The proposal requests $25,000 from IMLS to incentivize 5 rural Nebraska libraries and 5 school districts to collaborate and increase internet speeds at the libraries. It aims to address the "homework gap" faced by rural students by creating supervised homework areas in libraries connected to faster school networks. The funding would support connecting libraries to school networks via fixed wireless technology, augmenting library speeds to 25Mbps/3Mbps. Participating libraries and schools must cost-share $960 for equipment and commit to training and potentially applying for E-Rate funds together going forward.

1. Nebraska Schools and Libraries—
Breaking the Ice and Igniting Internet
Relationships
SUBMITTED PROPOSAL TO THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
SERVICES, NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT FOR LIBRARIES, SPARKS GRANT
Presenter(s):
Tom Rolfes -- Education IT Manager
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Holly Woldt – Senior IT Infrastructure Support Analyst
Nebraska Library Commission

2. Nebraska Schools and Libraries—Breaking the Ice and
Igniting Internet Relationships
 Joint proposal submitted by the Nebraska Library Commission and Office
of the Chief Information Office for funding from Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS) for the amount of $25,000.
 Funding requested from the National Leadership Grant for Libraries,
Anchor Institutions for a Sparks Grant.
 Sparks Grants for Libraries are a special funding opportunity within the
IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. These small grants
encourage libraries to prototype and evaluate specific innovations in the
ways they operate and the services they provide resulting in new tools,
products, services, or organizational practices.
 $25,000 dollars in funding requested to incentivize five public libraries to
work with five public school districts to get faster Internet.

3. What challenges are we trying to address with this
grant?
 Nebraska has a large proportion (88.5%) of small, rural libraries, ranking third
among all states in the percentage of small and rural libraries.
 Nebraska Library Commission on the 2016 public library survey indicates that
over 80% of Nebraska’s public libraries have service below the 25 Mbps down
and 3 Mbps up standard.
 The Nebraska Public Service Commission recently estimated that 17% of
Nebraska households do not have broadband service of at least 25 Mbps
down and 3 Mbps up available. These underserved households are also
primarily located in the state’s rural areas.
 Public libraries are often the ONLY community internet access location for
small, rural communities.
 Small and rural public libraries often cannot afford faster internet services or
are not readily available.

4. What challenges are we trying to address with this
grant? (continued)
 Public schools in Nebraska are already connected to a statewide fiber network,
Network Nebraska, which provides substantial internet speeds to public school
buildings.
 School curricula continue to place more of an emphasis on cloud-based
resources, digital content, and school-issued computers to students.
 Rural students are part of the “homework-gap” as they face barriers to
completing their homework assignments and school projects without a
reliable internet source at home.
 Providing super fast internet as a demonstration project within the public
library could boost the adoption rate for broadband with some households.

5. Are there possibilities for collaboration between
community schools and libraries to address community
needs in rural Nebraska communities?
 Schools are able to provide very fast internet to students and staff during
the school day.
 Libraries provide free Wi-fi access to rural communities (often the only
source) but generally at a slow speed. This free Wi-Fi access is available at
times when the school is closed. However, many libraries do not have
adequate internet speeds to service both the student population and
patrons in the community.
 In rural communities home internet speeds generally do not meet the
minimum FCC 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up.
 By working together as community anchor institutions, it could improve
public access to the internet and also save money.

6. An innovative partnership between a public school district
and library will increase the availability and quality of internet
access by:
 Using Sparks Grant $25,000 funding to incentivize up to five rural school districts
and five rural libraries to work together to increase the internet speeds at the library
using fixed wireless technology.
 Augment the public library internet speeds to the FCC minimum of 25Mbps
down/3Mbps up or greater by providing an additional network at the library that is
an extension of the school district’s network available for district students and staff
members to access.
 Create at least one supervised homework hotspot in each public library so that K-12
students can access public school networks and resources while in a public library
setting.
 The augmented internet connection with the school will free the library’s existing
network to serve more community patrons.

7. What is fixed wireless technology?
 Fixed wireless is the operation of
wireless devices or systems used to
connect two fixed locations (e.g.,
building to building or tower to
building) with a radio or other
wireless link.
 Usually, fixed wireless is part of a
wireless LAN infrastructure.
 Fixed Wireless is NOT the same as the
Wi-Fi network in the library.

8. What do you mean by an augmented
network at the library?
 “Augmented” means that the school
district network extension is an
additional wireless network, and the
existing ISP network stays in place.
 The augmented Wi-Fi will be managed
by the school district and will be
accessible only by school district
students and staff.
 Library patrons’ wireless devices will be
able to see the augmented network but
will not be able to log onto it.

9. ScheduleofEvents

10. Minimum Assurances to apply
 The library is an accredited Nebraska Public Library.
 The library is within five miles of a school district building (60 to 70 blocks) and there are no
geographic or structural impediments between the library rooftop and the school district building’s
rooftop (e.g. trees or other buildings blocking line of sight from rooftop to rooftop) OR The
community has a water tower, grain elevator, or other high point that is in line of sight to the
rooftops of both the library and the school district building and the total relay distance is no greater
that five miles.
 The library is willing to partner with the local school district. This partnership will include internal and
external wireless infrastructure upgrades to increase the library’s internet speed for K-12 student and
teacher access AND the school district may be willing to provide technical support to enable K-12
students and teachers to use the augmented internet connection within the library.
 Agreement with school district and library to cost share up to $960. This will cover the cost of the
802.11ac wireless router (or wireless access point) and installation, CAT6 indoor cabling, one
folding table and 4 stacking shell chairs.
 Library staff is willing to share their experiences as grant participants with other public libraries and
public schools through webinars and/or conference presentations.
 [Optional Phase 2] The library is willing to file for E-rate funding for E-rate Category 1 as a member
of a mini-consortium and possible infrastructure upgrades (E-rate Category II) for fiscal year 2019-
2020.

11. What does my library need to do to be considered for the
Sparks Grant opportunity?
 Review and complete an application
 Demonstrate that the school district and library are candidates for fixed wireless
technology.
 Required to include a Letter of Support from your School District
Superintendent.
 Agree to participate in E-rate training (mini-consortium to jointly apply for
Category 1 E-rate funding), December 2018 to February 2019.
 Agreement with school district and library to cost share up to $960. This will
cover the cost of the 802.11ac wireless router (or wireless access point) and
installation, CAT6 indoor cabling, one folding table and 4 stacking shell chairs.
 Complete the application and submit it by March 9, 2018.

12. Questions?
Holly Woldt
Library Technology Support Specialist
Nebraska Library Commission
Email: holly.woldt@nebraska.gov
Phone: 402-471-4871/800-307-2665
Tom Rolfes
Education I.T. Manager
Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Email: tom.rolfes@nebraska.gov
Phone: 402-471-7969