libraries gearing up for a gig: anchors for rural america linda lord maine state librarian fcc rural...
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Libraries Gearing Up for a Gig: Anchors for Rural America
Linda LordMaine State Librarian
FCC Rural Broadband WorkshopMarch 19, 2014
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Rural and Small Libraries
• 46 million people are served by small libraries which serve areas of less than 25,000 population
• About 75% of all libraries serve areas of less than 10,000
people
• About half of all libraries are rural
• Only 17% of rural libraries are at 10Mbps or greater. – Only about 5% are at 100Mbps or above.
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Libraries: Complete Education
Jumpstart Employment & EntrepreneurshipEnable Empowerment
• 32.5 million -- Number of people of all ages who use library technology resources to help them achieve their educational goals in a year
• 30 million -- Number of people who use library computers and internet access for employment or career purposes in a year
• 26 million -- Number of people who state that libraries serve as the connection to government information, services and resources
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For more information:
Institute of Museum and Library Services report:The State of Small and Rural Libraries in the United States
ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policywww.ala.org/oitp
Linda Lord Testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation “E-rate 2.0”
ALA E-rate comments (September 2013)U.S. Public Libraries and BTOP (May 2013)
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