This is where the job-training pitch comes in. Some funding comes directly from city governments, and even more from local foundations, both concerned with improving the economic status of residents. Another source of funds that many centers can, for the moment, tap into are grants from telecom and cable companies that offer aid to public institutions as part of their deals with communities. Ameritech , the phone company for the northern Midwest, promised 225 million dollars as part of a rate settlement. But such deals cannot be expected to be renewed indefinitely.
Partnerships can also reduce costs.
But libraries are not perfect places for training. Staff are uncomfortable with the presence of homeless people, for instance, and have to establish time limits on computer use in order to accommodate all patrons. Schools are important partners for computer community centers. Both schools and libraries may benefit from the Universal Service Fund set up by the Telecommunications Act and the FCC , but this fund can be spent only on hardware, software, and connectivity. There's no funding for the crucial element of training, and here a community center can step in to help.