In August 2007 Northern Territory Library (NTL) was named the first Australian recipient of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award. The award honours NTL's innovative approach to bringing computer and Internet technology to remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

The Libraries and Knowledge Centres (LKC) Program helps Indigenous communities increase their technology and literacy skills and assists local people to preserve and share their cultural heritage. A key component of the program is the Our Story database, which enables communities to archive digital recordings, photographs, film, stories and songs in local languages, using library computers. NTL supports the locally employed Community Library Officers, who operate the Libraries and Knowledge Centres.

This paper describes NTL's LKC Program, how they are being implemented and the evaluation processes used to measure the impact on the communities. It tells the story, not only of the success of the program from a library perspective, but of the many ways in which the program is helping to keep local culture strong, by supporting communities to collect, preserve and share their cultural heritage.

The funds received through the Access to Learning Award will enable NTL to extend the LKC Program and to develop and deliver complementary services, such as an early years literacy program tailored specifically to the meet the needs of Indigenous children and their parents. The paper will conclude with a brief description of the three key strategies which will drive further development of the program.