Committing nearly $3.4 million in grants to bolster Internet conn...

broadband stimulus funds. “Nationally, libraries report that patron demand for high-speed Internet access is growing faster than their ability to provide increased bandwidth,” the foundation said. It cited a recent report by the American Library Association that 60 percent of all libraries say their current Internet speed is insufficient. Grants went to state libraries in Arkansas ($735,207), Kansas ($363,099), Massachusetts ($367,789), New York ($947,517) and Virginia ($977,468). The funds will help underwrite enhancements and maintenance of Internet connections in local libraries. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, and Washington will participate in the foundation’s new Opportunity Online broadband grant program, which will help libraries develop proposals for broadband stimulus funding from NTIA. “Federal, state, and local government investments in connecting libraries to broadband are important steps toward realizing the vision of universal broadband access,” said Jill Nishi, deputy director of the foundation’s U.S. libraries program. “With support from the foundation, nearly all of Massachusetts’ public libraries will be able to provide high-quality broadband service for their communities and give patrons the online opportunities they need to improve their lives, especially during these strained economic times,” said Robert Maier, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. “This means more of our residents will be able to get online at their library and successfully look for a job, find e- government information and services, improve their workforce skills, and continue their education.”