E-Rate
This next section will answer some general questions about E-Rate. For help on E-Rate, contact the the Statewide Consulting Librarian who works with the program. The Consultant will send E-Rate news to Wired-MT, another great reason to subscribe to this listserv. Information and updates on the E-rate program are posted to Montana Public Library E-Rate blog http://mtlibraryerate.blogspot.com/. Another resource is the website for E-Rate, which is at http://www.universalservice.org/sl/. This is the official website with forms, information and how-to guides.
What is E-Rate?
E-Rate provides discounts for services related to connectivity, for example Internet access, telecommunications (your phone line), and internal connections (the stuff that makes it all happen). Discounts can range from 20-90% of your costs. Your discount is based on the poverty level in your area. The School and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company administers E-Rate.
Why apply for E-Rate?
It saves you money. The amount of paperwork required increases with the amount of money requested. That's why many Montana public libraries choose to apply for only basic telephone discounts. But E-Rate can help make the greater bandwidth you want and need more affordable for your library. Plus you have help.
How to Apply?
To apply for E-Rate, visit the SLD website at http://www.universalservice.org/sl/. You will find the forms on the website. NOTE: If you apply for help with Internet costs then you must have a technology plan that is updated every 3 years. The good news is you probably already have one for your library. According to SLD, your plan must have the following components:
- Clear goals and a realistic strategy for using technology to improve library services.
- A continuing education strategy to ensure that staff knows how to use the technology.
- An assessment of your technology and what will be needed to improve services.
- A sufficient budget to support technology and its use in your library.
- An evaluation process that tells you if you've met your goals.
E-Rate Timetable of Deadlines
(Adapted from SLD's "E-Rate Discounts for Schools and Libraries")
Funding Year |
July 1 through the following June 30 |
Form 470 |
Posted at least 28 days before the filing of Form 471. Form 470 is a description of the services you are requesting. |
Form 471 window |
Early November to mid-January preceding the start of the Funding Year (exact dates for each funding year will be posted on the website) |
Form 471 |
Form 471 is the actual request for funding. |
Form 486 |
Received or postmarked no later than 120 days after the dates of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter or 120 days after the Service Start Date, whichever is later. Form 486 tells SLD that services have started. The Funding Commitment Decision Letter identifies what services SLD will be paying for and what portion of those services will be paid for. |
Form 472/474 |
Received or postmarked no later than 120 days after the date of Form 486 Notification Letter or 120 days after the last date to receive service, whichever is later. Form 472 is the invoice you must send to SLD to receive payment. |
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction
- Wanted: A Library Director
- Contacts
- Montana Library Scene
- Montana Library Scene Overview
- Montana Public Libraries
- Montana State Library
- Montana Library Association
- Wired-MT and Focus
- Federations
- Continuing Education in Montana
- Certification
- Public Library Standards
- Montana Shared Catalog
- Library Director, Trustee, and Local Government
- Library Director, Trustee and Local Government Overview
- Library Laws
- New Library Staff
- Library Board Overview
- Responsibilities of the Library Board and the Director
- Tips For Working With the Library Board
- Getting Boards to Attend Meetings and Plan for the Library
- Policies vs. Procedures
- Policies vs. Procedures Overview
- Policies
- Procedures
- Public Service
- Public Service Overview
- Customer Service
- Reader’s Advisory
- Reference
- Reference Interview
- Circulation
- Interlibrary Loan
- Outreach
- Programs
- Visiting Senior Centers and/or Schools
- Services to the Homebound
- Bookmobiles
- Children Services
- Young Adult Services
- Adult Services
- Collection Development
- Collection Development Overview
- Assessing the Collection
- Collection Development Policy
- Collection Management Honor Roll
- Selecting Items for the Collection
- Acquisitions
- Weeding or Deselection
- Technical Services
- Technical Services Overview
- Organizing Your Collection
- Classification and Cataloging
- Processing and Mending
- Public Relations
- Public Relations Overview
- Library’s Image
- Publicity
- Programming
- Community Relations
- Role of Trustees
- Marketing
- Friends and Volunteers
- Friends and Volunteers Overview
- Friends of the Library
- How to Organize a Friends Group
- How to Revitalize Your Friends
- Volunteers
- Volunteer Programs
- Recruiting Volunteers
- Managing and Keeping Volunteers
- Personnel
- Personnel Overview
- Personnel Policy
- Hiring
- Interviewing
- Job Evaluations
- Discipline and Termination
- Grievance Procedures
- Important Employment Laws
- Finances
- Finances Overview
- Local Funding Sources
- State Funding Sources
- Information Access Montana Act
- Coal Severance Tax
- Federal Funding Sources
- Library Services and Technology Act
- Telecommunications Discount Program (E-Rate)
- Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
- Library Foundations
- Other Funding Sources
- Budgeting
- Budgeting Calendar
- Following the Money
- Planning for the Future
- Planning for the Future Overview
- Long Range Planning
- Preparing to Plan
- Describing Your Community
- Your Community’s Vision
- Questions That Should Be Answered
- Planning for Disaster
- Technology in the Library
- Technology in the Library Overview
- Planning and Evaluating Technology
- Automation
- Statewide Cooperative Projects
- E-Rate
- Montana State Library
- Montana State Library Overview
- Montana State Library Commission
- Montana State Librarian
- Library Development Division
- Montana Talking Book Library
- Montana Digital Library
- Publications
- Timeline of Required Paperwork
- Explanation of Paperwork Required by Montana State Library