Siouxland Libraries recently received a $102,585 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the South Dakota State Library.

The grant allowed the library system to increase Internet speed at the Brandon Library and replace public computers and update computer software throughout the system.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Libraries initiative began with one goal—ensuring that if you can get to a public library, you can access the Internet to learn, explore opportunities, and enrich your life. Their matching grants help libraries across the U.S. to ensure quality technology services are available for the millions who count on their public library for their only access to computers and the Internet. The South Dakota State Library made this grant possible by providing matching funds and administering the grant.

In a recent survey, library customers stated their top three reasons for using the library’s computers are the library’s high-speed connection; their lack of access to any other computer, and the availability of library staff to help them use computer resources.

Siouxland Libraries has 122 computers for public use at its 12 branch libraries. In 2007, people used the library’s computers more than 230,000 times.