Libraries build public?s online access

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy recently released “U.S. Public Libraries and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).” The report details how libraries have helped implement the $4 billion National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) program that aims to increase broadband access and adoption across the country.

By looking at BTOP-funded library projects in 29 states and DC, the ALA found measureable improvement. According to ALA President Maureen Sullivan, “Millions of Americans have turned to us to gain new technology skills and access to specialized resources. BTOP has helped to enable expanded services and to develop the improved infrastructure to meet these community needs.”

The ALA discovered, for instance:

• Nearly all statewide library projects included digital literacy training.
• States have increased broadband speeds – in some cases dramatically. In Nebraska, “Of the 101 libraries upgraded so far, the average speed moved from 2.9 Mbps to 21.4 Mbps.”
• Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Oklahoma and Rhode Island have established new videoconferencing capabilities in several, if not all, libraries in their states.
• The Maine State Library is deploying its statewide network to provide legal information clinics through the Volunteer Lawyers Project.

The BTOP library program is essential. The ALA notes that “the Pew Internet Project finds that the availability of free computers and Internet access (including Wi-Fi) now rivals book lending as a vital library service.”

The BTOP library program demonstrates the importance of ongoing public support. The ALA notes that “the Pew Internet Project finds that the availability of free computers and Internet access (including Wi-Fi) now rivals book lending as a vital library service.”

Senator Rockefeller, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, and Speed Matters all endorse upgrading the FCC's E-Rate Program to support 1 gigabit connections to these critical anchor institutions.

Read the complete report here.

U.S. Public Libraries and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (American Library Association, May 2013)

American Library Association highlights library and community impacts from Broadband Technology Opportunities Program in new report (news release, May 2, 2013)

Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (website)