A total of 53 public libraries in Vermont will benefit from federal funding that will pay for the installation of a high-speed fiber-optic cable network.
Martha Reid, the state librarian for the Vermont Department of Libraries, told the Manchester Journal the new connections will provide many innovative helpful services for the state’s residents.
“The purpose of this grant is to build a fiber-optic backbone that will reach portions of seven counties in Vermont,” she said to the news provider. “This whole network should connect 342 community anchor institutions in Vermont, and 53 are public libraries.”
The high-speed connections will allow the libraries to offer visitors more services, including webinars, videoconferencing and live chats for reference assistance. Many public and private institutions have used an HD TV, large LED monitor or a
DLP projector to enhance the benefits of videoconferencing. By projecting online video sessions, more users can simultaneously benefit from various services related to job-training and education courses.
Construction on the network is slated for the spring of 2011, with the project’s completion anticipated for 2013.
In July, Maine libraries announced they would use $1.4 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to pay for videoconferencing products for job training.
