1 Gigabit-per-second Internet at the Library

The Berkeley Public Library went live on a one Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) broadband Internet connection on Friday, October 23, 2015! This has resulted in a 20-fold speed increase from our previous Internet access speed of 50 Megabits-per-second.

The increases will greatly benefit the community and will provide users of library computers with speeds far greater than the those available at the majority of public libraries in the U.S. According to a national study conducted by the National Institute for Museum & Library Studies, in 2013, public libraries reported an average download speed of 57Mbps.

The library is an early participant in a joint initiative of the California State Library and the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) to bring 1GB Broadband connections to all public libraries and public schools (K-20) in California by 2020. CENIC “operates the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity network designed to meet the unique requirements of over 20 million users, including the vast majority of K-20 students together with educators, researchers and other vital public-serving institutions.”

In addition to providing access to books, movies music and more, public libraries are Internet access gateways for both users with no home Internet access or those with slower-speed home Internet access. A 2012 Pew Research Center nationwide study found that 26% of all Americans use the library to access the Internet. These users connect to do research for school or work (66%), obtain information about health and wellness (47%), and apply for jobs (36%).

The Berkeley Public Library received a grant of $20,000 from the California State Library towards the purchase of new network equipment required in order to implement the speed upgrade.