Strengthening the Public Library as an Essential Part of Urban Life | October '09 | v26 n9
ARRA - Broadband Update
TLCPL Gets Ready for Round II
In April, when ULC hosted a virtual seminar on getting the most from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), members looked ravenously at the $7.2 billion in stimulus funding for broadband initiatives. Since then, Round I of funding has opened and closed, with just thirty-one days for application. Further, the application was wildly complicated, leading a multitude of libraries to hold off and await Rounds II and III.
We checked in with American Library Association’s (ALA) Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director of the Washington office, to get her read on what’s ahead for libraries who are aiming to apply for funding in later rounds. While there’s not much news since the close of Round I, she does note that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will likely condense Rounds II and III into a single Round II. “Folks should begin planning, looking for the kind of information which was requested in Round I, so they are prepared,” she advises.
Clyde Scoles, Director of the always-interesting Toledo-Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) in Ohio, is doing exactly that and says they will be ready when Round II opens, which he suspects will be early in 2010, rather than the originally anticipated December date. TLCPL intends to apply under the NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), where opportunities for libraries are especially significant. BTOP provides grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects – an ideal fit for TLCPL’s proposed Public Computer Center. TLCPL is thinking big, using the creation of this center to renovate or possibly construct a new Toledo central city branch.
“We believe that the Library fits with BTOP Objective ‘B’ that provides access to broadband service to consumers residing in underserved areas,” says Clyde. Indeed, the plan targets such vulnerable populations as those who are unemployed, low income, minorities, children, seniors, hearing impaired and physically challenged, as well as, economically disadvantaged small businesses. At the macro level, the library is shaping its plans and application to meet the BTOP objective for broadband access, education, awareness, training equipment and support in community anchor institutions (read: libraries), and its goal is to provide and stimulate the demand for broadband, economic growth and job creation.
...the plan [BTOP] targets such vulnerable populations as those who are unemployed, low income, minorities, children, seniors, hearing impaired and physically challenged, as well as, economically disadvantaged small businesses.
TLCPL’s application will check as many of the boxes as possible. “Our focus will be multi-purpose,” says Clyde, “covering job skills, computer training, expansion of our K-12 homework program, health awareness and online access (telemedicine), and expansion of our Read for Literacy, Inc. program housed at the main library.” Further, TLCPL plans for services for hearing impaired and physically disabled citizens will be addressed through a mobile outreach computer lab. They will also set up at remote sites such as senior centers and housing units.
TLCPL’s application will shows a significant amount of homework and careful planning, which is made easier through the continuous handy updates to the “Know Your Stimulus” website. It’s an exhaustive resource that includes tips and background on all aspects of the ARRA – particularly, broadband stimulus funding.
Billions of dollars will go to organizations who aim to be the anchors for broadband in your community. Make sure it’s your library.
