MCFLS and fourteen MCFLS member suburban libraries have been participating in the TEACH program for more than ten years. Milwaukee Public Library has been able to secure significant bandwidth via a fiber network, made possible due to significant E-rate subsidies, and therefore does not participate in the TEACH program.
Effective January 1, 2010, TEACH is now able to offer additional bandwidth increases, but each request for bandwidth increase must be justified based on utilization charts. MCFLS submitted applications/utilization charts last month for the MCFLS network hub as well as the fourteen MCFLS member suburban libraries.
We are pleased to report that MCFLS headquarters and nine of the suburban libraries demonstrated sufficient need for additional increases of subsidized bandwidth. As of January 1, 2010, the total bandwidth at the MCFLS network hub has increased from 40Mbps to 100Mbps.
Member libraries approved for increases (based on utilization charts) are:
Cudahy Family Library - January 6 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
Franklin Public Library - January 6 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
Greendale Public Library - January 7 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
North Shore Library - January 7 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
Oak Creek Public Library - January 8 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
Saint Francis Public Library - January 8 - 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps
West Allis Public Library - January 11 - 3.0Mbps to 5.0Mbps
Shorewood Public Library - January 25 - 3.0Mbps to 5.0Mbps
Wauwatosa Public Library - January 25 - 3.0Mbps to 5.0Mbps
In the months ahead, member libraries will likely reach ever higher thresholds of internet usage. MCFLS staff will continue to monitor bandwidth utilization of member libraries and make appropriate recommendations and applications, as needed, for additional TEACH subsidized bandwidth.
For more information about TEACH, see:
http://www.teachwi.state.wi.us.
Thank you for your continued support of libraries and the Milwaukee County Federated Library System.
Sincerely,
Jim Gingery
Director
Milwaukee County Federated Library System