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!!