1. Libraries Gearing Up for a Gig: Anchors for Rural America Linda Lord Maine State Librarian FCC Rural Broadband Workshop March 19, 2014 1

2. 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

3. 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

4. For more information: Linda.Lord@maine.gov 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 www.ala.org/oitp 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