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<TITLE>Gates Broadband Assessment Survey - Due 12/19</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>Dear Public Library Director:<BR>
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I am writing to inform you about a new opportunity to work in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve access to high-quality technology services in public libraries across our country. <BR>
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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently launched a nationwide effort to collect detailed information about Internet connections in all public libraries in the United States. This effort, the Broadband Assessment Project, will help the foundation and its partners raise awareness of the need for high-quality Internet in public libraries and how to meet this need. <BR>
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The data collected by the foundation will also help us in our collective work to improve support and funding for Internet services in Oregon public libraries. It will provide essential data about the levels of Internet connectivity and the resources we devote to these services state-wide. <BR>
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Finally, the data collected through the project will inform future Gates Foundation investments to increase and sustain access to broadband Internet in public libraries.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>In order to ensure that the project can help us effectively advocate for increased support of library connectivity, we need your help. We strongly urge you to participate in this important program.<BR>
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The foundation has engaged a team of third-party researchers to conduct the Broadband Assessment Project. Here is what we need you to do now, so that we are able to assist the researchers in their work:<BR>
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</B></SPAN></FONT></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'><B>Download, save and review the attached spreadsheet, then gather the information requested. </B> Please note that we are asking you for the information <U>for each library facility (branch/outlet, please do not include mobile units)</U> you may be responsible for. The types of questions you’ll need to answer differ from other broad-ranging surveys you may have already participated in such as the American Library Association & Florida State University Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey (ALA/FSU Survey). Specifically, the foundation wants to understand the following:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>Basic branch/outlet information, number of Internet subscriptions and subscription decision-maker.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>The type of Internet connection, the connection speed, the provider and the cost of the connection (information you can obtain from monthly bills or other contract agreements; we will need this information for each Internet service subscription at the branch/outlet).
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>Basic description of the source of funding for your connections.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'><B>Enter your answers on the attached spreadsheet</B>, for all the branches/outlets you oversee. We have included spaces for up to 20 branches/outlets (one column in the spreadsheet should be used for each facility). <B>If you have any questions on how to complete the form, please email <FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><U>Oregon@LRWsupport.com</U></FONT> or call Barbara Giaimo at 310-552-7704. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'><B>Review your answers for completeness and <U>return the spreadsheet via email by Friday, December 19th</U>.</B> Please attach and return the spreadsheet via email to <FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><B><U>Oregon@LRWsupport.com</U></B></FONT><B> . </B>Please also save a copy for your own records.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'><B>Take the time to speak with the researcher who contacts you.</B> A representative from Lieberman Research Worldwide (a professional third party researcher hired by the foundation) may contact you by telephone beginning on December 22nd to confirm the information you have sent in, check on your completion of the questionnaire, or, if we do not receive a spreadsheet from you, to collect the information over the telephone. If a representative from Lieberman Research Worldwide calls you, they will request that you refer to and/or read your answers to the questionnaire over the phone so please keep your copy of the spreadsheet in a place that’s easy for you to access. <BR>
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</B>I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to provide the requested information completely and thoroughly. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided us and our colleagues across the country with an important opportunity to work together to help improve Internet connectivity in public libraries. Finding approaches to increase and sustain public library connectivity and public access to Internet-based library services is critical to Oregon libraries and the communities we serve. <BR>
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Again, you have questions about completing the survey please contact Barbara Giaimo at the email address or phone number above. <BR>
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I will greatly appreciate your cooperation. <BR>
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Sincerely,<BR>
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Jim Scheppke, State Librarian<BR>
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