Digital Library Projects: U.S. Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP)

by Terry Kuny

Network Notes #16
ISSN 1201-4338
Information Technology Services
National Library of Canada

October 20, 1995

Introduction

This document is the first of several upcoming network backgrounders that describe various funding models intended to support new technology development and the creation of "digital libraries". The purpose of the Digital Library Projects series is to provide an overview of major initiatives that are taking place world-wide. Other related backgrounders will examine the following programs: G-7 Information Society and the Bibliotheca Universalis, the U.S. NSF/NASA/DARPA Digital Libraries, the European Communities Telematics for Libraries, and the Canadian CANARIE program.

Background to TIIAP

The U.S. National Information Infrastructure (NII) initiative seeks to build a policy and technical basis so that American society can take advantage of emerging information technologies and services. It is expected that information technology will change how people communicate, learn, and do business. Public institutions -- libraries, schools, hospitals, non-profit community groups -- actively participate in these developments and are considered important arenas for bringing the benefits of information technology to the American public.

In 1994, in support of the United States NII development, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) initiated a program to provide matching grants to libraries, state and local governments, health care providers, school districts, universities, community organizations, public safety services, and other non-profit organizations. These grants are intended to assist in the effective implementation and use of new telecommunications technologies. This program is called the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP).

TIIAP Grant Rounds

TIIAP grants are provided on a competitive merit-review basis. Applications are reviewed by expert panels drawn from the TIIAP user groups: educators, public officials, library professionals, telecommunications professionals, and health professionals.

The first round of grants was completed last year. In 1994, there were 1 070 applications for more than $560 million, of which 92 projects received $24.4 million. Of the 92 projects, five library projects received more than $1.8 million in funding. The second round of the TIIAP program in 1995 almost triples the 1994 allocation to $64 million. More than 1 800 projects have been submitted for the second round. The program has become one of the most popular and competitive grant programs in the U.S. federal government. Announcements of the 1995 awards are expected to be made in mid- October; no further information on any particular 1995 grant application is available until after the release of this information.

TIIAP 1994 Awards by Subject Category

Subject Category          Number	Total


Community Information       27	     $7,377,504

Health	                    14	     $4,611,446
Government                  15	     $3,316,947

Education (K-12)	    14	     $2,764,198

Education (Higher)	     7	     $2,384,951

Libraries                    5	     $1,851,840

Social Services	             2	     $878,493

Public Information	     4	     $594,850

Arts & Culture	             2	     $268,023

Science                      1	     $200,000

Public Safety	             1	     $114,676


Total	                    92	     $24,362,928

(Information from the TIIAP Program WWW page: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/catbrk.html)

1994 TIIAP Awards to Libraries

Further information about the library projects listed below can be found at:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/bycat.html#library

Colorado Department of Education, Colorado State Library (Denver, CO)

This project builds on the Access Colorado Library and Information Network (ACLIN) by providing access points, additional databases, new interfaces, and training.

Total Project Cost: $853 690.

Contact: Susan Fayad, (303) 866-6900

Newark Public Library (Newark, NJ)

This program assists the Newark Electronic Information Infrastructure Demonstration Project through the purchase of new equipment and the provision of specialized electronic resources to support residents in "empowerment zones", where there are economic disadvantages to the use of new technologies.

Total Project Cost: $1 429 770.

Contact: Paul A. Stellhorn, (201) 733-7793

Rockbridge Regional Library, Technical Services (Lexington, VA)

This project seeks to determine the optimal method of linking all schools, colleges, and public libraries in Rockbridge and Bath Counties, the cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, and the community college library in Clifton Forge, VA. The region is largely rural, mountainous, and sparsely populated. Fourteen percent of the residents are below the poverty level.

Total Project Cost: $12 880.

Contact: Grace McCrowell, (703) 463-4324

San Francisco Public Library, Automation Services (San Francisco, CA)

This project supports the development of a comprehensive city and county information system, building on the San Francisco Public Library's online information and document retrieval platform.

Total Project Cost: $1 289 474.

Contact: George E. McBride, (415) 557-4215

Southeastern Library Network, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)

This project supports the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) in planning regional strategies for information distribution and access.

Total Project Cost: $966 792.

Contact: Charles Wright, (404) 892-0943

Analysis

The only current Canadian initiative similar to TIIAP is the Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education (CANARIE). A future network backgrounder will describe the CANARIE program in more detail. CANARIE has funded some library projects. However, CANARIE is a corporation of private and public sector organizations, and the method by which the grants are allocated is not publicized nor is community input actively solicited to determine how allocations should be made. In this respect, TIIAP's use of expert panels drawn from the communities for which the grants are intended is an interesting one.

Funding for TIIAP library projects includes requests for workstations, software, routers, telecommunications links, and personnel. The program is expected to serve a tremendous range of communities in a variety of ways. All the projects support the building of technical and human infrastructures. Of the TIIAP projects selected thus far, no "digitization" of collections is explicitly supported.

The overall success of the TIIAP program is notable. Funding has been increased for fiscal year 1995 to $64 million from $28 million in 1994. Also of note is the relative position of support of grants to libraries. Library grants represent 7.5% of the total allocation to the program. It will be interesting to see if this figure changes when the 1995 projects are announced in October 1995.

TIIAP Contact Information

URL: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap/tiiap.html

tiiap@ntia.doc.gov

Telephone: (202) 482-2048

Facsimile: (202) 501-5136

Mailing Address:

Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th & Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4090
Washington, D.C. 20230
U.S.A.