[Michlib-l] E-Rate Question from Marian

[Norris, Sonya (MDE)]

Greetings,

How a library is charged for E-rate consulting is negotiable and there are several popular methods.

One method is where the consultant takes a percentage of the discount received. On the up-side, you know that you won't spend your entire discount on consulting services. On the down-side, this method is sometimes frowned upon. Look at it this way. If your discount is one million and the consultant takes a percentage that's going to result in a much higher fee than if your discount is one thousand. And certainly a larger library with more complicated and expensive services to discount will take more time to work with. But is it a proportionally equitable system in the end? Many consultants have weighed in that it is not.

Another method is to charge by the hour. On the up-side, you only get charged for the time that you use. On the down-side, the clock is always ticking. If what you need is access to a consultant as you navigate E-rate, you want to be able to talk to them without worrying about billing in 15-minute increments. Especially, if as Marian suggested, you're considering a consultant on a short-term basis. You want every bit of knowledge you can glean from them in the time you plan to have them.

A third method is to be charged by the project. In other words, you work with the consultant to come to a price based on the complexity of your filing situation. On the up-side, you know what you're paying going in. But you'll also need to do some research so you can enter into the negotiations with a good sense of what's reasonable for your library to pay.

Where do you get more information about what's reasonable to pay for E-rate consulting? From your colleagues in the Michigan library world, of course! Michlib-l is a great resource for seeking out other libraries in situations similar to your own and asking about their experiences. And don't forget about your co-ops. Michigan co-op directors are either personally responsible for answering E-rate questions from member libraries or they have designated someone within the co-op to do this.

Sonya Schryer Norris

Library Consultant and Plinkit Coordinator
Library of Michigan
517-373-4457
http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan
http://www.mel.org<http://www.mel.org/>
http://www.michlibrary.org<http://www.michlibrary.org/>

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[Culture of Reading-A (2)]

From: michlib-l-bounces at mail2.mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mail2.mcls.org] On Behalf Of Melissa Huisman
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 9:56 AM
To: 'Knox,Sheryl Cormicle'; michlib-l at mcls.org
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] E-Rate Question from Marian

This firm is great.  We've used them for several years.  Our fee is only $200 but I'm pretty sure it is based on the amount you get for USF.

Janelle Morgan
Elite Fund, Inc.
P: 800.705.9703
F: 815.717.9761
406 N. State St.
PO Box 125
Stanton, MI 48888


From: michlib-l-bounces at mail2.mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mail2.mcls.org> [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mail2.mcls.org] On Behalf Of Knox,Sheryl Cormicle
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 9:47 AM
To: michlib-l at mcls.org<mailto:michlib-l at mcls.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] E-Rate Question from Marian

Posting for Marian the Librarian from Lake Neverwuz Library:

I overheard a colleague, Mindy Sue. She had a great suggestion for getting started with E-Rate. She said consider hiring a consultant for the first year if you're new to it. You'll learn all the paperwork and figures you'll need for subsequent years and you can watch the consultant navigate the forms and process. Then, you might not need a consultant after year one.

Does anyone on here use an E-rate consultant they would recommend? Do I have to have a lot of money up front to try this route?

Thanks,
Marian


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