Many newspapers across the country have reported this week on the release of a national study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation entitled Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries. Of course the Gates have a interest in the topic as their foundation has provided grant funding to put computers in libraries across the country including our own. The study, which was conducted by the University of Washington is available online. While I don't think too many will be interested in reading all 212 pages, I do think that it is well worth spending a few minutes to read the first eleven pages of Executive Summary. I doubt if any of this information is news to those of us who work in libraries, but others may find the statistics informative.
The report tells us that 45% of the people who visited a public library last year connected to the Internet in some way during their visit, and that it didn't matter that 3/4 of those people already had Internet access somewhere else. It tells us that library computers are vitally important to the poor and those displaced by natural disasters. The report shows us how public libraries are an extension of the nation's education system, and that librarians provide services that enhance the experience of those who use library computers.
The study also touches on the uses patrons find for library computers: social connections, education, employment, health and wellness, eGovernment, community and civic engagement, and personal finance. Details, statistics and specific examples were given for each category.
The title of this post is linked to the full report. If you have a few minutes, take a look at it. There is much more there than the few bits of data that appeared in print.
