Most of these public libraries are very small and I would not say any of these programs are exemplary but this is what I found.

• Bismark Veterans Memorial Public Library, Bismark, North Dakota

  has started a fund raising drive, called Donation 2000, to collect $5.00 in contributions from every library user which will be matched by Unisys Corporation. The money collected will go toward new technology acquisitions and the ongoing free internet classes.

• Watertown Regional Library, Watertown, South Dakota

  has free computer classes to teach the public about the internet and Microsoft products.

• Yanktown Community Library, Yanktown, South Dakota

  has instruction in using the Internet to search the SDLN card catalog, accessing the other SDLN and Library databases, using e?mail, simple word processing, and generally, using the Library's PC equipment (printers, scanner, etc.).

National Forum on State Technology Policies and Programs

North Dakota

the state of North Dakota is anxiously awaiting the deployment of the statewide wide area network for use by all state and county government entities and every K?12 district in the state. This project will offer more schools the opportunity to add distance learning through interactive video to the options that students have for electives.

South Dakota

In 1996, South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow began to focus on how to make 21st century technology available everywhere in a rural state. In 1999, by using a one?of?a?kind program to wire SD schools with electrical and local area network computer cabling using inmate labor, the Governor launched the Network in order to:

- Establishing a leading?edge infrastructure for existing/future technologies to build on;
- Provide the foundation for students to become better educated;
- Teach valuable skills and work habits to incarcerated men and women so they can become productive citizens of society.

All of this was accomplished with an estimated $15 million, a fraction of the $100 million estimate given to accomplish with private?sector resources.