Feb. 6, 2008

Over the last two years, the Library of Michigan has administered more than $2.1 million in "Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant" (PAC HUG) program dollars to hundreds of public libraries statewide as part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries program. 

The second round of PAC HUG grants - last year ranging from $1,000 to $29,250 and totaling $877,169 statewide - were geared to level the technological playing field for roughly 200 libraries in disadvantaged communities by providing opportunities to replace public access computers to meet the needs of the communities that the libraries serve.  In round two, libraries in 72 counties received 761 computers.

"The Global Libraries program is a truly wonderful initiative of the Gates Foundation, seeking no other outcome than to give all people, regardless of age, race, income or geographic location, free access to digital information," said State Librarian Nancy Robertson.  "Without the foundation's vision and generosity, many libraries that are already struggling to make ends meet would be hard pressed to make these all-important upgrades that - in the end - are really about helping the people of Michigan make the most of today's technology and information opportunities."

Now, many libraries throughout the state can see a measurable improvement in their ability to provide up-to-date, user-friendly technology work stations to the residents who most need them.

With the $2,236.40 it received in Gates Foundation funding, the Munising School Public Library was able to purchase two new computers and security for them.  "Our library serves a large rural area, as well as tourists, and computer access is always in demand," said MSPL Director Charlotte Dugas. 

"From the online student to the job seekers and travelers doing their online banking, or the business person filling orders while on the road, it is very important to have this service available for our patrons."

At the Flint Public Library's main branch - which received more than $29,000 in Gates funding - staff was able to replace 26 at-end-of-life computers, which is critical at a library where in an average month patrons utilize over 11,000 computer sessions representing approximately 7,800 hours of Internet and computer access.

"This access is especially critical to many residents in Flint who are seeking jobs, since all of our computers have the Michigan Occupational Information System (MOIS) software," said Flint Public Library Director Jo Anne Mondowney.  "Each day at our library, we are reminded of how crucial it is to provide access to hundreds of people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to communicate and compete in the online world we live in."

On the state's west side, Fremont Area District Library Director Ray Arnett said his library has already replaced five public access computers, will add another five in the coming year, and has plans for two additional "express" stations for those patrons with quick computing tasks to complete.  "Without the Gates grant our library would not have been able to replace all of these workstations, and adding additional computers would not have been a possibility," said Arnett.  "Now our patrons are able to access the Internet without worrying about the computer dropping their connection or not being able to handle the Web page because of the computer's
age."

Public access computers, as defined by the Gates Foundation, are those that are available for access by the public at no cost and without intervention by staff; that provide access to external information resources (e.g., the Internet and bibliographic databases); and that can access personal-productivity or reference software.

State Librarian Robertson noted that this second round of grants was especially helpful to Michigan residents because they were specifically targeted to libraries serving communities with high needs and high demands for public access computing services and were distributed in priority fashion to areas with the highest combined poverty and unemployment rates, as determined by the 2000 Census.

"Go into any Michigan library and you'll see the public access computers are in use from the time the library opens until it closes," said Robertson.  "In order to learn, do business, train for employment, find job openings, or just stay connected to family and friends, the Internet is a vital tool.  With the recent economic challenges Michigan has faced, libraries have become increasingly critical to helping citizens move their lives forward by keeping that technological bridge intact for everyone."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced its Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant (PAC HUG) program in September 2005.  In the first year (2006) the Library of Michigan administered $1,221,792 to 420 libraries, allowing the purchase or upgrade of 1,344 computers. 

The Library of Michigan Foundation served as the fiscal agent for the Gates Foundation funding.  It also played a key role by investing the funds and earning $88,500 in interest.  The Library of Michigan used those extra dollars to increase the number of grants to libraries, securing the purchase of approximately 80 more public access computers in high-unemployment areas.

For more information about the Gates Foundation and the Global Libraries program, visit www.gatesfoundation.org.

The Library of Michigan is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).  Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Gates Foundation Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant (PAC HUG) Program Grant Recipients by County

ALCONA COUNTY
Alcona County Library - $7,000.00
Curtis Township Library - $7,037.00

ALGER COUNTY
Munising School Public Library - $2,236.40

ALLEGAN COUNTY
Allegan Public Library - $3,000.00
J. C. Wheeler Public Library - $2,781.50

ALPENA COUNTY
Alpena County Library - $13,956.00

ANTRIM COUNTY
Central Lake District Library - $2,457.28
Helena Township Public Library - $1,048.79
Mancelona Township Library - $10,229.45

BARAGA COUNTY
L'Anse Area School-Public Library - $5,000.00

BARRY COUNTY
Dowling Public Library - $2,353.51
Freeport District Library - $2,100.00
Hastings Public Library - $3,065.00
Putnam District Library - $1,109.00
Spindler Library - $1,104.00

BAY COUNTY
Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library - $5,000.00

BENZIE COUNTY
Benzie Shores District Library - $1,202.80
Benzonia Public Library - $1,327.80

BERRIEN COUNTY
Benton Harbor Public Library - $6,244.00
Berrien Springs Community Library - $11,162.00
Eau Claire District Library - $1,384.50
Watervliet District Library - $1,150.00

