EDUCATION Minister Ronald Thwaites has welcomed the award of US$2 million to the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, based in Seattle, United States of America.

The grant, along with co-funding of US$1.1 million from the Government of Jamaica, will enable the JLS to significantly improve the quantity and quality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources in public libraries, provide additional training for staff and users, enhanced programmes and services, and support a comprehensive advocacy and marketing campaign.

In July, the foundation advised the JLS of the granting of the award for the charitable purpose to enrich lives and ultimately contribute to the achievement of the country’s ‘Vision 2030, Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.’

The ICT project will boost access with the installation of hardware and software, including the addition of approximately 843 state-of-the-art computer systems, as well as provide library staff and users with training that will have a major impact on the national goal to empower Jamaicans to achieve their fullest potential. Six mobile libraries and 127 public libraries will benefit from the project.

Thwaites noted that “the project will facilitate the use of technology to support major social change on the Jamaican landscape through public libraries to impact the areas of education and digital inclusion.”

In his comments, Paul Lalor, chairman of the Board of the Jamaica Library Service, said that “as the largest single provider of free access to computers and the Internet to Jamaicans, JLS anticipates an exciting three-year implementation period which will not only change the face of public libraries in Jamaica, but also ultimately positively impact the lives of individuals and the development of communities and the country on a whole”.

The announcement of the award by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries Initiative completes the selection process that began in March 2012, following a letter of interest for grant funding sent by the foundation to the Jamaica Library Service.