Small Town News

Broadband award will help libraries in Superior, Arizona State Library Awarded $1.3 million grant

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PHOENIX - Governor Jan Brewer today announced the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Division has been awarded $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to enhance existing facilities at 84 libraries in all 15 Arizona counties. Arizona, along with Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington, received Public Computer Center awards yesterday as part of the first series of Broadband Initiative award rollouts of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)of2009- ,

"With the economic challenges facing Arizona and the nation, lpcal libraries have become an important information center," said Governor Brewer. "The Public Computer Center grant will help bring our citizens closer to new opportunities by providing more than 1,000 computers to libraries throughout the state."

Arizona's Public Computer Center grant application was developed based on a survey of 124 libraries, and as a result, 84 libraries were selected for the grant based on need and the ability to be "shovel ready" to add more computers to meet growing community needs. Receiving this grant allows Arizona's libraries to extend their reach to more than 450,000 previously underserved citizens of Arizona.

"I am enthusiastic about the award and stand firmly in support of libraries as public access points for information," said Secretary of State Ken Bennett, whose office oversees the library division. State Librarian GladysAnn Wells, who also serves as director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records said of the announcement, "I'm so proud of the collaboration between and among libraries across the state that are committed to serving all sizes of communities and helping with all types of information needs. This grant is a tremendous accomplishment for our State Library staff and our partners throughout the State of Arizona."

"The State Library grant received the highest recommendation in its category by the Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee (ABAC)," said Arizona State CIO Chad Kirkpat-rick. "This grant stood out because it served over 80 libraries in all 15 counties in the state of Arizona. It was well researched and the libraries that will receive these funds now have the opportunity to reach many more people." Director Kirkpatrick served as Chairman of the Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee (ABAC) that reviewed the grant applications for the Governor and provided feedback for the Governor's recommendations that were submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the awards process. "Public access computers1 at the Library are a vital link in a small, depressed community," said Barbara. Blackburn from Duncan Public Library. "Our patrons could not afford internet at home after being laid off from the mines. They were thankful to have access at the library."

The federal government today kicked off $7.2 billion in Recovery Act broadband grant and loan programs, of which $2 billion will be made available on a rolling basis over the next 75 days to bring high-speed Internet to communities that currently have little or no access to the technology.

Libraries in Superior, Kearny, Hayden, Mammoth and San Manuel were all named in the award.



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