Libraries In the Digital Age Mark Bard [email_address] Information Technology Policy Specialist ALA Office for Information Technology Policy

Question Do libraries matter in the digital age?

Answer: Yes! Libraries provide free public access computing to the communities they serve

% of Public Libraries Connected By Year

Prove IT! 1.3 billion visits in 2004 Up from 821.6 Million in 1994 4.6% annual growth 73% -> Only provider of free access

1.3 billion visits in 2004

Up from 821.6 Million in 1994

4.6% annual growth

73% -> Only provider of free access

Who Uses It? The Public With and without capability at home Seeking assistance From all backgrounds Of all ages “Seniors who don’t have a computer at home” “Kids come in after school”

The Public

With and without capability at home

Seeking assistance

From all backgrounds

Of all ages

“Seniors who don’t have a computer at home”

“Kids come in after school”

How Does the Public Use It? Gateways to information Government; Healthcare E-Government Disaster Response Economic Development Job Applications Small Business Life Management Creation of Digital Content

Gateways to information

Government; Healthcare

E-Government

Disaster Response

Economic Development

Job Applications

Small Business

Life Management

Creation of Digital Content

Educational Activities Education & Homework Support Distance Education Subscription Databases Computer Skills Classes

Education & Homework Support

Distance Education

Subscription Databases

Computer Skills Classes

Sufficient to Meet Demand? 52% of the libraries: No Math: 1,500 Kbps / 10 Workstations = 150 Kbps < 200 Kbps FCC Definition of ‘Broadband’ Doesn’t take into account bandwidth for: Library Operations Wireless (in 54% of libraries)

52% of the libraries: No

Math:

1,500 Kbps / 10 Workstations = 150 Kbps

< 200 Kbps FCC Definition of ‘Broadband’

Doesn’t take into account bandwidth for:

Library Operations

Wireless (in 54% of libraries)

Connection Speeds By State

Increasing Library Connectivity Summary of Findings

Bandwidth ‘Explosion’ Increased usage of graphics Audio Music, Podcasts, Course Lectures Social Networking/Interactive Web All websites Video YouTube, et al. Government Embedded

Increased usage of graphics

Audio

Music, Podcasts, Course Lectures

Social Networking/Interactive Web

All websites

Video

YouTube, et al.

Government

Embedded

Collaboration Works! Planning RFPs Procurement Technical Support Funding E-rate applications Education & Training

Planning

RFPs

Procurement

Technical Support

Funding

E-rate applications

Education & Training

Collaboration With Whom? Libraries K-12 Higher Education Government Vendors & Providers

Libraries

K-12

Higher Education

Government

Vendors & Providers

Question Do libraries matter in the digital age?

Lack of Awareness Government Officials National, State & Local Vendors Telcos, Cable Companies, Wireless, etc.

Government Officials

National, State & Local

Vendors

Telcos, Cable Companies, Wireless, etc.

Common Statements & Questions “Why is this a problem?” “Why do they need more bandwidth?” “Why do Libraries matter?” “If they can pay….” “I never knew the needs of Libraries in such detail”

“Why is this a problem?”

“Why do they need more bandwidth?”

“Why do Libraries matter?”

“If they can pay….”

“I never knew the needs of Libraries in such detail”

Meeting Current Demand “ The pent up demand is ready to explode” “ When they click, it should happen” “ If their needs are not met, they will go elsewhere” “ I have the ability to purchase a database of educational videos [for our entire state], but can not because of lack of bandwidth”

“ The pent up demand is ready to explode”

“ When they click, it should happen”

“ If their needs are not met, they will go elsewhere”

“ I have the ability to purchase a database of educational videos [for our entire state], but can not because of lack of bandwidth”

Increasing Services Partnering with Internet2 What’s on the horizon?

Partnering with Internet2

What’s on the horizon?

In Conclusion… Demand for Library services continues Almost all Libraries are connected Not meeting the demand of the public Methods exist for improving broadband Remember your library -> There are more of them than McDonalds

Demand for Library services continues

Almost all Libraries are connected

Not meeting the demand of the public

Methods exist for improving broadband

Remember your library -> There are more of them than McDonalds

Mark Bard [email_address] www.ala.org/oitp © 2007 The American Library Association This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. For more information, please visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/