On October 15, 1999, the Ministry announced $1 million in support for improved public library Internet connectivity. The support recognizes that public access to the Internet is a critical service for public libraries, and that increased bandwidth is essential to libraries' ability to provide services that their communities need and that the public demands. On February 7, 2001, the Ministry approved an additional $1 million in funding, for 2000-2001, to continue its support for public library Internet connectivity. This funding was formally announced on April 20, 2001. Funding is currently $660,000 which helps pay for more participating public library connectivity costs given connectivity service costs have gone down since the program was first announced.

The Southern Ontario Library Service(SOLS) administers the funding and receives guidance from a Steering Committee composed of public library community, Ontario Library Service-North, SOLS and Ministry representatives. To administer the project, SOLS gathers data on public library bandwidth, consults with the public library community, community and regional broadband networks and telecommunications industry and recommends its plans to the Steering Committee and the Ministry before proceeding.

Expenditures help public libraries to improve their existing public Internet bandwidth targeting 512K at their main branch or main location.

SOLS reimburses participating public libraries connectivity costs, or negotiates contracts with Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecommunications companies and community and regional broadband networks, following its research and consultation. SOLS makes payments directly to public libraries, ISPs, telecommunications carriers and networks to ensure improved bandwidth for public libraries given the above priority targets. Note that the Internet Connectivity funding is not a grants program. SOLS receives a Connectivity grant from the Ministry, and administers the program for the whole province consulting closely with the Ontario Library Service - North given its work for Northern Ontario public libraries.

To participate in the program, libraries must be Public Libraries or First Nations libraries established under the Public Libraries Act. They must provide public Internet access, and be open a minimum of 12 hours per week at the branch at which the connectivity is funded. They must have local telecommunications purchase agreements that adhere to municipal or library purchasing procedures and are acceptable per government purchasing standards. They must also respond in a timely fashion to information requests such as surveys on Internet connectivity and telecommunications capacity administered by SOLS.

Internet Connectivity Funding:  Program Participants