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G2S Project Code: 2022-KY-91331
State: Kentucky
Fiscal Year: 2022
Grantee
Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives

Project Director
Director Name: Lauren Abner
Director Phone: 502-564-1728
Director Email: lauren.abner@ky.gov
General Information
Title: Technology Support
State Project Code: FY23042A
Start Date: 10/01/2021
End Date: 09/30/2023
Abstract: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) provided technology consultation and training to Kentucky public library staff. The Technology Consultant assisted 101 public libraries with E-rate form filing to receive $1.555 million in E-rate funding commitments for internet access, telecommunications, network equipment upgrades, network equipment maintenance, and managed services. For the Emergency Connectivity Fund program, the Technology Consultant assisted 43 Kentucky public libraries with filing invoicing forms for reimbursements for two funding years. Additionally, 123 public library staff attended technology training to learn about E-rate, filtering, and library kiosks.
State Goal: Institutional Capacity
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$70,154.39
$577.10
$0.00
$70,731.49
Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Technology Support Consultation
Narrative: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) provided consulting services to Kentucky public libraries on technology topics by responding to inquiries made to the Technology Consultant or on the statewide technology listserv. The Technology Consultant provided consulting services to all Kentucky public libraries receiving discounts through the E-rate program and the Emergency Connectivity Fund. Additionally, the Technology Consultant provided support to libraries in obtaining the Unique Entity Identifier and completing entity registration in the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) as required to receive funds through federal programs.
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 3,149
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 262


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 120
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Technology Support – Online Resources
Narrative: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) created digital resources for libraries that are planning for connectivity or network equipment upgrades. The Technology Consultant created walkthrough guides and reference documents for filing E-rate forms, as well as template RFP documents for libraries to use as part of E-rate competitive bidding for bookmobile hotspots, network equipment upgrades, network equipment maintenance, and managed services. For the Emergency Connectivity Fund, templates for calculating eligible charges and reporting data on unmet needs for internet access and/or connected devices were created to assist Kentucky public library applicants with invoice reviews. E-rate resources can be accessed through KDLA’s E-rate page in the sections for Funding Years, KDLA Training & Assistance, and Form 470 Competitive Bidding Examples: https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/programs/e-rate/Pages/default.aspx
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 13
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 120
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 8
Agree: 3
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 8
Agree: 3
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: Technology Support Presentations
Narrative: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) provided technology training services to improve the knowledge of Kentucky public library staff. The Technology Consultant provided training through four online webinars and three presentations in person at conferences or other training events. Training topics included E-rate, library kiosks, and filtering. The four KDLA-hosted webinars were recorded for later viewing and posted to the KDLA Online Learning Portal.
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 7
Average number in attendance per session: 18


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 120
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Over eighty percent of Kentucky public library systems participated in the E-rate Funding Year 2023 application cycle. The $1.555 million commitment is lower than the previous year due to reductions in internet service costs, demonstrating the value of competitive bidding to obtain cost-effective solutions for library connectivity. Category Two requests for internal connections declined to $339,000 primarily due to an unsuccessful bidding process for a large library system. For the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), 43 Kentucky public libraries were approved for $2 million in discounts to support cellular data service for over 3,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as 370 additional connected devices (laptops or tablets) across two funding years (2021 and 2022). The overall funding commitment has been reduced to $1.943 million after some libraries returned excess funds, and just over 50% of the revised funding commitment has been disbursed. Staff from libraries that had to file their invoicing forms expressed dissatisfaction with documentation requirements and long delays for disbursements. The ECF program, in contrast to the traditional E-rate program, did not obligate vendors to apply discounts to invoices upfront and bill applicants for the difference. Kentucky public libraries continued to need KDLA’s assistance in navigating challenges with the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov). KDLA has provided some SAM.gov assistance to libraries participating in the Emergency Connectivity Fund since 2021, and the need has increased as more libraries require active entity registration to modify their direct deposit information with the E-rate program. Sources of concern include frequent changes to SAM.gov navigation and registration review procedures, recurring problems with incorrect data tied to DUNS numbers, and locating library establishment documentation acceptable for registration review.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Kentucky public library experiences with Emergency Connectivity Fund invoicing indicate significant barriers to success if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moves forward with adding hotspot lending to the E-rate program as proposed in a rulemaking process announced in November 2023. All E-rate stakeholders will need to prepare more carefully for future application cycles involving hotspot lending. The FCC will need to provide more detailed guidance on eligible charges; the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC, to which the FCC delegates E-rate program administration) will need to provide additional training to invoice reviewers; applicants will need to track eligible usage more closely; vendors will need to provide clear labeling of eligible charges on proposals, contracts, and invoices; and state library E-rate coordinators will need to provide in-depth training and consultation on the invoicing process.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
Yes
Explain:
The State Data Coordinator will take over some technology consultation reported in this project while the Technology Consultant focuses more on E-rate support and digital equity consultation.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: E-rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund, Technology