Internet Revives Public Libraries 273
securitas writes "The New York Times' Steve Lohr reports on the effects of the Internet on public libraries, namely that the installation of Internet-connected computers have been largely responsible for a rebirth in public libraries and increasing attendance, particularly by 'teenagers, people age 50 and older and members of ethnic minorities' as well as low-income patrons without computers at home. According to a University of Washington study, 'A year after computers are put in libraries that do not have them, visits rise 30 percent on the average and attendance typically remains higher'. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - which funds PC-based Internet library projects - features prominently in the article, including the criticism that it is 'a Microsoft marketing exercise masquerading as philanthropy.'"
Poll: (Score:3, Insightful)
Do you have to log in to use your card catalog? (No for the ones in my area)
Re:Poll: (Score:5, Interesting)
As of now, we don't keep track of who was on what machine at any given time, to some extent because we can't: we have a very limited-access guest account (which allows for browser usage, access to a word processor, and not much else) that is used for all patrons. I'm not sure how the upcoming session management software will change this, but there have been ongoing discussions about potential privacy concerns (which, in my experience, libraries take very, very seriously).
As for the card catalogs, they work much the same way as the internet terminals do now: limited guest account for all patrons (which in this case allows only for access to the catalog, and not the broader internet). However, there are none of the usage restrictions that the internet machines have, where we limit patrons to one hour a day, and require a sign-up system.
Here in NYC, I just... (Score:3, Interesting)
But now, will a bunch of kiddies come in and abuse it, and will I soon have to stnad in line and give my ID, thanks to them?
We'll see... (but even after 9/11 they never asked for an ID)
Re:Here in NYC, I just... (Score:2)
As much as I love the main branch of the NY public library, its a research library and its pretty far from my apartment.
Who cares if you can access the internet if you have to endure the smell of piss and vomit? or the screaming of small children?
been in several (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Poll: (Score:3, Interesting)
Someone tell the UK... (Score:5, Insightful)
According to the BBC [bbc.co.uk], Britain's public librarires will be out of use by 2020. My local library does have a computer (one!) but the collections (books, CDs, etc) are shocking. Ordering from other libraries takes too long, etc.
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:2)
Interestingly, all UK Public libraries are meant to have internet access but it doesn't seem to be halting the slide.
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:5, Interesting)
Since then everything I know about them has been second-hand, but that alone is bad enough. How are people who aren't lucky enough to be able to buy books (especially the ludicrously expensive technical ones) supposed to learn this stuff? It's depressing.
Even the library at the university I work at is behind and has very restricted numbers on some of the most complex tomes
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:2, Interesting)
It tends to get worse the further out from cities you go, I currently live in a village and it doesn't have a library; although I've noticed a mobile library van but never used it.
Reminds me of the Hicks routine "'So, whatcha reading for?' Not what are you reading but what are you reading for. You stumped me."
A drive to the nearest town provides a good library with decen
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:3, Interesting)
Bzzzt! Manchester has some fine library buildings, and arguably some good collections, but the general room at the Central library is a classic example of an inadequate, underfunded and mismanaged public library. Worse, this is the main branch for a major city. There is a limited selection of old books (almost outnumbered by the videos for hire), badly catalogued and, despite the small number, confusingly laid out. On the day I went, a radio was clearly
Re:Someone tell the UK... (Score:3, Insightful)
More interestingly, the story mentions that despite increases in funding for libraries, spending on books has sharply declined! Presumably, at least some of that money went on Internet provision instead - that's great as a means of broadening access, but not if it diverts money from a core function.
More, newer books are obviously required, but increased rotation of stock between libraries would help too. As it stands, the average secondhand or remainders shop offers a wider range.
Ad
This proves the old saying: (Score:2, Funny)
If you connect it, they will come.
Re:This proves the old saying: (Score:2)
There are books is a library? Cool! Since when?
