-7900
Chris Hedrick, Gates Library Foundation 425-882-1200
Bill and Melinda Gates establish library foundation
to give $400 million to libraries
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda French Gates
have announced the formation of the Gates Library Foundation -- a
nonprofit organization that will expand the work of the Libraries Online
project launched by Microsoft with the American Library Association in
December 1995.
The foundation will provide $400 million in cash and software to
public libraries in low income communities to support Internet access and
to provide support and training for librarians and library staff throughout
the U.S. and Canada.
"This is an enormous gift to our nation's libraries," said Elizabeth
Martinez, executive director of the American Library Association. "It
means that potentially every child and adult will have access to global
information online at public libraries across America."
The gift is the biggest contribution to libraries since Andrew
Carnegie gave $41.2 million at the turn of the century.
"Our public libraries represent free and open access to
information and knowledge," said Melinda Gates. "Bill and I are excited to
be helping libraries ensure that children and adults from all walks of life
will have access to the wealth of information and understanding that
computers and digital information make possible."
"Since I was a kid, libraries have played an important role in my
life. In the past couple years I have had the opportunity to visit many
libraries and see first hand how people are using personal computers
and the Internet to do anything from look for a job to research a term
paper," said Bill Gates.
The Libraries Online program has reached more than 200 libraries
in North America with $25 million in cash and software donations in the
first 18 months. The Gates Library Foundation will expand that gift with
a commitment of $200 million in cash and $200 million in software.
Patty Stonesifer, former senior vice president of Microsoft's
Interactive Multimedia Division and consultant to Dream Works SKI, has
been named the foundation's president and chairman. Board members
include Bill and Melinda Gates, Carnegie Foundation President Vartan
Gregorian, United Negro College Fund President and CEO William Gray III,
and former Seattle Public Library Foundation board member and retired
president and CEO of Physico-Control Gilbert Anderson.
Chris Hedrick, who has administered Libraries Online at Microsoft,
will join the foundation staff as program director. The foundation process
for awarding grants is being developed.
For more information, see the foundation's Website at
www.glf.org or contact Hedrick at 425-882-1200, email: ubfi@glf.org.
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