TO: NJ Public Library Directors

FROM: Tina Keresztury and Kathleen Peiffer, NJ State Library

                Eileen Palmer, NJLA Public Policy Committee

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides funding, within the broadband initiatives, for expanding public computing center capacity. ARRA specifically identifies public libraries and community colleges as the kind of 'anchor' institutions that should house such computing centers. The law requires a minimum of $200 million be allocated to this purpose. The federal agency responsible for developing a program to distribute these funds is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA is expected to issue their rules and application process for these funds by late June 2009. Although there is a lot we do not yet know, now is the time to start working together to assure NJ libraries are included. The State Library and NJLA are working together to help NJ libraries successfully compete for these funds. Both agencies have been participating in conference calls sponsored by ALA and are carefully reviewing the information that is available

at this time. So far, while there is a lot we do not yet know, one thing we do know is that larger applications will fare better than smaller proposals. With that in mind we would like to hear from libraries, counties, regions, or consortia that are working on proposals or are interested in working with us on a statewide proposal. If you are interested in this project please respond to our survey at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GZPIMmRK5eG50XfhkJpFVw_3d_3d.

Deadline for responses is June 10, 2009.

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