Wonderful!!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
And attendance would be even higher (Score:5, Insightful)
the point of a library isnt to increase raw attendance, it's to provide access to a large quantity of books that the majority of people could not purchase or conveniently locate on their own.
With the internet, this dynamic does not occur; I am guessing that the vast majority of people who use library PCs for internet access could reasonably get it (or, more accurately, already have it) in some other fashion at home, but prefer the coffeehouse / social aspect of being out of the house while doing their web surfing.
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:3, Insightful)
Exactly! But there's one more thing... The quality of what people read! (No, I'm not politically correct.) If all that people read in the library are crappy/superficial romances written by people who usually write one book every month, or something like that, I don't think they'll benefit a lot from that (although i
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:2)
It's called "Slashdot."
Seriously, though, if you want a public place where people think and discuss things, you want to visit a college departmental lounge. The pick-up discussions at my state college's Literature department lounge were really interesting and I discovered some great writers from there. I also discovered that I hate Milan Kundera.
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:2)
It doesn't cost that much to own a computer. Go to a local place that sells used computers and pick something up for $200. Then, get dial-up to NetZero or something, $10 a month. You don't need a pentium IV, especially if you're using dial up. This would be sufficient to browse the web, and do some word pr
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:5, Insightful)
Libraries have always had more things than books in them, such as newspapers, periodicals, recordings and recently videos. The point is to make access to information universal. People want information. If you provide it to them, they will come. What people are gettign are things like access to Google, or foreign newspapers. If you're from another country and want to know what your home town paper said about yesterday's news from Iraq, where do you go? To the Internet.
This is the part you pulled out of your ass.
If you are an immigrant working as a unskilled laborer or a home health aid, do you think you'd get Internet access as part of your job? Would the price of a computer and high speed access be something that would be a barrier to you?
When people like me and probably you want a coffeehouse atmosphere, we go to a coffeehouse with our wifi laptops. At the library you can't do your favorite drugs, pick up women (well maybe not) or have a conversation with other patrons.
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:4, Informative)
It is? And here I've been working in public libraries for years under the mistaken assumption that we were here to provide information!
Seriously, though, public libraries provide a lot of reference and information services--not just books. Certainly our books, cds, videos, graphic novels, etc. get a lot of use for both research and entertainment, but so do our people.
I'm employed full-time by a public library to teach computer skills. We have about 50 public computers with internet access and assorted software (word processing, spreadsheet, database, photo editing, scanning, CD burning, etc.) and a staff of 6 people who teach classes and are available to answer computer-related questions. That means finding a tax form online, or giving advice on buying a new computer, or explaining how to get spyware off your computer, or showing people how to get out of some computer jam. We teach classes on everything from the basics (turning a computer on and using the mouse) to the specific (genealogy databases, selling on eBay, or PowerPoint, for example.)
We have about 15,000 people use our computers every month. I've taught 20-year-olds and I've taught 95-year-olds (seriously). Heck, I got to sign an 83-year-old nun up for e-mail and teach her to use it. The kicker? We're a medium-sized public library, and we're doing this even after having our state funding slashed by 50%.
So if you haven't been to your public library recently, you might want to stop in and see what all they offer. You seem to be under the mistaken impression that we're only here for the books.
Re:And attendance would be even higher (Score:2, Informative)
Our Computer Center originally began as a job center. We began teaching computer skills to help people with their resumes and help them get better jobs. That's still a lot of what we do. PowerPoint was added to our curriculum due to the large number of job seekers who needed to know it, and we offer classes on job-hunting using the Internet. We also provide one-on-one help for those who need help formatting t
Well, we're effectively giving away ... (Score:2, Interesting)
Working as a tech in a university library, I can tell you that we developed a budget to provide a large number of computers with internet access. An over the shoulder glance of those using it (as well as a proxy log) showed an abundance of porn and webmail usage - somewhere in the region of 75% - and very little usage for actual research purposes. This decreased significantly after we required a logon for access to certain sites (mainly webmail).
