High-speed Broadband in California Public Libraries

Led by: Binh Le

This session outlines proven strategies for securing critical buy-in from key decision-makers. A wide range of leaders had to be engaged in the decision to deliver gigabit broadband internet connectivity across LA County's 86 library locations.   This included county leadership and key administrative stakeholders—the Board of Supervisors, the Office of the CIO and CEO, the Internal Services Department (ISD), County Counsel, and Risk Management. The discussion highlights how to navigate complex interagency dynamics, clarify risk and procurement requirements, and demonstrate the community-wide return on investment, drawing on frameworks established by CENIC that leverage FCC E-rate funding mechanisms. Attendees will gain actionable insights on positioning high-speed broadband and grant funding as vital infrastructure that expands digital equity and enables advanced collaborative services.

Led by: Darla Wegener

++ Amy Taylor

Libraries are crucial for our communities in times of crisis. Join a panel of California librarians and library workers who became responders when faced with unexpected disasters. Learn how they used high-speed broadband to assist their communities and how libraries became a hub for disaster response.

Led by: Stanley Han

Designed for library technical staff, this session takes a closer look at what’s happening behind the scenes at CENIC and how your library can make the most of its connection. Learn how CENIC’s Network Operations Center supports members and how to get technical assistance. Explore the tools, resources, and network services available to help your library operate a reliable, high-performance network.

Led by: Mathew Duhon Aaron Lusk

Join network engineers from the San Joaquin Valley Library System and the Black Gold Cooperative Library System for a joint technical deep dive into the benefits of CENIC membership for library consortia.  Both systems have leveraged CENIC’s bulk procurement and multi-provider approach to deliver high-speed fiber and microwave circuits to member libraries, including hard-to-reach locations, replacing legacy T1 connections with far more reliable service.  Membership with CENIC has also dramatically decreased the overhead of applying for E-Rate Category 1 and CTF.  Getting started or expanding service with CENIC does not need to be intimidating, as their team will help you along the way. We will examine how a connection to CalREN provides high-capacity dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 connectivity, MPLS, and other Layer-2/Layer-3 services for interlinking hub sites, as well as built-in redundancy options. Real-world examples will illustrate the resulting gains in bandwidth, reliability, and public Wi-Fi capacity across two geographically diverse consortia. 

Led by: Nancy Schram

This webinar highlights public library services that use high-speed broadband to collaborate with other CENIC members - Eduroam and Public AI Studio. Ventura County Library (VCL) implemented Eduroam (short for "education roaming") in partnership with CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) to offer Eduroam at all VCL branches. This library service allows students, researchers, and staff from any Eduroam-participating institution, including CSUCI, to seamlessly connect to the internet and to resources specific to their school programs when visiting any VCL branch library. Public AI Studio at VCL is a pilot project that runs a large language model on a local network with consumer desktop technologies. This project provides a framework for expanding AI literacy, responsible AI use, and community-centered technology education by building on partnerships with other CENIC members and local stakeholders.  It also leverages VCL's experience designing and delivering educational programs in literacy, digital inclusion, workforce development, maker education, family learning, and community outreach. 

Led by: Donna Ohr

A reliable connection to CENIC’s advanced network is only possible when the equipment needed to receive the connection on the library premises is functional and up to date. In this session, librarians and library technical personnel share how they plan for, fund, and install the equipment necessary to receive the connection and keep their network operational.

Led by: Stanley Han Brett Hoyer Jarrid Keller

Join CENIC, Sacramento Public Library, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and the Center for Internet Security for a hands-on workshop focused on strengthening cybersecurity in libraries. Designed specifically for library technical staff, the workshop will introduce the CIS Critical Security Controls and CIS Benchmarks, globally recognized frameworks that provide practical, actionable guidance for protecting IT systems and data. Attendees will explore how these tools and best practices can be applied in the library environment to strengthen their security posture.

++ Diana Lopez

This webinar highlights how high-speed broadband has transformed public libraries over the past 15 years, from the services and programs they offer to how staff work and serve their communities. Librarians will share examples of new programs and services enabled by high-speed connectivity and explain how their daily work has become more efficient. They will look back at the library services and technology available in 2012 and compare them with what is possible today. Speakers will discuss how these changes have helped libraries better meet the needs of their communities and the new possibilities that high-speed broadband may create in the future.