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Texas State Library receives $200,850 grant from the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation
Up to 65% of state's public libraries to benefit from
extensive technology training
Austin - The Texas State library and Archives Commission
received a $200, 850 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund
a technology training program for Texas public library staff serving rural
communities. Staff in libraries serving populations of 25,000 or less will
be targeted to participate in a basic level technology training program
spanning the next 12 months. Small community libraries constitute the
majority of the state's public libraries.
"There is an ongoing need for basic technology training for
staff of rural libraries," states Continuing Education Manager Belinda Boon,
who coordinated Texas' grant application. "Small community libraries, in
particular, are becoming community learning centers. These libraries often
are the only places in town where the public can access the Internet and
other technology resources free-of-charge. Many patrons in these communities
depend on the library for computer training."
The Texas State Library will contract to deliver the
training in computer labs and training centers located throughout Texas,
minimizing travel costs for participants. Topics will include Office
Productivity Skills, LAN and Network Administration, Web Publishing and
Technology Issues. In addition, participants will learn teaching skills so
other library staff and patrons will benefit from the training as well.
The State Library will target the training to at least one
library staff member per each of 332 small community libraries in Texas.
Additionally, the training will be offered to 57 medium-sized libraries, the
staff of which could also greatly benefit from the training program. Four
hundred people are expected to participate in the year-long program,
representing up to 65% of Texas' public libraries.
The training program grant is the final component of the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Library State Partnership Program.
Through the U.S. Library State Partnership Program, the Gates Foundation has
granted more than 1,500 computers to Texas libraries, and more than 1,300
library staff members have benefited from technology training.
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Erica McKewen
Communications Officer
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
P.O. Box 12927
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-5514
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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