Foundation company donates our computers to state libraries

Roanoke and New River valleys will get dozens of computers thanks to a grant announced Tuesday from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Total $8.1 million to help libraries in Virginia and 10 other states buy computer hardware, investments that librarians say are desperately needed because technological improvements are so frequent.

 The foundation will give $936,000 to the state’s libraries. The grants also require a local match which means that libraries in Virginia will see a total investment of almost $1.5 million from the program, this will be the third and final round of grants to Virginia libraries from the foundation, according to Jan Hathcock of the Library of Virginia, which is administering the grant in Virginia.

Roanoke will receive 28 new computers for the Gainsboro, Melrose and Jackson Park branches as well as the city’s law library. Roanoke County will get seven computers at the Bent Mountain and Mount Pleasant branches; the Blacksburg Library in Montgomery County will get 10; the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd County will get seven; the Franklin County Public Library will get four; the Iris Brammer Library in Narrows will get two and the Charles and Ona B.