Broadband Needs Assessment for California Public Libraries

Jarrid KellerActing Deputy State Librarian

Today's Topics

Survey Response Rate

Findings

Speed of Internet Connection

Current Costs

Costs and Speed

Readiness to support High-speed Broadband

Planned Use of High-speed Broadband

Next Steps

• 178 out of 183 library jurisdictions responded, a 97% return rate.

• September, 2013• 883 out of 1115 branches responded, a 79%

return rate.

• February, 2014• 967 out of 1115 branches responded, a 84%

return rate.

Survey Response Rate

The findings paint a picture of public libraries across California laboring to provide reliable Internet connectivity, at very low speeds.

Findings

• More than 25 percent of responding California public libraries (227) report connecting at 1.5 Mbps or slower.

• 52 percent of responding California public libraries (431) report connecting at 10 Mbps or slower.

• 71 percent of responding California public libraries (589) report connecting at speeds at or below 20 Mbps.

• Fewer than 5 percent (34) of responding California public libraries report operating at speeds of 500 Mbps or above.

Speed Of Internet Connection

An average home in California may have access to

50-100 Mbps of connectivity, where many

libraries have 1.5 percent of this (1.5 Mbps) and

serve 100 or 1000 times as many patrons as are

in there are individuals in the average family

home.

Speed Of Internet Connection

California public libraries pay dearly on a cost-per-

megabit basis for their network services.

Current Costs

Estimate of Actual Projection to All

Low Annual $8,486,580.00 $12,944,646.65

Estimate $9,428,904.00 $14,381,980.79

High Annual $12,362,880.00 $18,857,197.26

Estimates of Library Spending on Internet Connectivity

Current Costs

27 percent of the library facilities operate at consumer-level speeds of 1.5 Mbps or slower, and spend over $1.1 million per year.

14 percent spend $475,000 per year to provide 5 Mbps service.

44 percent of the library facilities spend over $5.5 million per year for Internet connectivity that is 50 Mbps or less.

13 percent of public libraries report spending $2.1 million per year for 100 Mbps through 500 Mbps of connectivity.

Fewer than 2 percent report use of Gigabit (1000 Mbps) network connections, paying over $120,000 per year for Internet connectivity.

Costs and Speed

Speeds of 1.5 Mbps or slower. $4110 per megabit annually

Gigabit (1000 Mbps) network connections.

$10 per megabit annually

Costs and Speed

• Space and equipment• Library networking equipment• Security, access control, and fire detection and

suppression• Power, environment, heating, ventilation, and

air conditioning • Location permanency• Staff support

Readiness to support High-Speed Broadband

Digital Content

Instructional Opportunities

Library Administration

Planned Use of High-speed Broadband

• Pass the Budget!!!!• Possibly Effective July 1, 2014

Next Steps

Questions?

Questions?

Thank You!!