Technology and Funding in U.S. Public Libraries 2008

The ALA Office for Research & Statistics along with the Information Institute at Florida State University just published, “Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2007-2008.” This report compiles the results of the second year of a national study that assesses public library Internet connectivity, technology services, funding, and sustainability issues. The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Library Association. The report is available online at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding. Some of the findings include:

Libraries reported significant growth in onlines services, including audiobooks, podcasts, video, e-books, and digitized special collections;

73.4 percent of libraries provide technology training to their customers;

66 percent of public libraries now offer free wireless Internet access to patrons;

The number of Internet computers available to library users increased, yet one in five libraries reported that there are not enough computers to serve patron demand;

Staffing levels are not keeping up with patron demand, both for staff who provide training and direct public service and for technology support staff.

Many Nebraska libraries have recently been asked to participate in the “2008 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access,” which will provide data for next year’s report. We encourage those libraries to complete the 21-question online survey by the November 7, 2008 deadline so that trends in Nebraska libraries will be measured and reported in the next national report.