Libraries Gearing Up for a Gig: Anchors for Rural America Linda Lord Maine State Librarian FCC Rural Broadband Workshop March 19,

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. 2

Libraries: Complete Education Jumpstart Employment & Entrepreneurship Enable 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 3

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 Policy Linda Lord Testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation “E-rate 2.0”“E-rate 2.0” ALA E-rate comments (September 2013)comments U.S. Public Libraries and BTOP U.S. Public Libraries and BTOP (May 2013) 4