Online access becomes an essential public library service

NELIGH, NE (NET Radio) – Inside the Neligh Public Library, a tall woman in a small chair reads aloud about a magic dragon to a boy and girl, their mouths agape. As expressive as her performance is, two pre-teen boys sitting at the computer nearby pay no attention. The kids’ online role-playing game consumes them, as they attempt to get an animated dog to follow their cartoon avatar, or character. At the tables near the check-out desk, Shannon Wilson takes a chair in front of another computer and logs into her email account. She lives just about half a block away. “It’s really nice to just run down the alley and check my emails from my son in Afghanistan,” she said gratefully.