Public Libraries and Internet Access

Link to October 21 The Economist article, "The librarian's tale. Too much demand for too few terminals".

Excerpt: Almost all of America’s public libraries provide free internet access. Over the past two years, hard-hit Americans have been economising by cancelling their broadband contracts at home and looking to public libraries to fill the gap. At the same time, companies and government agencies are saving money by moving job applications and services online; so a rush of new visitors is arriving at libraries just as the local governments that fund them run out of money.

This year three-quarters of America’s public libraries have told the American Library Association that public use of the internet increased at their branches, and roughly the same number said that they didn’t have enough computers to meet demand. A majority of American states have cut funding to their libraries during the year.

The weak economy is forcing libraries to redefine their role.

[snip]

Perversely, computers are often more expensive for public libraries than for individuals, and harder to buy. In Albuquerque, any city purchase over $500 requires approval by a technical review committee. A single library desktop, with all of the officially necessary licences and security and session-management programmes, costs the city a whopping $1,800.

 There's lots more.