Gigabit Libraries and Beyond

The Gigabit Libraries and Beyond project, made possible through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (RE-246219-OLS-20), aims to improve and expand the successful Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit and Broadband Action Plan to more urban, rural, and tribal libraries throughout the U.S. The project will build the capacity of libraries to improve their communities by identifying trends to help libraries make informed decisions on broadband improvement, technology purchases, and IT planning. 

The project’s activities include the following:

• Perform minor updates to the Toward Gigabit Libraries (TGL) toolkit. The library community in the U.S. has been using the open-source toolkit since 2018, often “remixing” toolkit content into  training materials at local, regional, and state levels. The project will learn from these uses to identify areas of improvement or refinement to the core toolkit.
• Expand toolkit use and effectiveness in rural and tribal libraries. The project will increase outreach and education opportunities for rural and tribal libraries, including training materials and train-the-trainer activities.
• Formally connect State Library organizations, research and education (R&E) networks, and other partners for toolkit deployment. The project will continue TGL’s practice of convening meetings of State Library Organizations and technology experts from R&E networks, universities, and tribal entities while building pathways, methods, and opportunities to sustain and expand these demographically and geographically.
• Enhance tribal library outreach. Of the 58 libraries visited in the TGL project, 11 were tribal. This project will build upon and expand the use of the toolkit in tribal libraries.
• Automate/simplify the toolkit. Although TGL toolkit trainees reported that it was easy to use, this project will increase accessibility to promote easier understanding.
• Expand the toolkit to select urban libraries. While the toolkit was initially developed for rural and tribal libraries, urban libraries that do not have access to sufficient technical help can also benefit from using the toolkit. We plan to partner with thought leaders who represent urban libraries to explore the issue, identify urban libraries, and disseminate the toolkit.
• Expand partnership opportunities. The project will engage in outreach with potential partners, including state library organizations, R&E networks, universities, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM), and tribes and tribal universities.
• Leverage the deep, technical expertise of the R&E community to develop this library broadband assessment toolkit and pilot its use with library practitioners in rural public and tribal libraries across the country. 

Get more information about the original Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit.

Quick Links

Blog posts and Updates

Get the latest updates on Internet2 Community Anchor Program (CAP)-related news.

Read the Full Proposal

Learn more about the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant Preliminary Proposal: Gigabit Libraries and Beyond.

Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit

The Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit is a powerful, free tool to help libraries learn about and improve their current broadband infrastructure.

Meet Our Advisory Board

Read profiles of the Gigabit Libraries and Beyond’s Advisory Board.