Knight Commission says libraries crucial to democracy; foundation offers $3.1M in grants

The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, which concluded that America's communities need a free flow of useful information, has set out 15 recommendations, including universal broadband, increased support for public service media, more open public records, digital and media literacy as critical to education, and the need to fund libraries and other community institutions for computer access and teaching digital literacy. In response, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, supporter of the commission, has offered $3.1 million in grants to help library users in 13 communities. Notably, the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC, will use $804,100 to supplement private and public funding to create a new 7500 square foot Job Help Center at the Main Library. - Library Journal