Success Story – Southern Tier Library System

About Project

As a cooperative library system, Southern Tier Library System (STLS) focus is on Connecting Community Libraries within the region. STLS subscribes to a single mission of empowering public libraries to provide amazing services within our communities. STLS is comprised of 48 library outlets (public libraries) throughout Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates counties.

STLS’s Mission included connecting each of the 48 library outlets with a more effective telecommunications system; a configuration that would improve services, reduce costs, shorten response times, and aggregate demand for a more robust and affordable Internet Service provisioned to each library.

Success Story

STLS partnered with Southern Tier Network (STN) to build upon its mission by developing a fiber-based wide-area-network to provide Internet connectivity that exceeds NYS Broadband Standards. STLS works with STN to construct lateral fiber builds from STN’s open access backbone to 26 libraries. STLS can now, light fiber and provide Internet access from its headquarters using 2 Internet Service Providers. Hardware is cloud managed by STLS and fiber infrastructure and maintenance are provided by STN. This arrangement has allowed STLS to provide robust internet and technical services to each of the 26 libraries connected; creating huge savings and unparalleled services.

The partnership between STLS and STN has strengthened our region by building new infrastructure, improving educational resources and supporting social and economic opportunities.

Brian Hildreth,
Executive Director
Southern Tier Library System