The Los Angeles County public library system has been awarded approximately $5 million through the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate Program to improve access to computers at its 87 branches.

The West Hollywood Library is one of the facilities operated by the county of Los Angeles. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Computers and Wi-Fi access are among the most used library resources in L.A. County, but internet connection has been slow. The funding will be used to improve internet connectivity and network speed at branch libraries. The county operates a branch library in West Hollywood.

The FCC implemented the Schools and Libraries Program, commonly referred to as E-Rate, in 1996. It provides funding to eligible schools and libraries for broadband and internet services.

The funding will allow libraries to connect to the California Research and Education Network, a high-capacity network that serves the vast majority of research and education institutions in the state. The system will deliver faster, more reliable wireless access to library customers, helping to close the technology gap and remove barriers to access.

“Because a large percentage of our customers come to the library for Wi-Fi and computer access, increasing the quality of our technology is essential to removing digital barriers and improving the library as the center for learning for our customers, one of our strategic priorities,” said L.A. County Library Director Skye Patrick.

The county library system’s service area covers an area with vast socioeconomic diversity. Many people in lower income communities cannot afford internet access in their homes. Known as a digital divide, the lack of access to the internet can affect students’ access to digital educational materials, causing some to fall behind in school. Residents lacking access to general information may also struggle to improve their lives.

“Our current network quality is not at the level that our customers expect or deserve,” Patrick added. “This grant will allow us to upgrade our infrastructure to provide a high-speed internet connection, enabling our customers to learn and explore at a much faster pace while hopefully also attracting more foot traffic to the library.”

The L.A. County Library system has experienced an overwhelming increase in online resource usage within the last year. The library system plans to offer speeds of up to 1 GB per second with the E-Rate funding. For information, visit lacountylibrary.org.