Monterey Park, Calif. – April 19, 2016 – The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library has upgraded its public computers and Wi-Fi network with a new 1 gigabit -per-second (Gbps) high speed connection to the Internet. The new connection provides the public significantly faster access to the Library’s range of online services and programs. The upgraded connection speed vastly improve Library patrons’ access to online services for streaming video and music; enable much faster transfer of files from Cloud storage; and enhance the overall quality of Library programs dependent on high speed streaming. The library is planning programs such as video chats with authors in the near future. Where author talks once had to be held in person, the Library will use video chats to bring authors from all over the country to Monterey Park virtually through The Library Talks series.
The broadband enhancement was made possible by an initiative by the California State California Library. The State Library partnered with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC.) The Library connected to CENIC’s CalREN network which is the high-capacity fiber network that serves public school systems, universities, community colleges and now, for the first time, public libraries, in California at reduced cost. The Library also received grant funding from the state to offset the costs of initial equipment installation, network upgrades and the ongoing broadband services.