Larkin Proposes Shared Internet Services Between Boces And Libraries

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) has introduced legislation (S.2082) in the State Senate that would give any Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) the ability to contract with individual libraries or library systems and provide high-speed Internet services or community relations services to the libraries.

"Most BOCES have invested a significant amount of money in developing their own high-speed Internet network, while public libraries on the other hand, have often not had the funds to create their own system," said Senator Larkin. "They both have the need to be able to access high-speed Internet services. Why not allow them to share this technology? But, current law doesn’t allow them to do this. The bill I have introduced would benefit both since it would give libraries internet access they don’t currently have and at a reduced cost for both BOCES and the individual library systems."

In addition, the Larkin bill would allow BOCES to share its community relations resources with libraries so that they could more effectively publicize the services available at public libraries for students and the public.