MEMBER LIBRARY WEEKLY BULLETIN

No. 00-18 
May 5, 200

* JUDY SWANN , Information Services & Trainer

The Gates Library Initiative letters are starting to arrive. There is some good news here, but the almost legalistic specificity of the language in the letters makes it difficult at first to figure out which part of the news that is.

We still do not have a set of current specifications for the hardware, operating system, or the donated software, but we do now know that not all the Finger Lakes Library System member libraries are eligible for what is being termed the "cash grant." If your library is eligible for the cash grant, it may receive a fully loaded computer for free, along with 24 hour a day, 7 day a week support for one full calendar year. Your status as an eligible library requires you to sign up for one of the workshops. You may not RSVP Gates directly, you should send your RSVP to Judy Swann before May 17.

If your library is eligible for the cash grant and decide, after reviewing the hardware specifications that you would rather spend it on a different machine, you may. You will not get the software or the one year of support. If your library is eligible for a "partial building grant," you will be entitled to purchase the hardware offered to cash grant recipients, but you can still get all the software for free. You will not have to attend the workshop. Application materials will be sent directly to you in the second week of June.

Directors of eligible member libraries who are not able to go to either the Syracuse meeting on June 7 or one of the teleconference meetings on June 8, should contact Judy Swann, at extension 35.

* ELLEN WIKSTROM , Aurora Library

The following books were donated to the Aurora Library anonymously; they could be yours for free. They seem to have some redeeming value, are in new condition, but we can’t use them. They are outside the scope of our collection. I have no reviews for perusal, but if you are interested, please contact Ellen Wikstrom. The library phone number is 315-364-8074 or e-mail me at ekikstr1@rochester.rr.com. I’ll send them out via the book bag.