WebJunction

The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is finally becoming a reality for Connecticut's libraries. In 2000 the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology was created by the General Assembly to envision, coordinate, and oversee the management and successful integration of technology in Connecticut's schools, libraries, colleges and universities. The statutory authority and funding for iCONN was part of this legislation. The Commission s goals include:

• Improving teaching and learning in Connecticut
• Providing educational equity
• Utilizing the economies of scale to provide more for less
• Increasing the competitiveness of the Connecticut workforce and preparing students for the world of work
• Creating the capacity to implement educational technology in Connecticut

Overseeing the creation of the Connecticut Education Network was one of the major efforts of the Commission over the last several years. The CEN is designed to provide high-speed Internet connectivity to all Connecticut public school districts, higher education institutions and principal public libraries. All school districts and colleges have been connected. CEN is now focusing on linking up public libraries. In March2005 the Commission for Educational Technology approved Policy Statements Regarding Public Library Connections to the Connecticut Education Network. These policies setthe standards for public library connections to the CEN.

The first forty library connections were ordered in January, the next fifty following quickly. It is CEN s goal to connect ten libraries a week this spring. The deployment of the network is being managed by the Department of Educational Technology. The project manager for the library effort is William Olsen (860) 622-2348 william.olsen@uconn.edu. Please contact him with any questions about the specifics of your library s connection.

CEN has worked closely with the library networks (LEAP, LION, Bibliomation and Library Connection) to be sure their member libraries priority for a reliable connection to their integrated library system is maintained. CEN provided two informational sessions for non-networked libraries in February. Further sessions may be scheduled in the future.

What does this mean for your library? The CEN will provide a free high-speed connection to the Internet that will be minimally equivalent in capacity to a business DSL line (where available) or business T1. Some libraries may be connected to a fiber line if that is available at less cost. As of this writing those libraries receiving fiber connections are: Bridgeport, Norwalk, Wallingford, Windham, Meriden, Stratford, Waterbury, Glastonbury, Stamford and Shelton.

Does your library need to filter? The network is equipped with filtering capability but libraries may choose not to filter. For those libraries wishing to filter certain computers, the CEN can work with you to setup a username and password on the system that will allow you to administer local filters.

What about E-Rate? The CEN is required by statute to apply for E-Rate discounts on network lines. Over the first 2 years CEN has been awarded over $8.5 million in E-Rate dollars to support the network. Every year libraries will be asked to sign off on a Letter of Agency that gives CEN permission to apply for E-Rate discounts on their portion of the network. This does not limit libraries ability to still apply for E-Rate discounts on their own for other telecommunication services. Because CEN only applies for discounts on the telecommunication lines and not for Internet access, participating libraries are not required to be CIPA compliant (filter).

Will your library have firewall protection? The firewall service provided is basic; in general it employs a policy that assumes traffic is good unless there is a known broad threat which should be blocked. CEN s policy is not to secure or enforce local security issues in each library and they strongly encourage each library to consider its own needs independently, or to consider working with one of the library ILS networks if local skills to properly secure the network are not available. WebJunction has a very good introduction to firewalls.

Thank you to Barbara Gibson, Director of the Farmington Library, and Kendall Wiggin, State Librarian, for representing the interests of public libraries on the Commission over the past five years. CLA has nominated Henry Dutcher, Director of the Enfield Public Library, to assume Barbara s position on her retirement.