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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2003
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Austin Public Library Foundation Receives Technology Training Grant for
Library Staff from the SBC Foundation
SBC Foundation– the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications Inc. and the Austin Public Library Foundation today announced an SBC Excelerator Grant for $20,000 to be used for technology training for Austin Public Library staff. This grant will enable the Austin Public Library to better serve neighborhoods throughout the city of Austin by providing training on the latest in information technology to 12 members of the Library technology team. Due to budget shortfalls Library staff training has been significantly decreased, and this SBC Excelerator grant money will ensure that Library staff continues to have access to the training they need to continue to support 22 locations with close to 500 public access computers. The Austin Public Library system serves over 3 million people a year and most of these visitors take advantage of some part of the Library’s complex information system.
“Public/private partnerships, like this one between SBC and the Austin Public Library, are key to getting through some of the short-term challenges facing the city,” said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. “The library provides important technology access to so many of the people of this community and now, through the training provided by this grant, they can provide even better services in the future. I applaud the great citizenry of SBC for making this grant possible.”
The technology support team works to ensure that critical functions of the Library all work effectively. These functions include acquisitions, cataloging, circulation support, Internet access, reference databases, and the telephone reference center. Library technical support team members will attend training sessions in help desk software, web design, programming, database administration, server management, and internal system administration. “Our goal is to maximize the effectiveness of the technology support team and increase the capacity of the whole library system,” says Tom Moran, Assistant Library Director.
“We are so pleased to be able to provide this SBC Excelerator grant to the Austin Public Library,” said Jan Newton, president of SBC Texas. “This organization is such a valuable commodity for the Austin community – providing ready access to important technology and resources. There are more than 2000 SBC employees that are a part of this community; our families and neighbors benefit from services provided by this organization. That is why, as a company, we are committed to supporting the Austin Public Library as they incorporate technology and training programs to make themselves and this community stronger.”
This is the second year the Austin Public Library Foundation received a SBC Excelerator Grant. Last year the Library received $20,000 to fund part-time Wired for Youth Librarians for summer programs for youth ages 8 to 18.
Introduced in 2002, SBC Excelerator was founded on the idea that technology access and resources can improve the lives of people in communities across the nation. To qualify for an SBC Excelerator grant, an organization’s major focus and project must be in one of the following areas: education, community development, health and human services or arts and culture. 2003 SBC Excelerator grants were awarded to organizations helping connect some of Austin’s neediest residents, including at-risk youth, and underserved urban families, to important community resources, such as Internet access, hands-on computer training, math and reading classes, and job skills programs.
A primary goal of SBC Excelerator is to connect people and help develop digital opportunities in local communities. “Programs like SBC Excelerator fund technology resources and training that work to eliminate the digital divide,” said Laura Sanford, president of the SBC Foundation. “SBC Excelerator is designed specifically to help nonprofits where there is still great need. The program is a great example of how technology can improve nonprofits’ ability to meet their missions and increase organizational effectiveness.”
With help from 2003 SBC Excelerator grants, nonprofit organizations in communities across the United States are improving operations and their ability to serve neighborhoods through:
· Interactive, Web-based applications that support activities such as service delivery, volunteer recruiting and e-fundraising
· Technology training programs for nonprofit staff members
· High speed access to the Internet and email
· Network connectivity enabling easy sharing of database applications and information systems
For more information, visit www.sbc.com/foundation.
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