Alabama Virtual Library
In 1999 plans for the Alabama Virtual Library were formulated. The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) project is a statewide initiative designed to allow every public school child, every student in a 2- or 4-year college, and every public library patron in the state access to thousands of reliable resources online. By January of 2001 AVL was a $3 million cooperative effort bringing online resources to Alabama's schools, colleges, universities, and public libraries. The AVL is funded by the State of Alabama and is administered by the Alabama Public Library Service. Home access is also provided to Alabama citizens through local public libraries. It is recognized by SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network) as an outstanding library program in the multi-type library cooperation category.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Alabama--The First of Many States
In February of 1998, Bill and Melinda Gates traveled in Alabama in order to promote the Gates Library Foundation work in the state. Alabama was one of the first 5 states involved in this program where computers were installed in public libraries to help "bridge the digital divide" between the technology "haves" and "have nots." The foundation was established in June of 1997 and committed $400 million in equipment, training, and software to libraries in the lowest of low-income areas. An independent assessment of this program found that thousands of new patrons are going to their public libraries to use free, high-end computers to access the Internet for information that will enhance their lives.

Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Electronic Access Committee (EAC)
In November of 1996, the Electronic Access Committee (EAC) and the Alabama Public Library Service adopted "A Shared Vision: A Plan for Electronic Access to the World's Information Resources." This plan makes accessible to public libraries the necessary electronic databases and gateways to information resources such as commercial electronic databases, state government information, and legislative information.

Community Technology Centers Help Bridge Digital Divide
In April 2000 the U.S. Department of Education announced $44 million in grants to establish 214 Community Technology Centers. These centers will make computers and Internet access available to low-income residents in urban and rural communities. The centers are also supported by business and community partners' contribution of about $42 million. An example of this is the five new centers created in three rural counties near Selma, Alabama that are in the top 100 high-poverty counties in the country.

University of Alabama and the Digital Divide--November 2001
The New York Times Foundation awarded a $20,000 planning grant to the University of Alabama for a proposal to offer training and a news service to facilitate dissemination of news for and by Black Belt residents. A University journalism professor, Ed Mullins said the program would provide new coverage of the region with the help of Dateline Alabama, the college's news Web site. Mullins said that schools, churches, local government, volunteer fire departments, civic organizations, and ad hoc groups would be linked in the project.

Revision of the Public Library Standards
In 1994 a standing committee was appointed to review the 1988 standards. In 1996 a Plan for Excellence: Alabama Public Library Standards was adopted, and it was revised in 1998. The purpose of these standards was for public libraries and library systems to assess and plan for better library service at the local and system level. The standards provide a process to develop improvements in public library service.

Alabama Center for the Book: (June 11, 2001)
A proposal from the Auburn University Center for the Arts and Humanities to create an Alabama Center for the Book was approved by the Library of Congress. Alabama is the 42nd state center affiliate in the network. The establishment of the center represents a committed, concerted effort to promote books and reading throughout Alabama.

About the Alabama Virtual Library. 2 Jan. 2001. Governor Don Siegleman & the Alabama State Legislature. 20 Nov. 2001 http://www.avl.lib.al.us/about/

"Alabama Adds SIRS Databases." Library Journal 15 Nov. 1999: 124.19 Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe University of Texas at San Antonio Lib., 20 Nov. 2001. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.

"Alabama Libraries Subscribe to ProQuest Periodical Collections." Information Today Jan. 2000 ProQuest. Bell & Howell Information and Learning. University of Texas at San Antonio Lib., 20 Nov. 2001. wysiwyg://216/http://proquest.umi....

Hafner, Katie. "Gates's Library Gifts Arrive, But With Windows Attached." The New York Times 21 Feb. 1999: p. 1, Col. 5 Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. University of Texas at San Antonio Lib. 20 Nov. 2001. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.

Jackson, Omari. "Battling the 'Digital Divide': bringing the Internet to the Black Belt." Dateline Alabama News Web site of the College of Communication and Information Sciences 6 June 2001. http://www.datelinealabama.com/ parstemp.pl?temp=story_show.html.

Kniffel, Leonard. "Gates Expands Access Mission During Alabama Visit." American Libraries April 1998:16-19 ProQuest. University of Texas at San Antonio Lib., 20 Nov. 2001. mysiwyg://223/http://proquest umi....

Morgan, Josie. "Turning a Dream into a Virtual Reality of Statewide Information Sharing." Computers in Libraries 21.1 (2001) Jan. 2001 http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/jan01/morgan.htm.

New Community Technology Centers Help Bridge Digital Divide. 18 Apr. 2000. Department of Education. 20 Nov. 2001.
http://www/ed.gov/PressReleases.html.