AUSTRALIAN LIBRARY WINS US$1 MILLION GRANT

The Northern Territory Library [Darwin, Australia] has won the prestigious annual Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award. The award was presented to Jo McGill, Director, at the IFLA 2007 World Library and Information Congress in Durban, South Africa. “The US$1 million award recognises the library's work to provide free computer and Internet access and training to Indigenous communities and for its unique 'Our Story' database. Being the recipient of the Access to Learning Award recognises the importance of the Northern Territory Library program in contributing to improvements in the lives of Indigenous Territorians living in remote communities. It assists people to retain 60,000 years of oral tradition, and plays a part in helping our Indigenous communities to survive and prosper through improved literacy The award will be used to spread training in 'Our Story' to more communities, and expand the library's early years literacy program for indigenous children.

URLs:

Northern Territory Library: http://www.ntl.nt.gov.au/
Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ATLA