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[Elizabeth Boten <>]

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CONTACT: Liz Boten, Internet2, or 720.379.9672

 

Internet2 awarded grant from Institute for Museum and Library Services

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 21, 2015 –Internet2, operator of the fastest, most advanced network for research and education, was awarded a Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program grant of $248,725 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In partnership with the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, the American Library Association, the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and Internet2 member research and education networks, Internet2 will pilot a project to develop a broadband network assessment toolkit and training program for rural and tribal libraries. The pilot will include more than 30 library practitioners in at least 30 rural public and tribal libraries across five states.

 

The toolkit will provide training for librarians to advance their understanding of and advocacy for broadband infrastructure in their libraries and will be developed to address library-specific broadband technology and infrastructure needs.

 

“Libraries are providing their patrons access to digital content, applications, education, training, and other critical resources, which require robust and scalable broadband infrastructure to serve their facilities,” said H. David Lambert, President and CEO of Internet2. “The Internet2 R&E community is uniquely positioned to work together with rural and tribal libraries to assess their current broadband infrastructure, identify common networking problems, and suggest ways to solve them.”

 

Internet2’s U.S. UCAN program brings together Internet2 member institutions and innovators from primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and museums to extend new technologies, applications, middleware, and content to all educational sectors, as quickly and connectedly as possible.

 

 This grant was referenced in the recently published report "Broadband Opportunity Council Report and Recommendations" issued by the White House today as an example of an IMLS funded project to support broadband competition, deployment and adoption as part of the Administration’s Broadband Opportunities Council.

 

 

About Internet2

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Internet2® is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the nation’s leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research and community service missions.

Internet2 also operates the nation’s largest and fastest, coast-to-coast research and education network, with Internet2 Network Operations Center powered by Indiana University. Internet2 serves more than 90,000 community anchor institutions, 290 U.S. universities, 70 government agencies, 42 regional and state education networks, 84 leading corporations working with our community and more than 65 national research and education networking partners representing more than 100 countries.

Internet2 offices are located in Ann Arbor, MI; Denver, CO; Emeryville, CA; Washington, DC; and West Hartford, CT. For more information, visit www.internet2.edu or follow @Internet2 on Twitter.