Public Libraries are Sole Source of Online Employment and Education Information for Millions of Americans

CHICAGO -- Ever-growing patron demand for computer and Internet services in U.S. public libraries has stretched existing Internet bandwidth, computer availability, and building infrastructure to capacity, according to a new study "Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007," conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University (FSU).

The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, found that more than 73 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Surveyed libraries said that the top three Internet services most critical to their community are online educational resources and databases for K-12 students (67.7 percent); services for job seekers (44 percent); and computer and Internet skills training (29.8 percent).

To read the full press release, visit the American Library Association Web site.