This morning State Librarian, Jan Walsh, spoke on behalf of Washington’s libraries at a hearing on broadband stimulus funding. The purpose of the hearing was to provide input to Governor Gregoire on the best use of federal stimulus funding designated for broadband purposes.

Walsh noted, “The ‘broadband stimulus funding’ provides an unparalleled opportunity to increase broadband access for `unserved’ and `underserved’ communities across Washington. Public libraries exist throughout Washington. They serve, without charge, all segments of society including those who are less-educated, those with lower-incomes, minorities, older adults, and the unemployed.’

Asked to identify 3 priorities for the use of these funds, Walsh stated: “Fiber to the libraries; infrastructure both external to libraries and internal within the buildings; and provision of public access computing (public computing centers) including wireless access anywhere in the library building and the immediate surrounding area.”

Walsh’s comments were supported by Marc Berejka speaking on behalf of Microsoft whose rallying cry is “all schools, libraries and hospitals should be fiberized.” Later Berejka noted that in some cases it might be more feasible to use wireless. His recommendation was a 100 mbps pipe — a project that could consume 50% of the available funds nationwide. Berejka said that schools, libraries, and hospitals must include connections “outside the door step” to provide access to Main Street America. Marc Berejka is Senior Director for Technology, Policy and Strategy with Microsoft.

Tim Mallory of Timberland Regional Library, and President of the Washington Library Association, noted that broadband to libraries would help them to stop rationing computers. It would help them provide community computer centers that people could access both within and outside the library building. Just at the time when people need assistance from libraries the most, diminishing budgets are forcing layoffs of reference and information assistance staff. “Give us the resources,” Mallory declared, “and we will get the job done.”

Mike Scroggins of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and a former member of the Library Council of Washington spoke of a vision of the K20 Network. K20 is Washington’s educational broadband network that includes public libraries. “Increasingly,” Scroggins point out, “students are not coming to campus to take their courses.” He said that many student go to their local library, and other community service outlets, to do their studies.

Throughout the two and a half hours of comment libraries were mentioned as an important stakeholder. Dr. Rob McDaniel, Associate Dean of the WSU Center for Distance and Professional Education, said that non-profits should also be included in the “schools, libraries and hospitals” theme. The AT&T representative supported the theme and noted that these service organizations could be instrumental in getting broadband adopted in Washington’s rural communities.

The text of Jan Walsh’s remarks follows (with much thanks for inspiration from the public comments of the American Library Association Washington Office and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the NTIA and RUS on broadband).

Broadband Stimulus Funding
Response from the Washington State Library / Office of the Secretary of State
April 20, 2008

The “broadband stimulus funding” provides an unparalleled opportunity to increase broadband access for `unserved’ and `underserved’ communities across Washington. Public libraries exist throughout Washington. They serve, without charge, all segments of society including those who are less-educated, those with lower-incomes, minorities, older adults, and the unemployed.

By their very nature, libraries seek to bridge the digital divide providing equal access to information resources for all members of their communities. That divide will be made smaller and communities will be better served by libraries when libraries become recipients of broadband stimulus funding.

Libraries are centers of lifelong learning. They connect individuals in their communities to the information resources they need. Libraries link kids to online homework; they provide digitized primary resources to high school students preparing classroom based assessments; adults use library computers to find career information, access government services, take distance education courses, and find resources to enhance their personal and professional lives; and seniors access genealogy and health information through their libraries.

Each organization/person was asked to respond to the following questions:

1. What should the broadband funding priorities be for the state of Washington?  (maximum of three)

· “Fiber to libraries.”

A robust fiber network will allow Washington public libraries to serve as “community anchor institutions.”

· Infrastructure both external to libraries and internal within the buildings.

Technical and physical infrastructures within Washington’s rural public libraries need to be upgraded to accommodate faster Internet connections and improve wireless access in and around libraries. In some cases improvements may be needed in hardware (routers and servers, e.g.), software, inside wiring, and building renovations. Also needed is expertise such as technical advice and support, and capacity and sustainability planning.

· Provision of public access computing (public computing centers) including wireless access anywhere in the library building and the immediate surrounding area.

2. How do the priorities identified in #1 improve the lives of Washingtonians?

· Access to broadband remains available to only a fraction of Washingtonians. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation notes that “While 65 percent of American adults have access to the Internet at home (55 percent have broadband access and another 10 percent have dial-up connections), the balance of Internet users rely on community institutions-with varying Internet connections speeds-for online access.”

· Through broadband stimulus funding Washington’s rural libraries will positively affect individuals living in rural areas. Libraries are the information hubs of rural communities. Including libraries in a larger broadband build out will contribute towards a cohesive and efficient network infrastructure for Washington’s communities and help ensure that high-speed broadband will reach the greatest percentage of the population.

· In the US nearly 100% of public libraries and community colleges provide free public access to the Internet. In 82% of rural communities libraries are the only source of free access to the Internet. Many individuals living in rural Washington communities do not have computers at home. The majority of customers using library connectivity cannot afford high speed access in the home. By using the library’s pipe, they not only have a way to address current crucial needs, but are also being primed to later take advantage of and seek high speed connectivity in their homes.

· Librarians work with individuals every day to help them develop the skills necessary to succeed in an online environment. Access to fast broadband-supported Internet through their libraries will allow these individuals to take online distance courses, find vital health information, maintain email accounts and connect to the world. Libraries will train their communities in basic computer skills and how to effectively search the Internet.

· Ubiquitous broadband throughout the state will level the playing field for individuals in rural, suburban, and urban areas providing efficient access to information for all. The Gates Foundation estimates that “in the next five years, projections suggest that 77 percent of all homes will have broadband connections.” Libraries are essential to bringing the balance of the population high-speed Internet access that will provide access to “the economic, educational, and social opportunities available online.^”

3. How do the priorities identified in #1 support 21^st Century’s activities/needs?

· Libraries are purveyors of lifelong long learning. They remain, what was once said of them, the people’s university. When individuals in rural areas connect to their libraries, whether within a library building or remotely, they connect to the world.

· Broadband access to the Internet through libraries will allow individuals in rural communities to better acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities required to remain competitive in a constantly changing world.

· Education is increasingly available in a virtual environment. Even for those without computer access at home the availability of broadband-supported access to the Internet through local libraries will allow individuals to attain degrees and certification without leaving their local communities.

· Increasingly, government (local, state, and federal) must be accessed through an online environment. Broadband access will allow individuals to find needed government information and utilizes online forms.

· Libraries provide their communities with training in essential information seeking skills. As technologies change libraries will help individuals update their skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

4. How will funding the priorities identified in #1 provide short-term economic stimulus?

· A recent study by the Washington State Library shows that Washingtonians are flooding public libraries using computers and the Internet to find and apply for jobs; develop resumes; retool for careers; grow small businesses; seek to save failing mortgages, and more.

· Rural economic development includes critical community institutions and resources necessary for economic competitiveness, such as libraries. Small business owners and other entrepreneurs look to their local libraries for information including the use of online databases. Enhancing broadband to libraries will provide more efficient and powerful access to essential resources.

Contacts:

Jan Walsh
State Librarian, Washington State Library
360.704.5253 [email protected]

Rand Simmons
Manager for Library Development, Washington State Library
360.570.5585 [email protected]