Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study
Op-Ed template (August 2012)
America’s Public Libraries: Strategic Partners in Technology
[name of State’s] public libraries buildbridge to digital literacy
It’s hard to imagine that only a few years ago, twitter was something birds did in cartoons, YouTube didn’t exist, and only a pen was needed to complete a job application.
Nearly every slice of society has faced changes due to technology innovation. Our schools, our jobs, our government –all have been transformed through technology.
One of the more resilient partners in this ongoing transformation is in nearly every community throughout [name of State] – the public library.
In [name of State], thousands of citizens depend on our public libraries to provide the digital connection and education required of today’s workforce. Nationally, 90 percent of public libraries provide technology training, as well as free Internet access, Wi-Fi, online research resources, and assistance from expert staff.
The new library data is from the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2012 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
We have a proud record in [name of State]: libraries have offered free public internet access for over a decade. And along the way, libraries instituted comprehensive resources for job seekers, established models for successful e-government initiatives, and are now a vital resource for those new e-reader owners.
It’s an acknowledged fact of financial life that small and medium sized businesses are drivers of any economic recovery. Entrepreneurs recognize that libraries function as their “satellite office,” providing access to current databases and professional assistance with crucial market research.
[name of State‘s] data mirrors the national trend documented in the ALA study, which reports that U.S. public libraries continue to expand as technology centers for communities. National data documents that over 60 percent of public libraries report increased use of Internet work stations over the past year, and 74 percent report increased Wi-Fi use.
Combining careful management and strategic vision, libraries weathered this recession, but just barely in numerous communities. Many [name of State] public libraries report being the only resource for free access to computers and the Internet in the community. But unless library budgets are restored and enhanced, access is limited through reduced hours, locked doors, and idle computers.
A decade into this new century thus far and it’s clear that technology transformation will continue. How can we plan so that all [name of State] citizenscan succeed in this dynamic environment?Now is the time to protect the budgets that will provide our libraries with the higher broadband speeds and expanded computer access necessary to meet the needs of our communities, and position libraries for the next round of dynamic technology changes.
And, the next time you return a book to the library, take a moment to glance at the people using the computers. It may be tomorrow’s entrepreneur, planning that new business in your community, with the research, staff, and resources available – for free – at the library.