Coventry Public Library to Receive Grant for High Speed Information Connection

Coventry Public Library to Receive Grant for High Speed Information Connection

HARTFORD- State Rep. Tim Ackert received wonderful news from the Connecticut State Library Board this week that the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library in Coventry will receive $40,800 to install a high-speed fiber to the Connecticut Education Network (CEN).

“Expanding high-speed internet access to the Coventry public library will give our residents and the staff the ability to utilize the internet to its greatest potential,” said Rep. Ackert, the Ranking Member of the Energy and Technology Committee. “We need to continue to remove barriers of technology throughout the state and providing these funds to local communities is a step in the right direction.” 

The grant was allocated to Coventry as a result of the state legislature’s approval of a larger $3.6 million grant-in-aid package for high-speed internet connections to libraries supporting CEN, back in the 2015 legislative session. In May of this year, the State Bond Commission authorized the funds to be allocated to 90 various libraries across the state.

According to the Library Board, Connecticut’s public libraries serve as critical gateways to information inside and outside of the community. Libraries provide access to research and other networks online. As reliance upon libraries to provide broadband telecommunication services increases, it is essential to have universal high-speed connectivity available.

The connection at the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library is expected to be completed in early 2017.

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