When Sai Rao took over as the executive director of the North Bergen Free Public Library six years ago, the Bergenline Avenue house of books didn’t have a single computer.
Now, the library is packed with computers, some 50 in all, for patrons to use whenever they want.
Six of them were just received thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, formed by the founder of the computer conglomerate Microsoft. Also purchased with the grant were a content server and a laser printer.
The library officially christened the new Gateway computers in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the library Monday.
Rao said that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided public libraries across the country the ability to give patrons who live in low-income communities free access to computers, the Internet and digital information.
Technology training, ongoing technical assistance, and additional support are provided as part of the grant because of the pivotal role librarians play in helping patrons use computers and navigate the Internet.
“Our hope is that as the next century is ushered in, citizens will come to think of the public library not only as a champion of books and knowledge, but as a major access point to the benefits of the digital age,” Gates said in a statement.
The Gates Foundation’s program targets public libraries serving communities with a poverty rate of at least 10 percent.
“At first, we had a hard time justifying our criteria for earning the grant,” Rao said. “At first, they had different statistics for our region, but after consideration, we did qualify.”
The fully loaded Gateway computers feature all the Microsoft programs, as well as software for research and software geared toward children. Also, two Spanish keyboards were included to help Spanish-speaking patrons learn more about the English language.
The content server will enable the library to host its own website, www.nbpl.org, without having to pay an outside company to host and do updates.
“It’s a very powerful server,” Rao said. “We’re going to be able to include more things.”
Two Microsoft staff members came to North Bergen from Seattle to teach the library’s staff how to properly use the computers and server.
“They’re going to come back and provide more assistance when we get the server operating,” Rao said.
North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco was on hand for the ceremony and to see first hand what the computers will do for the library.
“Sai has really turned the library into more of a community center,” Sacco said. “It’s a very modern center, a media center in the truest sense of the word, with something for everyone, from children to seniors. The library is a tremendous asset to the community.”
For the fourth time in the last six years, Rao was able to purchase new computers for the library, with the money coming from some sort of a grant. In the past, the library received two grants from the State Department of Community Affairs and one from Hudson County Community College.
“It’s really a reward, considering that only 40 percent of the nation has a home computer,” Rao said. “It’s really important for everyone to have access to the Internet and these people need the resources provided in a library. Through these grants and the teaching, we’re bridging the gap and providing access to everyone.”
It’s hard to believe how far the North Bergen Library has come in six years.
“She’s done a phenomenal job,” Sacco said. “It’s hard to imagine where we were to where we are now. It’s two totally different buildings. And this was all done using grant money, which is outstanding. I’m very happy with it. It’s wonderful.”
“It’s really like a miracle to be able to get these grants,” Rao said. “We’re able to provide so much more now than ever before.”