People from less-affluent economic backgrounds may have a difficult time accessing broadband internet. However, a grant given to a public library in Illinois is intended to change this fact for the local community.
According to the Rockford Register Star, the Cherry Valley Library in Cherry Valley, Illinois, recently received a $26,000 grant appropriated by state librarian Jesse White. The funding is provided by a state initiative called the Eliminate the Digital Divide, which is aimed at delivering broadband access to Illinois municipal institutions currently without the latest internet bandwidth.
The grant will provide the necessary equipment for greater internet connectivity, reported the news source. Accordingly, librarians may find their educational technology, such as an online encyclopedia, a web-based news magazine subscription or a
DLP projector, optimized by faster internet speeds.
Jesse White claimed the grant program represents a significant investment in community education for Cherry Valley.
"Having access to information allows citizens to engage in lifelong learning, and this grant will allow the Cherry Valley Library to bridge the digital divide and offer critical services that will hopefully allow more citizens to lead better, more productive lives," he said.