Our goal is to provide access
I hope they don't neglect their roots (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I hope they don't neglect their roots (Score:3, Insightful)
And while there always seems to be money for new Dells, whenever there's a hint of funding cuts the first reaction is to play chicken
Re:I hope they don't neglect their roots (Score:2, Informative)
These allow libraries to have access to a lot of internet content that would be useful for research, but can only be gotten with a subscription. I also allows small town public libraries (like my mom's) to carry information that would usually only show up in college science+tech libraries.
I su
Project Gutenberg (Score:3, Informative)
A link to the Baen Free Library [baen.com] could be good too.
Trouble is the PCs may end up even more hogged that way.
Would be helpful if libraries could print books themselves from free/public domain material.
Who cares... (Score:5, Insightful)
If Microsoft are being criticised or not... The plain and simple fact of the matter is that the Gates foundation has helped put PC's into the hands of people who would not otherwise use one.
Whether they run nothing but Microsoft software, or something else, is not an issue, IMHO
Call him what you like (and I'm sure some of you will) he's doing a good thing here and I, for one, will take my hat of to the guy
Re:Who cares... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Who cares... (Score:2)
but if someone did this to promote Linux (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:but if someone did this to promote Linux (Score:2)
1) Microsoft already spends a lot of money on marketing. Everybody knows what Windows is. It's not like having it in the library is going to change people's minds when it's already everywhere else.
2) To be honest, allowing them to USE Windows on a public terminal (probably locked down tight, or riddled with bugs) is probably a bad idea if you want them to love the OS.
3) When my public lib
Re:but if someone did this to promote Linux (Score:2)
I agree that people use what they are comfortable with. That said, I also think that people that go to a library to user the internet, not specifically to use windows. Give them something they are familiar with. Linux can be dressed up to be as ugly as windows
Screenshot [cox.net]
You can easily setup 40-50 of these clients on junk old junk hardware(P90s, 16-32 MB ram) using an ltsp server with just a 3.2 gig chip and 3 gi
Re:Who cares... (Score:2)
On the contrary, I think the fact that the PCs run only Windows is directly relevant. Consider for a moment if it was Microsoft (the company) making these donations instead of Bill Gates' charitable trust. What would the reaction be? Would people be praising Microsoft'
Re:Who cares... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Who cares... (Score:2)
Maybe thanks for taking an interest in the rural poor or a deeply troubled inner-city community? These donations aren't going to libraries in Microsoft's core middle-class suburban markets.
Re:Who cares... (Score:2)
However, as a library should provide a wealth of information, knowledge, insight, and experience, I think that they should try to ensure that these are also available with the computers.
I understand that they are probably unable (due to cost) to have equal the number of Macs and it doesn't make sense (yet) to have dozens of Linux and *BSD machines. They can, however, at least provide some of this. I doubt there are too many places where they would
Re:Who cares... (Score:2, Interesting)
If you do the right thing for the wrong reasons, aren't you still doing the right thing?
Gates Foundation (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Gates Foundation (Score:5, Informative)
I think you'll find few complaints about the Gates Foundation, other than possibly charities who wish to receive funding who don't appreciate the stringent requirements to receive funding from the Foundation.
The shady sentiment mentioned in the article is probably confused with Microsoft Corp. "donating" software to schools out of goodwill or as a result of various antitrust trials. Donating $1 Billion of software is a misnomer when the cost of donation is a tiny fraction of the retail value of the items. Air would probably cost more to donate and deliver than a stack of license keys and CDs.
In the case of the Foundation, it is an independent charitable organization that is delivering hardware and software that the organization paid for. True, Bill G. probably got really deep discounts for Windows and Office, and likely discounts for the Dell PCs, but this is much closer to a true donation at retail value than MSFT donating pieces of paper (licenses) to schools which will have to upgrade later.
