Thanks, Bill & Melinda

The Gates Foundation is giving $57 million to overseas libraries to improve Internet access at public libraries in Poland, Romania and Vietnam.

From the story...

"Our goal is really to use technology to make sure that we're making the world a good place for everybody regardless of where they live," said Deborah Jacobs, deputy director for the foundation's Global Libraries program.

The foundation, headed by Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and his wife, is also working with local governments and organizations to raise money for related expenses, like equipment and high-speed connections. In addition, Microsoft itself is donating millions of dollars worth of software to support the project.

The Gates foundation started more than a decade ago trying to bring Internet access to every library in the United States, and has since expanded its goal to help libraries around the world.