Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study

Press Kit

Contact: Macey Morales, Manager, ALA Media Relations, 312-280-4393 mmorales@ala.org

The 2008 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study sheds light on how public libraries are expanding and sustaining the computer and Internet services they make freely available to their communities. It offers the most current and comprehensive look at technology access and funding in U.S. public libraries.

Data was gathered from more than 5,400 public libraries in a national survey (78.6% response rate), 45 Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (90% response rate) and focus groups and site visits in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The study was conducted by the American Library Association and the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University. It was funded by the ALA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Key findings include:

• Funding data indicate libraries are relying more on non-tax funding sources;
  
• 66 percent of public libraries offer free wireless access, up about 12 percent over last year;
  
• Almost two-thirds of all public libraries provide 1.5Mbps or faster Internet access speeds, with a continuing disparity between urban (90 percent) and rural libraries (51.5 percent);
  
• 74 percent of libraries report their staff helps patrons understand and use e-government services, including enrolling in Medicare and applying for unemployment;
  
• 73.4 percent of libraries provide technology training to library patrons; and
  
• While the number of Internet computers available to the public climbed for the first time in several years, one in five libraries report there are consistently fewer computers than patrons who wish to use them throughout the day.

Press Release

Public libraries report double-digit growth in Internet services in one year

Audio File

Pamela Goodes, Associate Editor, American Libraries Magazine interviews Larra Clark, Project Manager, ALA ORS, on the release of the 2008 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study. [Listen]

Study Materials

Project Partners

Fact Sheets

American Library Association Fact Sheet

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Libraries Initiative

Additional resources:

Top 10 Picks For Best Back to School Library Web Tools [PDF]

Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2007[PDF]