June 15 Message from Jane Pinkston
Dear All,
We hope by now that every Tennessee library director is familiar with the ARRA Stimulus Broadband package and its potential for libraries everywhere. We anticipate that almost all Tennessee libraries will be affected, one way or another, by the Stimulus funding.
Over the next few weeks as the State awaits the federal guidelines for applying for Stimulus Broadband funds, please take the time to familiarize yourselves with the attached documents. They provide excellent guidance from national library leadership and independent groups that recognize libraries as among the most valuable "community anchor institutions." The documents clearly indicate the strong role libraries must play in the Broadband initiative.
In order of increasing specificity to libraries, they are, roughly:
Benton Foundation: Action Plan for America: Using Technology and Innovation to Address Our Nation's Critical Challenges
2009 Need-for-Speed: The Importance of Next-Generation Broadband Networks (Please request from Jane Pinkston)
Bringing Broadband to Rural America (Please request from Jane Pinkston)
California Key Comments: Get Connected! Your Life Made Easier: Key Messages for End Users
Gates Foundation RFI: Comments of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Before the US Department of Commerce
Thanks as always for everything your libraries are doing for the citizens of Tennessee!
Jane Pinkston
Asst. State Librarian for Planning and Development
TN State Library and Archives
403 Seventh Ave. North
Nashville, TN 37243-0312
Phone: 615-532-4628
Email: jane.pinkston@tn.gov