The Gates Foundation has had a tough time with legitimacy because it came about after Ted Turner basically called Gates out publicly for not donating any of his billions (Turner donated a third of his value, or $1Billion to the UN around 1998). A combination of pressure from Turner, Gates' father, and his wife reportedly caused the foundation to be formed. Gates initially ran the foundation much like Microsoft where he was heavily involved in the operations and ran the foundation in a fairly rigorous manner, so it was questioned in the mainstream press whether he was truly a philanthropist, or was this just another challenge/problem to solve for him. Time and money will eventually solve the image problem, and it already has improved in the last several years.
Re:Gates Foundation (Score:2)
I mean, it's not like OpenOffice.org or TheGimp run on Windows -- oh.
I mean, it's not like you can run a simulated GNU environment -- oh yeah, cygwin.
Actually, I suppose as long as so many great GNU tools are available for Windows, and you get the Windows PC for free, and you could totally install Linux on it if you really wanted to, there's no problem whatsoever, and all the "Free as in Love" F/OSS pundits can go back to prosteletyzing the de
next step (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:next step (Score:2, Informative)
That's how I wrote a research paper on different theoretical forms of future computing. (DNA, quantum dot, and regular quantum computing, IIRC)
A Good Thing (TM) but... (Score:2)
Two libraries in my borough closed down in the last 6 months due to lack of interest and money. Much as I hate to say it, I'm not sure we can expect the internet and some PCs to pull people back to using conventional libraries.
Is Anyone Reading? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Is Anyone Reading? (Score:2, Interesting)
What else could libraries be? (Score:5, Interesting)
The increase in book loans from drawing in the extra people is probably minimal.
However, so long as it doesn't adversely effect the availability of books then it's not a bad thing. Providing free internet access to people that don't have it is a good thing, as well as the assitance that library staff can provide to people who aren't quite
Many communities in the modern western Europe and the USA lack any real community or cultural centre. If a library can fulfill this role in a greater way then more power to it. I personally would love to see libraries take on greater roles as centres of information, learning and debate. They were once greatly respected by the public.
The introduction of a network of public libraries in the UK in the 1850s was a landmark of progressive thinking and it nearly didn't happen.
One Consrevative MP argued (and had a lot of support in his party for this)that:
"people have too much knowledge already: it was much easier to manage them twenty years ago; the more education people get the more difficult they are to manage."
Society would be much the poorer if the libraries hadn't been approved by parliament, and by the same measure, society will become much richer if they recieve more support in the future.
The Internet is the Loss Leader (Score:2)
Once they get used to coming in, they can borrow movies, books, software, even artwork at some libraries.
Another factor... (Score:4, Interesting)
Seriously, there are hundreds of them in stock, but you never see them on the shelves, because they are ALWAYS out. You have to search the catalog just to see what's available, and place holds to get them.
A woman at the 'checkout' said that she feels like she works at Blockbuster, more than at a library...
windows xp? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:windows xp? (Score:2)
Re:windows xp? (Score:2)
new libraries (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:new libraries (Score:2)
Remarked one: What a huge library! How worthless! Why do we even need books? We have TV and the internet.
Political will also needed? (Score:3, Interesting)
In this case, funding came from a foundation started by a private individual. What about in other countries where there isn't so much of a culture of public donations (true, there are robber baron CEOs, but I'm thinking in the lines of the donations given by people like Andrew Carnegie)? Unless there's strong political will, I don't think it's going to happen - beneficial though it is, it looks more like a "nice to have" rather than a "must have".
Resumes? (Score:2, Funny)
Panhandler
08/99-Present
In a fast paced urban setting, collected donations for a good cause. Have experience dealing with the public and handling large amounts of change. Also have experience working with animals.
Assist Panhandler
06/97-08/99
In a two person operation, aided th
Why not resumes? (Score:2)
I presume resumes for less qualified individuals would be different from what you and I are used to. Who knows - the effort of producing a piece of paper that sta
Re:Why not resumes? (Score:2)
Re:Resumes? (Score:2)
Most of the homeless in America are not the panhandlers or the street kids, they are young singles working at low paying jobs and recently divorced/widowed/escaped women and their children. You never see them because they try hard not to look homeless. They live out of their cars if single, or in shelters if their city provides them and they have kids. They are usually homeless for a few months until they pu
Re:Resumes? (Score:2)
Email of course.
