Libraries Have Received a Donation of 8.9 M USD

Riga, 15 February 2007 – Microsoft Corporation has donated  8.9 M USD worth of software to 874 libraries and 10 regional librarian training centres within the Latvian local government public library development project Trešais tēva dēls (Father’s Third Son). The Library of the Blind of Latvia and seven of its subsidiaries have also received special software for people with sight impairment and blind people.

Internet access can improve people’s economic prospects, allowing them to search for jobs, conduct business online, and communicate with distant relatives. The Trešais tēva dēls project is coordinated by the Culture Information Systems agency of the Ministry of Culture, and will help all of Latvia’s public libraries provide free use of computers connected to the Internet and computer literacy training. The project is implemented by 874 local government public libraries in co-operation with all the local authorities in Latvia. It is funded through a partnership between the Republic of Latvia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries initiative, with software donated by Microsoft, a Global Libraries partner.

The donated software is currently installed on the computers of ten regional librarian training centers. Software will be installed on publicly available PCs starting in March, when PCs for public use will begin to be delivered to libraries.

“Microsoft is proud to donate its software to support ICT development in Latvia,” said Sandis Kolomenskis, country manager of Microsoft Latvia. “This partnership provides great opportunities to reduce the digital divide and empower Latvians to realize their full potential. With current, relevant software on the public access computers of Latvia’s libraries, we believe library users can harness the benefits of technology access while learning valuable skills that will open doors for them.”

The software donated by Microsoft will serve as the basis for the establishment of modern training and IT centers in the regions of Latvia. The fixed and mobile computer classes, taught using state-of-the-art software, will help library users learn core PC and internet user skills, including text creation and editing, making presentations, operation of electronic spreadsheets, as well as for the organisation of effective communication and professional environment will constitute the infrastructure for these centres. The software also allows familiarisation with other effectiveness and knowledge tools like Microsoft Publisher, an aid in the development of professional marketing materials and publications, Microsoft Visio, for drawing diagrams and graphs, Microsoft Expression Web for the development of modern high quality web pages, as well as Microsoft Encarta – an electronic encyclopaedia with rich content where anyone can conveniently seek and find information on subjects of their interest.

"The enlisted software will enable the ten training centres and 874 libraries to embark on work on a new level and help them to achieve true modernity. The software will serve as the basis for growth both inside the libraries and among their users. In this case software is a tool for the creation of new things, for increased personal effectiveness and for speedier personal development than before. Personal growth is what lays at the basis of the idea of the project Trešais tēva dēls,” comments Armands Magone, Director of Culture Information Systems, the State Agency of the Ministry of Culture.

The donation for regional library training centers in Ventspils, Liepaja, Jelgava, Preili, Ogre, Daugavpils, Gulbene, Valmiera and two centers in Riga, as well as 874 local government libraries all across Latvia includes the following software from Microsoft: Exchange Server 2007, Expression Web, Office Professional 2007, Encarta 2008, Visio Pro 2007, Windows Server, Windows Vista Business, Office Communicator 2007, InfoPath 2007, and Access 2007.

Funding for the Trešais tēva dēls project from the Republic of Latvia totals $21.2  million to date. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $16.2 million, and Microsoft Corporation has provided $ 8.9 million in software.