About the California Library Connect Program
California Library Connect is instrumental in helping California’s residents access library resources and connect to reliable broadband within their communities. Since 2014, the program has helped more than 950 of California’s approximately 1,130 public libraries connect to high-speed broadband services.
California Library Connect enables libraries and other institutions to access the California Research and Education Network (CalREN)—a high-capacity, 8,000-mile fiber-optic network designed to meet the unique requirements of more than 20 million users, including the majority of K-20 students as well as educators, researchers, and others working in California’s vital public-serving institutions. CalREN, which is operated by the non-profit Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), advances education and research statewide by providing a world-class network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth.
California Library Connect’s key partners are the California State Library, CENIC, and Imperial County Office of Education.
The California State Library serves as the central reference and research library for the state government; preserves and disseminates information; and provides technical assistance and development opportunities to California’s public libraries. The California State Library receives funding from the California State Legislature to manage and oversee the California Library Connect program.
CENIC, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California, designs, implements, and operates CalREN, the California Research and Education Network, a high-bandwidth, high-capacity Internet network specially designed to meet the unique requirements of its members, which include all higher education institutions and K-12 schools in the state.
The Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) has successfully managed the California K-12 High-Speed Network since 2004, connecting 81% of California’s K-12 schools to CENIC. ICOE also acts as the network administrator for the Imperial Valley Telecommunications Authority (IVTA), connecting local city and county agencies, schools, libraries, and hospitals to the self-managed regional network.