Governance • Awards  • Authorizing Statute  • Background • Articles  • Show Your Appreciation

iCONN is part of the Connecticut Education Network. It provides all students, faculty and residents with online access to essential library and information resources. It is administered by the Connecticut State Library in conjunction with your local library. Through iCONN, a core level of information resources including secured access to licensed databases is available to every citizen in Connecticut. In addition, specialized research information is available to college students and faculty.

iCONN began in 2000 when the Connecticut General Assembly provided funding for the purchase of licensed information databases for Connecticut's libraries, schools and colleges. The Digital Library was one of several recommendations of then- Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell in the Fall of 1999.

The Goals of iCONN are:

• To ensure universal access to a core level of library and information resources for every resident of Connecticut through their public library, school, college, and from home.
• To help provide necessary information resources to every school in Connecticut so that all students are prepared to function in an information society.
• To provide information resources to the increasing number of students taking advantage of on-line courses at Connecticut's colleges and universities.
• To support the information needs of all Connecticut citizens.

Governance 

iCONN is a service of the Connecticut State Library and your local library. It is administered by the Connecticut State Library under the auspices of the Commission for Educational Technology and the Connecticut Digital Library Advisory Board (CDLAB). iCONN is authorized and funded by the State of Connecticut with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Awards

The Connecticut Digital Library was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the Affiliate Assembly of the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association. The Certificate was awarded "in recognition of valuable contributions to the field of school librarianship." The accompanying letter further stated: "By providing an online database of reference materials and journals free to every school and home in the state, you are giving everyone equal access to a wealth of materials. With school districts struggling with budget constraints, this service means that no matter the socioeconomic status of a locality, quality information is available to all."

This commendation is a tribute to all Connecticut librarians who have contributed to making iCONN a successful and well-supported program, and to all of our representatives in government (legislative and executive) who secured funding for it.

Authorizing Statute 

Sec. 4d-82. Connecticut Education Network. State-wide Universal Service Fund application. (a) The Commission for Educational Technology shall develop, with the advice and assistance of the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors of Higher Education and the Department of Information Technology, a five-year plan for the implementation of the Connecticut Education Network to provide state-of-the-art, high-speed, reliable Internet access and video, voice and data transmissions that electronically link all educational institutions in the state, including public and independent institutions of higher education, the state's libraries and all elementary, middle and secondary schools and other institutions including businesses, job centers and community organizations. The plan shall include the establishment of a Connecticut Digital Library as a component of the Connecticut Education Network to ensure on-line access by all students and citizens to essential library and information resources. The State Library, in conjunction with the Department of Higher Education, shall administer the Connecticut Digital Library. The Connecticut Digital Library shall provide access to available on-line electronic full-text databases, a state-wide electronic catalog and interlibrary loan system and the electronic and physical delivery of library resources. The Connecticut Digital Library shall include elements specifically designed to meet the educational and research needs of the general public, higher education students and faculty and elementary and secondary school students and teachers.

      (b) The commission shall oversee the preparation and submission of a state-wide application to the federal Universal Service Fund to enhance connectivity to the Connecticut Education Network, maximize participation and grant attainment rates, and reduce overly burdensome administrative requirements which discourage local involvement. No later than the annual federal funding deadline, and for every subsequent universal service funding cycle, the commission, or its designee, shall submit a state-wide application for universal service funds. Each local and regional board of education and public library that is designated by the commission for connection to the Connecticut Education Network shall be deemed to have authorized the commission or its designee to submit an application for such funds on its behalf.

      (P.A. 00-187, S. 35, 75; P.A. 01-173, S. 5, 67; P.A. 03-76, S. 37; P.A. 06-192, S. 8.)

      History: P.A. 00-187 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-173 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-76 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 06-192 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting language re feasibility report, by changing deadline from March 31, 2001, to the annual federal funding deadline, by inserting "or its designee" re commission and by adding language allowing commission to submit application for funds on behalf of boards of education and libraries, effective July 1, 2006.

Background 

Some of the files below are in .pdf. PDF documents are best viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher. To download a free copy of the Reader, visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. There are also files in Microsoft Word format and PowerPoint. (If you can not access any of the files please email the webmaster for an alternate version.)