CALHOUN COUNTY
Albion District Library - $5,175.00
Athens Community Library - $2,227.00

CASS COUNTY
Dowagiac District Library - $2,601.40
Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library - $1,113.80

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY
Jordan Valley District Library - $8,000.00

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY
Cheboygan Area Public Library - $9,990.00
Indian River Area Library - $3,000.00
Topinabee Public Library - $1,000.00
Wolverine Community Library - $2,090.00

CHIPPEWA COUNTY
Bayliss Public Library - $7,000.00
DeTour Area School and Public Library - $2,227.60
Rudyard School-Public Library - $2,400.00
Whitefish Township Community Library - $1,000.00

CLARE COUNTY
Harrison Community Library - $7,735.00
Pere Marquette District Library - $10,028.30
Surrey Township Public Library - $10,708.00

DELTA COUNTY
Escanaba Public Library - $5,000.00
Gladstone Area School & Public Library - $11,000.00

DICKINSON COUNTY
Dickinson County Library - $8,000.00

EATON COUNTY
Delta Township District Library - $8,133.60
Dorothy Hull Library (Windsor Township) - $1,104.00
Grand Ledge Area District Library - $3,000.00
Sunfield District Library - $1,013.80
Vermontville Township Library - $2,348.00

EMMET COUNTY
Mackinaw Area Public Library - $4,910.00
Petoskey Public Library - $2,518.00

GENESEE COUNTY
Flint Public Library (North Flint Branch) - $4,500.00
Flint Public Library (Main Library) - $29,250.00
Flint Public Library (West Flint Branch) - $2,250.00

GLADWIN COUNTY
Beaverton Branch Library - $3,000.00
Gladwin County District Library - $4,000.00

GOGEBIC COUNTY
Bessemer Public Library - $1,113.80
Wakefield Public Library - $1,113.80

GRATIOT COUNTY
Alma Public Library - $2,000.00
Ashley District Library - $1,000.00
Theodore A. Cutler Memorial Library - $2,110.00
Thompson Home Public Library - $1,600.00

HILLSDALE COUNTY
North Adams Community Memorial Library $1,130.90
Reading Community Library - $1,153.79
Waldron District Library - $2,188.00

HOUGHTON COUNTY
Calumet Public School Library - $8,110.40
Lake Linden-Hubbell School/Public Library - $5,225.00
Portage Lake District Library - $9,200.00

HURON COUNTY
Bad Axe Public Library - $4,000.00
Port Austin Township Library - $1,014.99
Sebewaing Township Library - $4,820.00
Sleeper Public Library - $4,200.00

INGHAM COUNTY
Capital Area District Library - $13,853.45
East Lansing Public Library - $7,096.00
Library of Michigan - $8,720.60

IONIA COUNTY
Palo Community School District Public Library - $2,000.00

IOSCO COUNTY
Iosco-Arenac District Library (AuGres Community Library) - $1,000.00
Iosco-Arenac District Library (Mary Johnston Memorial Library) - $1,000.00
Iosco-Arenac District Library (Robert J. Parks Branch) - $1,000.00
Iosco-Arenac District Library (Whittemore Library) - $1,000.00

IRON COUNTY
Crystal Falls District Community Library - $5,500.00
West Iron District Library - $2,227.60

ISABELLA COUNTY
Chippewa River District Library (Coe Township Library) - $2,476.30
Chippewa River District Library (Faith Johnson Memorial Library) - $8,498.65
Chippewa River District Library (Fremont Township Library) - $2,476.30
Chippewa River District Library (Rolland Township Branch Library) - $5,476.30
Chippewa River District Library (Weidman Public Library) - $3,230.25
Chippewa River District Library System (Veterans Memorial Library) - $9,080.14

KALAMAZOO COUNTY
Comstock Township Library - $3,600.00
Galesburg Memorial Library - $1,468.78

KALKASKA COUNTY
Kalkaska County Library - $2,205.60

LAKE COUNTY
Chase Township Public Library - $4,130.00
Luther Area Public Library - $2,000.00

LAPEER COUNTY
Lapeer District Library - $1,274.00
North Branch Township Library - $1,800.00
Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library - $2,892.00

LEELANAU COUNTY
Leelanau Township Library - $1,260.90
Suttons Bay Area District Library - $1,999.60

LENAWEE COUNTY
Adrian Public Library - $13,809
Hudson Public Library - $2,643.00

LUCE COUNTY
Tahquamenon Area Public Library - $2,000.00

MACKINAC COUNTY
Brevort Township Library - $1,000.00
Engadine Library - $3,150.00
Les Cheneaux Community Library - $2,000.00
Saint Ignace Public Library - $2,227.60

MACOMB COUNTY
Lenox Township Library - $2,145.50
Ray Township Library - $1,039.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Memphis Branch) - $1,137.00

MARQUETTE COUNTY
Forsyth Township Public Library - $2,200.00
Negaunee Public Library - $1,100.00
Peter White Public Library - $8,000.00
Republic-Michigamme Public Library - $1,113.80