Re:easier than you think (Score:2)
My sympathies, man (Score:2)
Free food at church shelters (Score:2, Funny)
Public restrooms raise attendance on the weekends.
Giveaways at car lots raises attendance.
Does any of this mean more business?
Revival of public libraries (Score:2)
An interesting side-effect was the libraries having to revisit a lot of their rules - free for all computer usage was changed to members-only usage (though membershi
Libraries (Score:5, Insightful)
By my standards, the library is very small (the book selection is poor at best, but you can request books from within the county's system or even the city's county).
For such a small library, they have at least 6 computer terminals, and I'm always surprised they are always in use. Just glancing at the folks using them, it's IM applications to games to research. But they're always being used.
I'm always suprised and pleased to see it. I'm so used to taking the computers I have at home for granted, I can't imagine what life would be like not having one - but to the folks using them, I bet it's a godsend.
If this is the evolution of the public library, it can only be a good thing. The other posters comments about monitoring and tracking library patrons is quite concerning, and if students are using the internet for research, are they aware that everything you read on the internet isn't true?
Re:Libraries (Score:2)
Not everything printed in books is true either. The issue is that there is even less quality control on the Internet.
Internet Creates Urge for Information (Score:2, Interesting)
Before the internet, I didn't care much about much. Now I do, and the library has quenched my thirst.
From where I live... (Score:3, Informative)
Here's a tip, want to keep visitor nerds-types like me? Keep relatively modern books and journals. Nothing like seeing "how computers work" published in 1985 as the only computer related book they have....
Tom
Re:From where I live... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:From where I live... (Score:2)
Librarians have small budgets, and worry about getting the books that most people want.
The other problem with computer books is many librarians don't understand what makes a Library worthy computer book. Our college library was full of 'Learn Paradox in 21 days' type books. This was in 1999 when Paradox basically ceased to exist.
There are classic computer books that should be in every library. Books by Knuth, Tannenbaum, Foley, etc, that form the fundamentals of our knowledge about compu
Re:From where I live... (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact, I take ideas for collection development* from Slashdot (among other sources) and use the book reviews here as purchasing aids just as I do the NY Times book review and Library Journal.
However, libraries are ALWAYS looking for suggestions on what to buy in specific areas. My specialty is physics (I'm not a career librarian), so I've taken over collection development* in the sciences and maths, plus computer science and technology.
My suggestion: Go to your local library, look at the computer books available (they're right in the beginning of the Dewey numbers for Non-fiction, around 005-006). Look for the "holes" in the collection, and ancient materials. Then go to Amazon.com or your bookstore of choice, pick out some additions and replacement, write down the TITLE and ISBN and (if replacing) WHAT BOOK it replaces in the library.
Now, make a list of the severely out-of-date titles in the collection that should be removed and discarded. Remember that the library still needs to serve the patrons who are still running Win95 with Works 3.0. We, for instance, got rid of six of our eight copies of "Windows 95 For Dummies", but kept those two copies just in case someone needs them. The cutoff point right now was Win95, so anything Win3.11 or earlier was removed.
Now, take your list to the library. Don't just hand it to someone at the desk--ask to speak to the person who is in charge of purchasing non-fiction books in the 005-006 range. Give that person the list, and explain to them what you've done (reviewed the collection, made suggestions) and why it is important to buy those books.
If you do this, and do this in any area of your legitimate expertise (gardening, sci-fi, etc.) you will be a tremendous friend to your librarian. Sure, they'll eventually discard the old, and buy new titles when they see them reviewed--but you can make the process MUCH more efficient. Your suggestions might not
Jim
*collection development: deciding which books to throw away, which books to keep, and what books to buy.
