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June 30, 2010 By Karen Wilkinson
As government agencies push what have traditionally been paper-based processes and services online, public libraries are seeing more demand for access to technology so that citizens can interact with their government. But there's a catch-22: Public libraries are faced with reduced funding and shorter operating hours.
A report released this month shows that while the public is increasingly using the Internet at libraries for job and e-government resources, funding cuts at state and local levels are forcing libraries to "literally lock away access to these resources as they reduce operating hours."
Conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Center for Library and Information Innovation at the University of Maryland, the annual study provides a "state of the library" report on technology resources libraries offer and funding that enables free access to these critical resources. The 2009-2010 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study can be found here.
"Computers and Internet access at public libraries connect millions of Americans to economic, educational and social opportunity each year, but libraries struggle to replace aging computer workstations and provide the high-speed Internet connections patrons need," Jill Nishi, deputy director of U.S. Libraries at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a press release. The foundation funded the study along with the ALA. "As demand for these services rise, public and private investment to support public access technology at libraries is more critical than ever."
The continual depletion of local and state tax bases -- resulting in large part from high unemployment rates (reduced income tax revenue), the troubled housing market (decreased property tax) and declines in sales tax receipts -- has seriously affected 45 states and the District of Columbia, the report says. The problem has trickled down to public library funding.
You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/e-government/Technology-in-Libraries-Critical.html
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This is a classic case of the library system sticking their head in the ground for the last 10 years. The world knew the digital cloud was coming and the libraries just continued to putt putt along like the sky was not falling. It is a sad case of government bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo while the poor underserved communities suffer. The bigger issue is the failure of public libraries that also include school libraries have failed to take advantage of federal, state, and local programs that fund digital access. It is a simple common solution. My comments are based on 5 years as a municipal government CIO and 7 years as an urban school district CIO.
This is a classic case of the library system sticking their head in the ground for the last 10 years. The world knew the digital cloud was coming and the libraries just continued to putt putt along like the sky was not falling. It is a sad case of government bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo while the poor underserved communities suffer. The bigger issue is the failure of public libraries that also include school libraries have failed to take advantage of federal, state, and local programs that fund digital access. It is a simple common solution. My comments are based on 5 years as a municipal government CIO and 7 years as an urban school district CIO.
This is a classic case of the library system sticking their head in the ground for the last 10 years. The world knew the digital cloud was coming and the libraries just continued to putt putt along like the sky was not falling. It is a sad case of government bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo while the poor underserved communities suffer. The bigger issue is the failure of public libraries that also include school libraries have failed to take advantage of federal, state, and local programs that fund digital access. It is a simple common solution. My comments are based on 5 years as a municipal government CIO and 7 years as an urban school district CIO.