Idaho Commission for Libraries

Thank you for helping the Idaho library community document our growing needs for technology and connectivity. If you are a public library director, please read on.

Did you know?

According to the 2007-2008 “Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study”

• 66% of public libraries offer free wireless access, up about 12% over last year;
• Almost 66% of all public libraries provide 1.5Mbps or faster Internet access speeds, with a continuing disparity between urban (90%) and rural libraries (51.5%);
• 74% of libraries report their staff helps patrons understand and use e-government services, including enrolling in Medicare and applying for unemployment.

What is this study?

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the American Library Association (ALA) a 3-year grant to assess public access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in US public libraries, as well as the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability. Earlier this fall, ALA sent a letter to all public library directors requesting participation in 2008, the 3rd year of the study.

• More than 4,000 public libraries responded to the 2006 Public Library Funding and Technology Access survey.
• 5,488 public libraries responded to the 2007 survey.
• The 2008 survey is available online until November 7.

What about Idaho?

Do these figures hold true for Idaho libraries? Well, we don’t know. A minimum 40% response rate is needed to have enough data for a state summary.

• 42% (49) of Idaho public libraries responded in 2006; you can see the Idaho summary via the link below.
• Only 37% (43) responded in 2007, so we have no state summary for that year.
• As of this week, 17 Idaho public libraries have completed the 2008 survey.

What next?

• The 2008 survey is underway now, and has a closing date of November 7.
• The online survey is available at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org. You’ll also find more background information and a link to a PDF version of the survey if you wish to print it.
• While that is valuable time out of your already full day, I encourage you respond and help Idaho contribute enough data for a state summary.

Why does this matter?

• The Gates Foundation uses data from these studies to track library funding and technology trends so it can better understand how to improve support in those areas. For example, the Gates Foundation used data from the 2007 study to help shape its connectivity grant-making strategy that is currently being piloted.
• A particular goal of the 2008 study is to help public libraries develop advocacy strategies for developing sustainable funding sources for public access Internet services and resources.
• Idaho public libraries and the Commission for Libraries need Idaho-specific data to help document our growing needs for technology and connectivity.

The survey reports for 2006 and 2007 are available at: http://ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/plftas/0607report.cfm
http://ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/plftas/0708report.cfm