Wow, even charity brings out the tinfoil hat (Score:2)
It just a coincidence that it's Bill Gates is the one who has the money to donate. As far as marketing goes, I am sure there are more cost effective ways to increase sales. And if you are that worried about it, start an OSS charity group to do the exact same thing.
I think Bill Gates just realized that extremely wealthy people that just collect billions and don't become philanthropists, are viewed in a nega
Great Alternative for Bookstores (Score:2)
At the going rate for a hardcover book nearing $30US, finding just a few books there instead of purchasing can save a decent amount of money.
The computer terminals are not really of value for people that would be reading here, but they are of significant value for many people without computers or of low income.
Computer terminals in public libraries are
Re:Great Alternative for Bookstores (Score:2)
After having children, I am getting tired of stuff everywhere. I am going back to borrowing books from the Library. I still buy lots of books, but not as many as before.
Additionally, every week or two we take out several books for the kids. This way they can be exposed to a wider range of literature than
CIPA (Score:5, Insightful)
Cliff Stoll, Silicon Snake Oil (Score:3, Informative)
In discussing public libraries and the internet, I'm reminded of Cliff Stoll's book [berkeley.edu] Silicon Snake Oil. In it, amongst other things he discusses that libraries that spend their money and time putting in computers for internet access aren't spending their money and time finding and buying new books for people. Thus, the library doesn't grow, it becomes a subsidized internet service provider.
Re:Cliff Stoll, Silicon Snake Oil (Score:2)
BTW, looks like the most recent edition available from Amazon is circa 1996. That's like 100 internet years
Re:Cliff Stoll, Silicon Snake Oil (Score:2)
Yes, I would say that having systems donated is taking that strain off the libraries, and therefore is a good thing.
I think that's about the time I first bought the book. Yes, it's a little outdated; howev
MaSked Marketer (Score:5, Insightful)
By the way, how often do corporate philanthropies NOT have marketing at their heart?
Linux Terminal Server Project (Score:3, Informative)
Not Windows XP - yuck.
Increasing literacy? (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh and the point someone mentioned about comp books in libraries being hopelessly out of date. Yes it can be pretty bad, plus, do they really need yet another book on their shelf on how to use Office?
Re:Increasing literacy? (Score:3, Insightful)
I agree with your concerns, but at the same time they are (in order with above) learning to read and type, solving the technical problems of getting around net nanny, and researching biographical information. Sure, it's pop culture, but the alternative activities for a 12yo would probably be TV or video games. And sooner or later they may get curious about all those shel
For those of you worried about reading books... (Score:2)
They haven't read the article. It says, "We draw them in with the computers," he said, and then try to convert them to reading books." The conversion tactic, he says, succeeds with perhaps 40 percent of the young people."
You need to have kids in the building to get the books to them.
As Someone Who Has Worked in Libraries... (Score:5, Interesting)
Now, as the economy is at an all time low, we've been seeing the same pattern. The usage of the library is increasing. Back when I was a page, the books that I noticed going over the desks very frequently were books on job hunting and resume writing. Now that I am in the IT department, I no longer have the opportunity to see what books are in high usage. However, I would hazard a guess that job boards and career networking web sites are prety high up there in internet usage, as would be e-mail (the top use from our perspective) and blogging. Where else can someone walk in, get access to the internet and begin to post their opinioons on politics, pop culture, business or whatever floats their boat? Free of charge? As an added bonus, many of us are placing wireless access points out there for the public. They are highly restricted to make certain that people can only use the web and read their e-mail (ports 80, 110, 143, https, etc...), but they are free access nonetheless.
Support your public library. They are really cool institutions and if their funding gets better, encourage them to grow their IT departments. I got my start in IT in a library and I've always seen libraries as a great place to start a career in IT. With the right attitude a lot of the smaller places are perfect for a high school graduate with computer skills or a college grad with a Comp. Sci. degree to start out and gain some really good experience.
