Microsoft Co-Founder Allen Gives Library $2.5 Million

Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen has given the Seattle Public Library its biggest grant ever, $2.5 million, for an old technology he remembers fondly from childhood - books.

Librarians said the grant announced Tuesday by the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation, combined with matching funds, would effectively double the annual book budget for the 23-branch municipal library.

“It’s a real statement that books are something of very high importance and value even to people in the technology arena,” development director Terry Collings said.