LITA NATIONAL CONFERENCEOCTOBER 17, 2008

PRESENTERS:LARRA CLARK

OFFICE FOR RESEARCH & STATISTICSWWW.ALA.ORG/PLINTERNETFUNDING

CARRIE LOWEOFFICE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY

WWW.ALA.ORG/OITP

State of Technology Access and Funding in U.S. Public Libraries

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Today’s Program

Background on Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study

Key findings and trends from study

Key learnings from OITP projects

Strategies in addressing barriers to technology access

Discussion/Q&A

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Background

The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study assesses public access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in U.S. public libraries, as well as the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability.

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Three-Part Study

Public Libraries & the Internet online survey

Focus groups and site visits

Annual high-level questionnaire to Chief Officers of State Library Agencies

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Current State of Technology

Public library branches, overall, have an average of 12 public access computers. Rural: 7.5 computers Suburban: 13.9 computers Urban: 21 computers

The average age of these computers is fairly evenly split. Less than one year old: average of 6.9 computers 2-3 years old: average of 7.1 computers Greater than 4 years old: average of 5.6 computers

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Current State of Technology

More than half of libraries (56.1%) have no plans to add public computers in the coming year.

The three leading factors influencing the addition of public computers are: Space (77.7%) Cost (75.9%) Availability of electrical, cabling or other infrastructure (36.4%)

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Current State of Technology

48% of libraries have no plans to replace computers in the coming year

42% of libraries do not have a schedule for replacing or adding computers Rural: 56.4% Suburban: 35.6% Urban: 15.6%

The most common replacement or addition schedule is every four years.

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Current State of Technology

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Current State of Technology

Two-thirds of libraries now offer wireless access. Rural: 56.6% Suburban: 72.1% Urban: 80.7%

Three-quarters of libraries offer wireless on the same connection used for public desktop computers, reducing the actual speed of access over the network.

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Current State of Technology

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Current State of Technology

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Current State of Funding

Effective technology planning requires detailed expenditure data.

Funding data indicate volatility in how libraries support public technology access.

Libraries rely as much on “other” sources of revenue as they do state and federal to pay for technology-related expenditures.

Library expenditures are shifting away from collections and staff toward “other” expenditures.

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Non-Tax Revenue

Average Percentage Technology-Related Expenditures from FY 2008 Non-Tax Revenue Sources by Type and Population Served

SalariesOutside Vendors

Hardware / Software Telecommunications

Less than 10,000 4.6% 17.7% 45.5% 21.8%

10,000 - 24,999 4.3% 4.5% 25.8% 11.7%

25,000 - 99,999 1.9% 9.0% 20.6% 4.7%

100,000 - 499,999 3.5% 16.7% 13.5% 6.6%

500,000 or more 0.0% 0.2% 8.6% 0.0%

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Non-tax revenue

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Non-tax revenue

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Changes in State Funding, 2007

Decreases No Change

Increases

11%+ 5-10% 3-4% 1-2% 1-2% 3-4% 5-10% 11%+ Totals

Midwest 1 0 0 0 3 3 1 1 3 12

Northeast 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 5

South 0 0 1 1 5 2 0 2 4 15

West 1 0 0 0 6 2 2 0 2 13

Totals 2 0 1 1 17 7 5 3 9 45

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Trends

Library infrastructure is being stretched to capacity.

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Staff

“The technology was brought in, and a whole new service created, without additional staff. It was just

double the work for no more money.”-- North Carolina library director

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Staff

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IT support

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Buildings

A majority of library buildings are 25-50 years old, and 40% of library buildings are estimated to be in fair or poor condition.

Fewer than 50% of public libraries benefit from capital revenue sources.

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Internet Services

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Solutions

Staff training

Pilot projects

Community engagement and problem-solving

Collaborating/partnering

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Connectivity Project

“The problem has become not basic connectivity, but obtaining and sustaining access to the Internet services and resources the public needs as the demands of the medium and its users grow rapidly.”Connectivity Report

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Connectivity Project

Eight Key Findings:

4. Lack of awareness of the role of libraries5. Need for higher bandwidth is exploding6. Aggregation and collaboration work7. A minimum bandwidth capacity is needed

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Connectivity Project

Eight Key Findings:

5. There is a need for planning tools6. There is a need for training and support7. There are multiple funding options8. There are viable models

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Connectivity Project: Focus

Aggregation and collaboration work

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Regional Library Cooperatives

• Model Building: Is there a model of RLC activity in broadband deployment?

• Challenges: What challenges do RLCs face in broadband deployment and use in libraries?

• Knowledge and Information Transfer: How can experience and knowledge be shared with other RLCs?

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RLCs: Model Building

Services: advising, aggregating, management and planning, technical support

Key Factors for Success: leadership, vision, advocacy, funding, training, more

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RLCs: Challenges

• Keeping up with bandwidth demands• Costs• E-rate• Keeping local staff trained

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RLCs: Sharing Knowledge

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Connectivity Project: Focus

Need for higher bandwidth is exploding

There is a need for planning tools

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Capacity Planning

• What is the relationship between network-based services and bandwidth needs for public libraries?

• How can libraries better manage their current bandwidth and plan for future capacity?

• What models exist for achieving adequate bandwidth capacity in the public library community?

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Capacity Planning: Definition

• What should the definition of broadband be in a public library context?

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Capacity Planning: Bandwidth

• What is the relationship between services provided and bandwidth needs?

• What is adequate bandwidth to support current and future network technologies?

• How does a library determine its bandwidth needs?• How can a library best manage its bandwidth?

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Capacity Planning: Policy and Market

• What is the actual broadband availability for libraries in the U.S.?

• How can libraries work with the telecom industry and regulators to promote a public access market?

• What is the role of E-rate?

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Capacity Planning: Models

• What models for capacity work best under what circumstances?

• What are the criteria for building successful capacity partnerships?

• What are the benefits of aggregating demand?

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Capacity Planning: Tools

• What planning tools would be helpful?• What actions might local, regional, or state library or

other organizations undertake to promote the high-speed connectivity of libraries?

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Connectivity Project: Focus

There are multiple funding models

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Encouraging E-rate Participation

• Training/Assistance• Communications/Advocacy• Better data

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