MASON COUNTY
Mason County District Library - $3,300.00

MECOSTA COUNTY
Barryton Public Library - $2,120.00
Wheatland Township Library - $4,928.76

MENOMINEE COUNTY
Menominee County Library (Hermansville Branch) - $1,113.80
Menominee County Library - $6,600.00
Spies Public Library - $5,500.00

MIDLAND COUNTY
Coleman Area Library - $15,179.20

MISSAUKEE COUNTY
Falmouth Area Library - $1,000.00
McBain Community Library - $2,620.00
Missaukee District Library - $2,550.00

MONROE COUNTY
Monroe County Library System (Blue Bush Branch) - $2,146.00
Monroe County Library System (Dundee Branch) - $2,219.00
Monroe County Library System (Erie Branch) - $2,146.00
Monroe County Library System (Ida Branch) - $2,146.00
Monroe County Library System (Maybee Branch) - $2,146.00
Monroe County Library System (Newport Branch) - $2,219.00
Monroe County Library System (Rasey Memorial Branch) - $2,219.00
Monroe County Library System (South Rockwood Branch) - $2,146.00

MONTCALM COUNTY
Flat River Community Library - $2,680.00
Home Township Library - $5,920.00
Richland Township Library - $7,014.00
Tamarack District Library - $1,500.00
Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library - $4,000.00

MONTMORENCY COUNTY
Montmorency County Public Library - $6,900.00

MUSKEGON COUNTY
Hackley Public Library - $6,000.00

NEWAYGO COUNTY
Fremont Area District Library - $7,378.00
Grant Area District Library - $4,013.00
White Cloud Community Library - $2,760.00

OAKLAND COUNTY
Brandon Township Public Library - $9,000.00
Hazel Park Memorial Library - $10,000.00
Holly Township Library - $3,183.88
Oak Park Public Library - $5,200.00
Pontiac Public Library - $18,000.00
Royal Oak Public Library - $6,864.80
Royal Oak Township Public Library - $20,567.85

OCEANA COUNTY
Hart Area Public Library - $3,300.00
Shelby Area District Library - $4,000.00

OGEMAW COUNTY
Ogemaw District Library - $7,084.85
Ogemaw East Branch Library - $2,645.90
Skidway Lake Branch Library - $7,084.85
West Branch District Library - $3,000.00

ONTONOGAN COUNTY
Carp Lake Township Library - $2,227.60
McMillan Township Library - $2,227.60
Ontonagon Township Library - $2,135.18

OSCEOLA COUNTY
Evart Public Library - $6,200.00
LeRoy Community Library - $1,055.94
Tustin Community Library - $3,039.00

OSCODA COUNTY
Oscoda County Library - $3,000.00

OTSEGO COUNTY
Otsego County Library - $7,665.00

OTTAWA COUNTY
Allendale Township Library - $1,000.00
Northeast Ottawa District Library - $3,825.00
Spring Lake District Library - $5,200.00

PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY
Presque Isle District Library - $24,035.00

ROSCOMMON COUNTY
Houghton Lake Public Library - $9,974.90
Richfield Township Public Library - $4,169.50

SAGINAW COUNTY
Bridgeport Public Library - $2,000.00
Merrill District Library - $2,359.80
Public Libraries of Saginaw - $19,531.00
Saint Charles District Library - $1,070.00

SANILAC COUNTY
Deckerville Public Library - $2,240.00
Sandusky District Library - $6,090.00

SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY
Manistique School & Public Library - $3,119.97

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Durand Memorial Branch Library - $2,290.00
Edna C. Bentley Memorial Library - $1,465.60
Laingsburg Public Library - $1,200.00
Owosso Branch, Shiawassee District Library - $8,000.00
Vernon District Public Library - $1,680.00

ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Saint Clair County Library (Main Library) - $6,822.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Algonac-Clay Township Branch) - $4,548.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Burtchville Township Branch) - $2,274.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Capac Branch) - $1,137.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Ira Township Branch) - $1,137.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Marysville Branch) - $4,548.00
Saint Clair County Library System (Yale Branch) - $1,137.00

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Sturgis District Library - $5,000.00
Three Rivers Public Library - $6,082.80

TUSCOLA COUNTY
Bullard Sanford Memorial Library - $1,632.00
Caro Area District Library - $2,080.00
Mayville District Public Library - $2,000.00
Rawson Memorial Library - $1,135.95

VAN BUREN COUNTY
Hartford Public Library - $5,346.75
South Haven Memorial Library - $4,767.36

WAYNE COUNTY
Bacon Memorial District Library - $2,009.98
Dearborn Heights City Library - $6,400.00
Hamtramck Public Library - $9,650.10
Wayne Public Library - $3,108.90

WEXFORD COUNTY
Cadillac-Wexford County Public Library (Buckley Branch Library) - $1,240.00
Cadillac-Wexford County Public Library (Mesick Branch Library) - $2,480.00
Cadillac-Wexford County Public Library (Main Library) - $6,200.00
Cadillac-Wexford County Public Library (Manton Branch Library) - $2,480.00

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).