Libraries Connect Communities ― Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, 2007-2008

The Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2007-2008 assessed public access to computers, the Internet, and Internet-related services in US public libraries, and researched the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment, and sustainability. This report contains findings of the study and provides information that can help library directors and IT staff advocate for technology resources, training, infrastructure, and funding in their libraries. The data also are of interest to policymakers at local, state, and federal levels, manufacturers of information and communication technologies, and the communities served by public libraries. The report provides data from surveys of thousands of rural, suburban, and urban libraries in every state, plus information provided by state library agencies, and feedback from focus groups and site visits in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Additional state data tables are provided online. Appendices provide the surveys and focus group scripts used in the study. Davis is director of the ALA Office for Research and Statistics, and overall project coordinator for the Public Library Funding and Technology Access study. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)