Re:Totally OT (Score:3, Interesting)
Librarians are a funny bunch. They take pride in what they do and would find it stomach churning to even consider doing something like that. Sure, there are bad appels in every bunch, but I think that you would find a very small minority willing to play that kind of game in the library world.
What happens when all this information becomes digitized? Libraries clo
Microsoft Marketing Exercise? (Score:4, Interesting)
Amazon + Library = Goodness (Score:3, Interesting)
While the Gates Foundation may be nice.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Additionally, I wonder how much more effective local LUG support would be for helping the Library convert and maintain newer and older PCs as Linux boxes, either as thin clients for those machines that are too slow, or as full-blown workstations on those that aren't.
I think the we local LUGs could be much more effective than Bill and Melinda!
Library catalogs (Score:2)
internet access (Score:2, Interesting)
As
my hometown public library (Score:3, Informative)
The library has also seen an enormous rise in checkouts, primarily due to their stock of DVDs and videocassettes. Some of my friends who work there have implied that book checkouts are not so numerous, but they admit they don't know any actual revealing statistics. The New Books section is always receiving new items, the library is quickly respnsive to interlibrary loan requests, and I can request any book/video title for permanent addition (no guarantee they'll get it though).
So I'm pretty bullish about my local library. It's been valuable to me for many years, and I don't mind contributing a little money towards their efforts. Their existence is essential for many people who simply cannot afford the cost of technology and/or the printed word. I should also point out that my hometown doesn't have a bookstore worth squat, and the library is often the only place I can find certain titles.
Kudos to librarians ! They may yet stand as a last bastion of free access to information before Ashcroft & Co. (aka The Pious Bastards) are done dismantling the Constitution here...
Report from the Redmond library (Score:3, Informative)
The NYT and/or the University should also pay a visit to the Remdond branch of the King County Library, here in Micro$oft's backyard. I estimate they have about 50 internet surfboards running Windows XP Embedded. They've removed quite a few stacks of dead-tree books over the years to make room for more kiosks.
On a recent weekend trip to help my daughter with a school report, about an hour after opening, more than half of the workstations were unusable - clearly booted, but hung. While my daughter was writing notes, I rebooted several nearby workstations using CTRL-ALT-DEL. A woman with her child was power-cycling the ones in her area to help frustrated patrons. The librarians were busy restarting the ones near their desk, and obviously trying hard to spend time actually helping patrons find information instead of supporting the systems....
How sustainable is this? (Score:2)
This is all well and good, but would any of this exist if it weren't for the Gates Foundation? It's a bit unsettling to get too excited by a phenomenon which is being supported by a single source. As it is, people are getting something for free, so is it surprising there is an increase in traffic at the handout counter?
Another factor: online catalog access (Score:3, Insightful)
LIbraries safer than P2P & cheaper than Netfli (Score:3, Interesting)
Go on-line to library's website. Place as many CDs/DVDs as they let you on hold. Wait. Get an email telling you when the holds are in. Check them out and enjoy.
One district's library service even allows me to put holds in an "inactive" state, where I move up in the queue but don't get sent the item. This allows me to manage when I get the DVDs (i.e. season 2 doesn't arrive before season 1).
I have built a wonderful MP3 collection without much risk of the RIAA hunting me down (until I opened my mouth just now). Also, I have cancelled cable TV as I have hours upon hours of free DVDs to watch. Unlike the 5 days video rental places, the library gives me 3 weeks to watch the DVDs. I don't even browse the physical shelves anymore. I just search the library website, like I would Amazon.
The downside is that this has become so popular that 1 district (Portland, OR, USA) has started to limit the number of holds per patron to 15 at a time. Also, if your library's selection sucks (e.g. Chapill Hill, NC where my brother lives), you are SOL.
Re:Yup, it's just you (Score:2)
Re:Why public library? (Score:2)
I mean, if I have a choice between checking out the Chilton manual on my car or posting a question on thesamba.com, I'll do the latter. Computers are a useful tool to keep informed, they belong in a library.
And if more people use the library for the computers, then there