Good morning, public libraries,

Assuming you are thawed sufficiently, I hope to borrow a little of your time. This is most pertinent to those who have done E-rate for telephone services in the past, but pertains to all public libraries that are enrolled in MSLN:

I have said: E-rate for telephone services is over. Cessated. The metaphorical daisies are being elevated. I have told those of you who have inquired about this that their woes are over, and nevermore should they worry about applying for E-rate, because there is no more E-rate for -telephone service reimbursement-.

This has led to a woeful misunderstanding. Networkmaine, the people who provide for you that wonderful Maine School and Library Network (and while I'm clearing up confusion, NOT the Maine State Library Network)? Yeah, they rely upon E-rate to pay for the Internet connection. They apply for E-rate on the behalf of the schools and libraries who enroll in MSLN, and one of the few things you must do is complete the annual enrollment.

Yes, there is an E-rate form in there, and yes, I know what I said, and I'm sorry for any confusion. With regard to enrollment in MSLN, your obligations to E-rate are not over. You have this one hurdle to clear (annually).

Please do this, for me.

Y'r ob't E-rate srv't,

-Jared Leadbetter
Maine State Library

P.S.: for libraries that are needing to make significant improvements to their network equipment, there's also E-rate for that! If you're interested, let's talk. There may be cookies.