This is true because of the incredible success the Broadband Program has had across the country here and at the Brooklyn Library amazing things. Making Great Strides and addressing the digital skill divide. Many of us are wondering where the additional funding is going to come from . I should take a moment on the Digital Literacy spectrum to talk about the room we are sitting. This is a digital commons. It provides us through an increasingly sophisticated set of tools, faster connectivity. It cost around 34 million and how can we build more because we know the need is there. I am hoping the panel will talk about this. It is my pleasure to introduce the director of Library Services. Susan has done so much in her tenure to elevate libraries in the consciousness and we owe her gratitude and will be sorry to see her go. Susan, please, thank you. [ applause ] i would ask our gentlemen, the two toms if you dont mind joining me on the stage. Good morning, everyone. Well it is so wonderful to
Audience to pose questions. Here we go with our panel number one. We are looking at the vision. We will explore innovative practices and partnerships. Our first speaker will be the Senior Program officer at the bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Hoping to have leon mac, director of el paso Public Library. Unfortunately she had a family emergency and was not able to the year. We are excited to have clarence anthony, executive director of the National League of cities. We will start out with her. Well, thank you, director. The national museum, Library Services for holding this hearing. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the experience that the bill and ellen Gates Foundation has had with in china access to technology through Public Libraries and our vision of our libraries can drive personal and Community Development. Today the foundation is composed of many programs and initiatives. Helping farmers in africa strengthen their crops, improving the educational system in the United
That you want to submit. Ber who a staff mem will be picking up those questions after each panel. We will also have a chance for members of the audience and our virtual audience to pose questions. Ate is what we are looking with our first panel, the vision, what happens when we get it right. Examine why partnerships and investments in broadband make a difference. We will have a senior officer at the bill and Melinda Gates foundation. We are hoping to have the had of El Paso Public Library with us, but you had a family emergency. What we are excited to have clarence anthony, the executive director of the National League of cities. We will start out with chris. Come to the microphone. Thank you. Thank you for holding this hearing. Opportunity toe talk about the experience that the bill and Melinda Gates Ha Foundation has had, and our vision of how we can drive personal and Community Development. To helping farmers strengthen their crops to proving the educational system in the united sta
20th Century Technology to 21st century highspeed Broadband Technology. Its a reallocation of resourcef resources are never easy and never pleasant but they are essential if we are to keep pushing forward. We are moving to broadband to the person at the library. Its not just an external connection but its how do you get using wifi to the individual in a library . We are bringing the application and administrative process into the 21st century as well by using the same kind of ride band tools and we are focusing on fiscal responsibility. The key is not just more money although if more money is warranted we will deal with that but the key is money well spent by encouraging consortia, by creating longer support. So you can have longer contracts with lower rates and by establishing a system of reference phrasing so people know what is a fair price . We dont expect librarians to be Telecom Experts and able to go out there and haggle with Telecom Companies so how do we help in that regard .
Thank you gentlemen. That was a great way to start. I will ask our panel number one to join me here on the odium. First of all i would like to say thank you very much to chairman wheeler and to tom for being with us. We are very honored. Were moving onto the Panel Discussion portion of our program. I want to remind everybody that this hearing is being live cast, and viewers are in courage to submit questions via twitter. We also have some cards on your chairs if you have questions that you want to submit. We have a staff member who will be picking up those questions fter each panel. We will also have a chance for members of the audience and our virtual audience to pose questions. Here is what we are looking at with our first panel, the vision, what happens when we get it right. We will examine why partnerships and investments in broadband make a difference. We will have a senior officer at the bill and Melinda Gates oundation. We are hoping to have the had of the El Paso Public Library