• Press Release, January 2007 (PDF - 45kb) (Word - 57kb) (HTML)
• Press Release, Hartford Courant Historical Project, January 2006 (PDF - 30kb) (Word - 58kb) (HTML)
• Press Release, September 2005 (PDF - 45kb) (Word - 57kb) (HTML)
• Survey Press Release, (PDF - 36kb) (Word - 60kb)
• Press Release, from Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell, August 2003
• Press Release, January 2003 (PDF - 77kb) (Word - 57kb)  HTML
• Press Release, February 2002 (PDF - 66kb) (Word - 25kb)  HTML
• Press Release, August 2001 (PDF - 109kb) (Word - 57kb)
• Press Release from Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell, April 2001 HTML
• Authorizing Statute: CGS Sec. 4d-82 (Connecticut Education Network)
• Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell's Task Force - Press Release (1999) and Report and Recommendations (1999)

• Who Is Authorized To Use iCONN Databases?

Interviews

• Groton Municipal Television Interview (overview of iCONN) (29:22 minutes)

Articles 

• “Connecticut’s iCONN Project” by Randi Ashton-Pritting (Resources – News from University Libraries, University of Hartford, Fall 2012, Vol. 18 - No. 1)
• "Totem Tom's Talks" (The Hamden Journal) (October 25, 2011)
• "iCONN provides a world of information at your fingertips", by Melanie Savage (ReminderNews.com, September 5, 2008)
• "iCONN, Your Online Library," by Jeff Costley, The GateWay (newsletter of Hartland Public Library), Volume 1, Number 1, Spring-Summer 2008, p. 2.
• "Online Index to Courant Is A Window On History" The Hartford Courant, April 12, 2006, pages D1 and D4
• "The Connecticut Digital Library--free, fast, and open 24/7" CEA Advisor, March 2006, page 12 (Connecticut Education Association) (PDF - 149kb)
• "One Click Away" by Anita Barney, Director, Brookfield Library (published in The Brookfield Journal, July 22, 2005) (Word - 21kb) (pdf - 19kb) (HTML)
• "Going beyond Google" by Anita Barney, Director, Brookfield Library (published in The Brookfield Journal, January 9, 2004, p. 2.) (Word - 23 kb) (pdf - 75 kb) HTML
• Film Search Leads to Unexpected Find (Susan Dunne, The Hartford Courant, June 6, 2003)
• Connecticut's Digital Library: What's it good for? Is it here to stay?" (Gil Alwang, FOCL Point: Newsletter of the Friends of Connecticut Libraries / Winter 2001 issue)
• "Online library service helping students and teachers become more cyber-savvy" By Muriel Gaynor,
  library media specialist, King Philip Middle School, and Janet Leonberger, library media specialist, Hall High School - West Hartford Public Schools (From the February 2002 issue of CEA Advisor - a monthly newsletter of the Connecticut Education Association). (Word - 24kb), (.pdf - 30kb), HTML
• "Take a Free Ride on the Connecticut Digital Library" by Jane Tonn, Library Media Specialist, Middletown High School (published in State of the Union, Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees, February 2002) (PDF - 52kb) (Word - 26kb) (HTML)
• "The Bad News and Some Good News about Magazines at Silas Bronson Library" (by Judy Lhamon, Acting Head of Reference and SCORE Manager, Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury) in Books and Happenings (Silas Bronson monthly newsletter), February 2002.(PDF - 33kb) (Word - 21kb) (HTML)
• Norfolk Library NightOwl #14-02 (e-mail newsletter) (May 15, 2002)
• "Library Lines" (weekly columns in Ridgefield Press by Mary Rindfleisch, Adult Services Librarian, Ridgefield Library)
  • May 10, 2001 (PDF - 67kb) (Word -12kb) (HTML)
  • November 21, 2001 (PDF - 59kb) (Word - 12kb) (HTML)
• "State Starts Vast Online Database: Digital Library Wins Praise From Users" (The Day.com) (PDF - 54kb) (Word - 11kb) (HTML)

Show Your Appreciation 

If you enjoy the benefits that iCONN brings to your school, college, library or home, please take a few minutes to thank your legislator and Governor Dannel P. Malloy for providing this resource for the State of Connecticut. Write or e-mail your representative, senator, and the Governor today!