Google previously offered GSuite services at no cost to small groups and organizations. After discontinuing that practice, they grandfathered in organizations that had already taken advantage of their offer, allowing them to continue at no charge. Now Google has announced that this grace period will soon come to an end, and these small entities must begin to pay for GSuite services, with exceptions for academic institutions and nonprofits. We are requesting that Google broaden their education and non-profit definition to include public libraries.

Public libraries are the core of many communities, large and small, across the United States. Not only are they centers of community activities and education, they also provide free computer and internet access to their communities, opening the online world to a population that might otherwise be excluded. Public libraries rely on local tax dollars, public contributions, even bake sales and raffles, to fund their operations. Many have little to no flexibility in their budgets, and simply cannot afford the costs that Google is about to impose. Expansion of no-cost GSuite services to include public libraries would be a huge benefit to these libraries, their communities, and to the millions of people whom they serve.

We are requesting that Google expand their GSuite pricing exemption by no later than April 1st.  This would allow these local and small community libraries to avoid the costs in both dollars and time associated with upgrading their services or seeking other alternatives. The net cost to Google (a trillion-dollar tech company) would be tiny, yet given the crucial role of these libraries, they may never receive a greater return on any investment.