More U.S. libraries than ever are online, but they are struggling to keep up with high demand for Internet access.

As we focus on helping libraries sustain their public access computing programs, it's important to understand the progress they have made as well as the challenges confronting them. In June 2005, a report by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University looked at both questions.

The report showed that virtually all public libraries in the United States, 99.6 percent, are connected to the Internet. That's almost a fivefold increase since 1994, the first year the survey was done, when only 20.9 percent of libraries were online.

Despite this progress, the study, funded jointly by the foundation and the American Library Association, also demonstrated that most libraries are struggling to satisfy the demand for public access computers. According to the report, 85 percent of libraries don't have enough computers to meet demand. Fewer than half have high-speed connections. Moreover, most libraries face considerable budget pressures. About 65 percent have to make do with technology budgets that remain flat or decline from year to year, which makes it extremely difficult to develop plans for maintaining or upgrading public access computing programs.

With these findings, we are working with librarians across the country to advocate for more resources, demonstrate the importance of providing public access computers to marginalized populations, and meet the tremendous demand for public access computing. The Florida State team will conduct another survey in 2006 to collect more specific information about the common challenges libraries face.