[PL-Directors] Last call: Tell the Oregon Broadband Office about digital access issues in your community

Wed Jul 12 10:56:26 PDT 2023

One last reminder that you have until Friday (July 14) to fill out the Oregon Community Anchor Institution Broadband Access Questionnaire<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OR_CommunityAnchors01>. If you haven't already done so, please take just 10 minutes to complete the survey and help the State Library and the Oregon Broadband Office plan for improving Internet access, digital inclusion, and digital skills across the state.

We have a strong showing of libraries in this data gathering process ... nearly 70 libraries have submitted their information so far! Please help us have all types of Oregon libraries well-represented in in this data set so we can get recognition (and funding!) for the important work we do to bridge the digital divide in our state.

Many thanks!

Arlene Weible, MLS (she/her/hers)
Electronic Services Consultant
Oregon Federal Regional Depository Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
arlene.weible at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:arlene.weible at slo.oregon.gov> | 503-378-5020 | http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries
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[State Library of Oregon Logo]

From: WEIBLE Arlene * SLO
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2023 1:04 PM
To: Libs-Or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: Reminder: Tell the Oregon Broadband Office about digital access issues in your community

As you may have heard, Oregon just received nearly $700 million from the federal government<https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/federal-authorities-allocate-nearly-700-million-to-oregon-for-high-speed-internet/> to begin improve access to high speed internet in the state. This is just the first wave of funding expected. To help assure this and future federal money is spent where it is most needed, the Oregon Broadband Office has been gathering data to with help with broadband and digital inclusion planning for the state. Broadband Office staff have been pleased with the great response from libraries, but want to hear from more and have extended the deadline for their surveys until July 14.

If your library has not yet filled out the Oregon Community Anchor Institution Broadband Access Questionnaire<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OR_CommunityAnchors01>, please do so before July 14.

If you know library users or community members that are struggling with getting adequate access to the Internet or need support in developing digital skills, please help them tell their story and encourage them to use a library computer to fill out the Oregon Internet Accessibility Needs Assessment<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OR_InternetNeedsAssessment01>.

These surveys should take only 10 minutes to complete! This small investment of time could have a big payoff in your community.

Thank you for your assistance!

Arlene Weible, MLS (she/her/hers)
Electronic Services Consultant
Oregon Federal Regional Depository Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
arlene.weible at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:arlene.weible at slo.oregon.gov> | 503-378-5020 | http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries
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[State Library of Oregon Logo]

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov>> On Behalf Of CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO via Libs-Or
Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 9:07 AM
To: Libs-Or at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:Libs-Or at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [Libs-Or] Request for Digital Equity Work

Hi everyone,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to do to bridge the digital divide in Oregon. Libraries provide public access to the internet, loan devices and hotspots, and help individuals improve their digital skills. These services are an essential part of the digital equity ecosystem that supports those who cannot fully participate in our current digital world.

As you may know, the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)<https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/funding-programs> authorizes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)<https://ntia.gov/> to distribute millions of dollars to Oregon in the next few years to help close gaps in broadband infrastructure and promote digital inclusion among groups most likely to face barriers in accessing the digital world. This funding will be managed by the Oregon Broadband Office<https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx>, who is currently gathering information to help plan for the distribution of this money.

I would like to urge you to help the State Library work with the Broadband Office to document the important work your library does to promote internet access and digital equity. The data being gathered now will help determine which communities and organizations will gain access to federal funding and it is very important that libraries are well represented in this data. It is also important that all types of libraries participate in this process. Whether you help students, researchers, or the general public, all libraries have a role to play in the digital equity ecosystem.

We've sent a separate message to library directors asking them to complete a survey on behalf of their institutions. Here are some other things you can do ...

  1.  Encourage your library director to complete the survey. If they didn't receive a copy, please let me know.

  1.  Ask those library users that you know have stories about their struggles to access digital services to attend in-person listening sessions hosted by the Broadband Office across the state in the coming weeks. If they cannot attend, consider attending yourself and tell their stories yourself. A full list of the locations of these meetings<https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/help_plan_BEAD.aspx> is available on the Broadband website.

  1.  No in-person meeting nearby? Help your library users tell their story and use a library computer to help them fill out the Oregon Internet Accessibility Needs Assessment<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OR_InternetNeedsAssessment01>.

I know you have many demands on your time and we at the State Library understand the impact of these types of requests can have when you have limited bandwidth. If you are able to invest just a small amount of your time to take one of the actions above, I want to assure you it will pay off and make a big difference in the improvement of access internet service and digital equity in your community for years to come.

Thank you,

Wendy

Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)
State Librarian
State Library of Oregon
wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>
Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
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[Title: State Library of Oregon]

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