The document summarizes the key findings of a study on technology access and funding in U.S. public libraries. It finds that while most libraries provide public access to computers and the internet, infrastructure is being strained due to limited and volatile funding. Over half of libraries have no plans to add computers in the coming year due to constraints of space, cost and network capacity. Many libraries also rely on outdated equipment and lack replacement schedules. The study highlights the importance of libraries in providing technology and internet access to their communities, especially as demand continues to grow.

1. State of Technology Access and
Funding in U.S. Public Libraries
NELINET Symposium
December 5, 2008
Larra Clark
Project Manager
Office for Research & Statistics
www.ala.org/plinternetfunding
lclark@ala.org
12/05/08

2. State of Technology Access
“The Internet is more significant to libraries than has
been any technology since the book – changing
social roles, expectations and impacts of libraries in
the eyes of patrons, communities and governments.”
Charles R. McClure
“Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles”
12/05/08

3. Today’s Program
Background on Public Library Funding &
Technology Access Study
Key findings and trends from study
Putting data to work
Q&A
12/05/08

4. Background
The Public Library Funding & Technology Access
Study assesses public access to computers, the
Internet and Internet-related services in U.S. public
libraries, as well as the impact of library funding
changes on connectivity, technology deployment and
sustainability.
12/05/08

5. Collaboration in Action

6. Three-Part Study
Public Libraries & the Internet online survey
Focus groups and site visits
Annual high-level questionnaire to Chief Officers
of State Library Agencies
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7. Key Issues
Library infrastructure (bandwidth, staff, space) is
being pushed to capacity.
Funding data indicate volatility in how libraries
support public technology access.
Technology is bringing more – not less – public
library use.
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8. State of Technology Access
Public library branches, overall, have an average of 12
public access computers.
Rural: 7.5 computers
Suburban: 13.9 computers
Urban: 21 computers
The average age of these computers is fairly evenly split.
Less than one year old: average of 6.9 computers
2-3 years old: average of 7.1 computers
Greater than 4 years old: average of 5.6 computers
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9. State of Technology Access
“If we could get away from some of the junk
(outdated equipment) we have in the library, the IT
person would be less busy.”
Nevada library director
12/05/08

10. State of Technology Access
More than half of libraries (56.1%) have no plans to
add public computers in the coming year.
The three leading factors influencing the addition of
public computers are:
Space (77.7%)
Cost (75.9%)
Availability of electrical, cabling or other infrastructure (36.4%)
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11. New England (FY05)
Population Number of Average Average
served outlets computers square footage
U.S. 286,472,000 16,543 11.19 *
Connecticut 3,504,000 244 10.75 12,568
Maine 1,181,000 278 4.49 4,826
Massachusetts 6,415,000 483 9.07 11,832
New Hampshire 1,303,000 237 4.25 5,007
Rhode Island 1,081,000 73 12.14 11,369
Vermont 602,000 185 3.90 3,223
12/05/08

12. State of Technology Access
48% of libraries have no plans to replace computers in
the coming year
42% of libraries do not have a schedule for replacing or
adding computers
Rural: 56.4%
Suburban: 35.6%
Urban: 15.6%
The most common replacement or addition schedule is
every four years.
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13. State of Technology Access
“The problem has become not basic connectivity, but
obtaining and sustaining access to the Internet
services and resources the public needs as the
demands of the medium and its users grow
rapidly.”
OITP Connectivity Report
12/05/08

