Great news for the Pratt
The Enoch Pratt Free Library received a huge gift today -- $500,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, to improve the system's wireless access and other technology.
Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman and CEO of the banking company, made the presentation at a morning news conference. The money, one of the largest corporate gifts the Pratt has received, will provide wireless capabilities for the Central Library and technological renovations to five branch libraries, according to the Pratt.
“The Enoch Pratt Free Library is an important economic driver in Baltimore’s ongoing revitalization,” Lewis said, according to a Pratt news release. “With more than 1.5 million people visiting the library each year, it is the largest provider of public access computers in the metropolitan area."
For the folks who have PCs at work and home, and who carry a BlackBerry or PDA, the Pratt offered some sobering stats: Nationwide, 60 percent of people who visit a public library do so primarily to use computers and access the Internet. And with 40 percent of Baltimore City households lacking internet access at home, the Pratt’s more than 500 public computers are often the only way for visitors to go online. ... In addition, the Pratt Library also offers free computer classes at several neighborhood branches
Comments
How awesome for the library to get that donation! Congrats!
Posted by: marie | September 19, 2008 7:13 AM