NCLIS Director Participates in Senate Forum
on Seniors' Internet Use
Jeanne Hurley Simon, director of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, participated in "The Internet: Empowering Older Americans," a forum held July 16 by the Senate Committee on Aging.
"Libraries are familiar places for seniors," Simon testified. "Building on this trust and familiarity, public librarians are encouraging their older patrons to expand their use of the library by learning computer skills" for applications that range from e-mailing distant grandchildren to checking investments online.
Simon provided numerous examples of ways local libraries are helping seniors navigate the Internet. "What we see today is the library serving as the electronic gateway and information lifeline for many seniors," she observed, "and this is something that will grow as our senior population grows."
Posted July 20, 1998.
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