The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded the Aurora Public Library a matching grant to help fund the replacement of public-use computers at Aurora's seven public libraries during the next two years.

The combined amount of $171,600 will add about 60 new public-use computers, and replace between 85 and 100 existing and aging public-use computers in 2008 and 2009. In addition, because the Aurora Public Library already has computer infrastructure in place and has its own information technology staff, some additional dollars will remain to fund printers and other related technology improvements.

"Computers are essential for customers to access the library catalog, and many of our customers also are increasingly dependent upon the computers for Internet access and word processing," said Patti Bateman, manager of library services for the City of Aurora's Library, Recreation & Cultural Services department. "They look for jobs, submit applications and resumes online, research information for school, use Microsoft Word, and take advantage of many other tools and resources. Not everyone has a computer or Internet access from home, and the library is here to help them."

The Bill and Melinda Gates Opportunity Online Hardware Grant, centrally coordinated by the Bibliographic Center for Research, is designed to replace outdated library computers and technology as determined through a comprehensive evaluation process conducted by the library and the Gates program.

Library computers have a lower life expectancy than that of an office PC because of heavy use in a public environment. The Aurora Public Library's newest public-use computers are roughly three years old, with the remainder between five and six years old.

While the City of Aurora continues to grapple with a difficult budget situation for the near future, the Bill and Melinda Gates Opportunity Online Hardware Grant will make a critical difference in supplying new, more reliable and capable computers to Aurora Public Library customers.

The library has been repairing or engaging in small-scale computer replacements with department savings as available and needed, but the existing inventory is becoming costly to maintain and technologically obsolete.

For more information, call Bateman at 303-739-6594.