Technology Planning for Public Libraries

1. General planning requirements:

   Approved Technology Plans should cover a period of not more than three years. All approved plans should include provisions for evaluating progress toward the plan’s goals, and these assessments should occur on an annual basis.

   There is no need to write a specific E-rate technology plan, if the library has another plan covering its technology goals that includes a sufficient level of information to justify and validate the purpose of the E-rate request.

   The FCC requires independent approval of an applicant’s technology plan.

   Adapted from a web posting USAC, the Universal Service Administrative Company: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/apply/step2.asp

   See the ‘Sample Technology Plan Certification Form’ for a checklist of the planning requirements. The State Library is required to review plans submitted by libraries in relation to how well the plan meets each of these requirements. If some of the technology plan requirements are covered in your library’s long-range plan, you may submit the long-range plan plus a ‘technology plan’ to cover the remaining requirements. For example, the technology goals and objectives, as well as the professional development requirement, may be addressed in your library’s long-range plan. Please indicate the pages or sections of the long-range plan which you feel meet the requirements for certification.

2. Assistance for plan development:
   Help in writing technology plans is available from several sources.

   • USAC web page includes a general description of the technology plan requirements. http://www.sl.universalservice.org/apply/step2.asp

   • USAC link to complete the forms to apply online is at:  http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp 

   • www.Webjunction.org, the portal developed by the Gates Library Foundation to assist public libraries has extensive links and assistance. This site includes sample technology plans and a link to TechAtlas, an online assistance to developing the library’s technology inventory. See the technology planning section under ‘policies and practices.’

   • The Missouri State Library also offers a technology plan development guide at Technology Planning Guidelines for Missouri Public Libraries.

3. The amount of E-rate discount MOREnet receives for each Internet connection, based on the size of the connection, are shown below. To estimate the amount of the annual E-rate discount for your library, multiply the amount shown in the ‘fee per connection’ line by the number of connections for your library or library system.

   Size of connection	Fee per connection
   56K	$60
   128K	$120
   384K	$361
   768K	$722
   T1	$1,444
   4.5 MB	$4,333
   10 MB	$9, 389



4. Information on e-rate and the e-rate application process is available on the MOREnet website at E-Rate (Universal Service Fund).