14. State of Technology Access
12/05/08

15. State of Technology Access
Two-thirds of libraries now offer wireless access.
Rural: 56.6%
Suburban: 72.1%
Urban: 80.7%
Three-quarters of libraries offer wireless on the same
connection used for public desktop computers,
reducing the actual speed of access over the network.
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16. New England (2007-08)
Less than T1 More than T1 Wireless Shared
T1 connection
U.S. 25% 38.9% 25.7% 65.9% 74.9%
Connecticut 21.2% 15.3% 34.5% 76.1% 36.3%
Massachusetts 23.6% 33.2% 17.0% 79.9% 37.2%
Rhode Island 27.8% 45.8% 19.4% 93.1% 75%
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17. State of Technology Access
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18. State of Technology Access
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19. State of Funding
Effective technology planning requires detailed expenditure
data.
Funding data indicate volatility in how libraries support
public technology access.
Libraries rely as much on “other” sources of revenue as they
do state and federal to pay for technology-related
expenditures.
Library expenditures are shifting away from collections and
staff toward “other” expenditures.
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20. Non-Tax Revenue
Average Percentage Technology-Related Expenditures
from FY 2008 Non-Tax Revenue Sources by Type and
Population Served
Outside Hardware /
Salaries Vendors Software Telecommunications
Less than 10,000 4.6% 17.7% 45.5% 21.8%
10,000 - 24,999 4.3% 4.5% 25.8% 11.7%
25,000 - 99,999 1.9% 9.0% 20.6% 4.7%
100,000 - 499,999 3.5% 16.7% 13.5% 6.6%
500,000 or more 0.0% 0.2% 8.6% 0.0%
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21. Non-Tax Revenue
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22. Non-Tax Revenue
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23. New England (FY05)
Average local Average “other” Average total
revenue per capita revenue per capita revenue per capita
U.S. $27.59 $2.85 $33.87
Connecticut $38.13 $7.08 $45.75
Maine $20.90 $7.19 $28.25
Massachusetts $30.70 $2.88 $35.42
New Hampshire $31.55 $2.57 $34.14
Rhode Island $25.68 $6.90 $40.28
Vermont $20.07 $7.51 $27.60
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24. Changes in State Funding, 2007
Decreases No Increases
Change
11%+ 5-10% 3-4% 1-2% 1-2% 3-4% 5-10% 11%+ Totals
Midwest 1 0 0 0 3 3 1 1 3 12
Northeast 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 5
South 0 0 1 1 5 2 0 2 4 15
West 1 0 0 0 6 2 2 0 2 13
Totals 2 0 1 1 17 7 5 3 9 45
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25. Trends
Library infrastructure
is being stretched to capacity.
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26. Staff
“The technology was brought in, and a whole new
service created, without additional staff. It was just
double the work for no more money.”
-- North Carolina library director
12/05/08

27. Staff
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28. Staff
Teaching patron technology classes
One-on-one patron assistance
Troubleshooting
Digital reference
Technology planning
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29. IT support
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30. Staff training
“Library staff members often have skills that would
fit better into a 1995 library than a library of the
new millennium.
…We have not clearly outlined expectations, and we
have not trained to those expectations in a
satisfactory way.”
-- Sarah Houghton Jan
“Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries”
12/05/08

31. Internet Services
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32. Patron Technology Use
About 73% of libraries report they are the only
source of free access to computers and the Internet
in their communities.
Groupings of patron technology use:
Communication
Employment
E-government
Education/information
Entertainment
Routine tasks
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33. Patron Technology Use
“The digital divide is alive and well in our areas. They
either cannot afford high speed or (service
providers) do not go there.”
--Virginia library director
12/05/08

34. Patron Technology Use
“If you can’t apply for a job stocking shelves at Food
Lion, it’s vital.”
--North Carolina library director
12/05/08

35. Online visits to libraries
Interconnections: The IMLS National Study on the
Use of Libraries, Museums and the Internet
71 million adults made 561 million remote online visits to
libraries in 2006.
73 million adults made 204 million in-person online visits.
Almost half of all in-person visitors to the library used a library-
provided computer online in their last visit.
Education is the number one reason given for use of library
computers.
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36. Putting Data to Work
“Nothing demonstrates the value of the modern public library
like the demand for computers. Usually, just a walk inside a
library is a quick lesson about the demand for computers, but
if there are any doubts, the American Library Association has
issued a national report showing that nine out of every 10
libraries have to set time limits…to accommodate the demand
for computer access.
Walking into a library should not be viewed as a quiet, lonely
search for a book. It is cause for celebration. More computers
can help.”
--Tennessean editorial, September 16, 2008
12/05/08

37. Putting Data to Work
Strategic planning
Budget presentations/grantwriting
Community outreach
Media relations
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38. Recommended Resources
Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study
(ALA/FSU)
www.ala.org/plinternetfunding
Public Library Connectivity Project (ALA OITP, 2007)
www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/papersa/public
_version_final.pdf
The Joy of Computing (MaintainIT)
www.maintainitproject.org/cookbooks
12/05/08

39. Recommended Resources
“Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries”
(Library Technology Reports March/April 2007)
www.techsource.ala.org
“Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles”
(ALA Editions 2008)
www.alastore.ala.org
“Interconnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of
Libraries, Museums and the Internet” (February 2008)
http://interconnectionsreport.org/
12/05/08

40. Closing
Today’s public libraries are thriving technology hubs
that millions rely on for first or only choice for
Internet access, particularly now during the current
economic downturn.
Library infrastructure (bandwidth, staff, space) is
being pushed to capacity.
Sustaining this vital technology access requires
ongoing support for staff, operating hours, improved
bandwidth, replacement schedules and electronic
collections.
12/05/08