As the quest to close the digital divide marches on, rural Texas libraries remain on the front lines—eager to serve their communities but often lacking the resources and technical infrastructure needed to keep up. Technology and connectivity are essential to modern library services, yet for many rural libraries, even understanding what’s required can be a challenge.

That’s why the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has partnered with nationally recognized Library IT Consultant Carson Block. In collaboration with TSLAC’s Library Digital Opportunity (LDO) team, Carson is offering technology consulting services and training as part of the Library Infrastructure Facility Improvement (LIFI) grant to help public library subrecipients across Texas successfully implement their technology projects. He and his team will perform one-on-one coaching, and provide personal advice, strategies, and assistance through every step.

A Lifelong Advocate for Libraries

Carson Block has built his entire career around helping libraries meet their technology challenges. His journey began at the Loveland Public Library in Colorado, where he served as a media librarian during a time of major renovation and change. One of his early contributions was bringing internet access to the library—despite resistance from the city.

“I had to learn to persevere to help the library and patrons,” Carson says. “That early experience set the stage for my career. It’s not heroes and villains—it’s only heroes. It’s the patrons.”

From there, he moved into a regional consulting role in Colorado, working on statewide connectivity projects before eventually founding his own IT consulting firm. His work has taken him to libraries of all sizes, but he has a soft spot for rural, small, and tribal libraries.

“I really love rural libraries,” Carson says. “They do so much for their communities. They may have small staffs and lots of volunteers, lots of unpaid hours, but if they have a goal, they find a way.”

Working with Rural Texas Libraries

Carson’s work with Texas libraries includes recent consulting for a cohort of small, rural libraries participating in the Rural LISC Digital Connectors Program. This initiative supported the development of tech assessments, five-year plans, and funding strategies for participating libraries.

For example, the Maud Public Library benefitted from this hands-on approach. Carson helped them understand which investments would truly move the library forward. The Maud Public Library ultimately leveraged funding opportunities to bring a high-speed fiber optic internet connection to the library. For other libraries, recommendations included making a change from a well-meaning volunteer IT helper to a professional tech service provider. Other times, it meant demystifying complex funding sources like E-Rate.

“What we created at the end was a five-year tech plan that included not only what to do and when, but also how to pay for it—whether through the library budget, grants, or E-Rate,” Carson says.

Carson is the co-creator of the Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit, a free, open-source technology learning, diagnostic and advocacy tool designed for public and tribal libraries in the US. The toolkit guides staff through a series of questions about their technology environment — and provides them with all the information they need to answer the questions. It’s a game changer for libraries that might lack the IT skills and confidence necessary to respond to their communities’ needs around technology and broadband.

At the 2024 Texas Library Association conference, Carson presented the Toolkit to the cohort, helping libraries visualize their tech needs in a structured way. One takeaway? When libraries saw the true cost of their goals, many became more open to using E-Rate after all.

Tips for Libraries: Be Prepared, Be Curious

When asked what advice he would offer libraries getting ready for a tech assessment, Carson emphasized preparation and curiosity.

“Start by reviewing the Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit. Print it out, page through it. It will help you get familiar with the concepts,” he advises. “Library staff are the only ones who really know the needs of the community. The toolkit helps give you the language and confidence to express those needs.”

He also cautions against blindly deferring to outside technicians.

“One big mistake is assuming the technician knows more than you. They might have specialized knowledge, but that doesn’t mean they understand your library better than you do,” Carson explains. “The basic concepts of technology can be understood by almost anyone if discussed using common language, and don’t be afraid to ask questions—if they mention Cat 3 or Cat 7 cable, ask them what that means.”

The goal, he says, is not just to gather information, but to prioritize the work in a way that aligns with your library’s mission and capacity.

Side-by-Side Support

Carson’s consulting approach is rooted in partnership. He works side by side with libraries, helping them understand their infrastructure, build internal capacity, and make strategic decisions—not just about hardware or broadband, but also about sustainability and growth.

“It’s not always about technology,” he says. “Sometimes it’s helping a library learn how to respond to community content requests or develop internal processes.”

Stay tuned for more information on LDO and Carson Block’s collaboration for the LIFI grant!