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1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 820, Washington, DC 20005-3522

Telephone: 202-606-9200; Fax: 202-606-9203; Web: www.nclis.gov

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, independent agency

of the federal government, established in 1970 with the enactment of Public Law 91-345. The

Commission is charged with:

• advising the President and the Congress on the implementation of policy;

• conducting studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and informational needs of the nation;

• appraising the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information resources and

services; and

• developing overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs.

The Commission also advises Federal, state, and local governments, and other public and private

organizations, regarding library and information sciences, including consultations on relevant treaties,

international agreements and implementing legislation, and it promotes research and development

activities which will extend and improve the nation's library and information handling capability as

essential links in the national and international networks

Jeanne Hurley Simon, Chair

Martha Gould, Vice Chair

C.E. “Abe” Abramson LeVar Burton Frank J. Lucchino

Walter Anderson Joan R. Challinor Bobby L. Roberts

Rebecca T. Bingham Mary S. Furlong Joel D. Valdez

José-Marie Griffiths

James H. Billington, Diane B. Frankel,

Librarian of Congress

Robert S. Willard

Director, Institute of Museum

& Library Services

Executive Director

Judith C. Russell

Deputy Director

The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in the body of this report are those of the U.S.

National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and not necessarily those of the

American Library Association or its members. The views, opinions and recommendations in the

appendices to this report are those of the contractors, Dr. John Carlo Bertot and Dr. Charles R.

McClure, and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of the research sponsors.

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U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

Moving toward more effective public Internet access: the 1998 national survey of public library outlet

Internet connectivity; a report based on research sponsored by the U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science and the American Library Association and conducted by John

Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1999.

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Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328

Stock Number 040-000-00718-1
United States National Commission on Libraries and Information Science

March 1999

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

The Vice President

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

The Speaker of the House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. President, Mr. Vice President and Mr. Speaker:

In fulfilling the Commission's statutory mission to advise the President and the Congress on

the library and information needs of the public, I am pleased to present Moving Toward More

Effective Public Internet Access: The 1998 National Survey of Public Library Outlet Internet

Connectivity. This report is based on research sponsored by the National Commission on Libraries

and Information Science and the American Library Association. The research was conducted at the

Commission's request to follow up on the 1997 survey of public libraries and the Internet, also cosponsored by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the American

Library Association. This report also uses information from the 1994, 1995 and 1996 studies

sponsored by the Commission on the same topic.

The 1998 survey is based on a sample of 2,500 of the nation's 15,718 public library outlets.

For purposes of this survey an outlet is a main or branch library (bookmobiles are excluded). The

survey found that 73.3% of public library outlets now offer public access to the Internet. However,

only 68.6% offer graphical public Internet access to the World Wide Web and only 45.3% offer

graphical public access to the Web at speeds of 56 kbps or greater.

The earlier surveys measured Internet access in approximately 8,900 public library systems.

A library system is a main library and its branches. From those surveys we know that 60.4% of

public library systems offered public Internet access in 1997, although only 52.1% offered graphical

public Internet access. This was up from 27.8% of library systems offering public Internet access in

1996, with only 23.7% able to provide graphical public Internet access.

Despite the change from a survey of public library systems to a survey of public library

outlets, we believe that the trend is clear and the progress is substantial. Nevertheless, the 1998

survey identified significant gaps that continue to concern us.
This report, Moving Toward More Effective Public Internet Access, raises pertinent questions

about unequal distribution of Internet access among libraries serving rural, suburban and urban

populations. It also addresses for the first time the concept of effective public Internet access,

including access to the World Wide Web on workstations with sufficient capability and at speeds of

56 kbps or greater, as well as having a sufficient number of workstations for the population to be

served.

In the Commission's letter to the President transmitting the results of the first survey of public

libraries and the Internet in June 1994, we stated:

The Commission is concerned that public libraries offer advanced

telecommunications and information services that benefit local communities. Just as

they have offered open access to recorded knowledge since the earliest days of our

nation's history, public libraries have a vital role in assuring that advanced

information services are universally available to all segments of the population on an

equitable basis.

We know that each of you share our commitment to the critical role of public libraries in

assuring broad public participation in the networked environment, and we deeply appreciate your

repeated actions and statements confirming that commitment.

This report is transmitted to show the progress we have made toward your goal of having

every public library in America connected to the Internet by the year 2000. It also shows the progress

we still must make, not just to connect every library, but to make every library a source of effective

public Internet access.

Thank you again for your continued interest in and attention to networked information

services for all citizens of this nation through libraries and schools.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Hurley Simon

Chairperson
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List of Figures and Tables .....................................................................................................................ii

Executive Summary..............................................................................................................................iii

Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................ v

Moving Toward More Effective Public Internet Access: ...................................................................... 1

I. Background................................................................................................................................. 1

1. Telecommunications Act of 1996, Universal Service, and Public Libraries........................... 1

2. Public Policy Debate ............................................................................................................... 2

3. Information Technology, Internet, and the Digital Economy.................................................. 2

4. Public Libraries as a Public Point of Internet Presence........................................................... 4

II. Results of the 1998 National Survey of Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity................. 4

1. Availability of Public Internet Access..................................................................................... 5

2. Public Internet Access for Areas with Varying Levels of Poverty.......................................... 6

3. Public Internet Access for Urban, Suburban and Rural Areas ................................................ 7

4. Graphical Public Internet Access ............................................................................................ 7

5. Bandwidth as a Component of Public Internet Access............................................................ 8

6. Defining Effective Public Internet Access .............................................................................. 9

7. Key Measures Connectivity and Public Internet Access, 1996-1998.................................... 10

8. Number of Graphical Workstations as a Component of Effective Access............................ 11

9. Use of Filtering Software and Availability of an Acceptable Use Policy for

 Public Internet Access ....................................................................................................... 12

III. Findings, Policy Issues, and Commission Responses ........................................................... 14

1. Supporting Ongoing Surveys on Public Libraries and the Internet....................................... 14

2. Initiating a Dialog on Effective Public Internet Access ........................................................ 15

3. Identifying Policy Questions and Promoting Additional Research....................................... 15

IV. Bibliography of Other Statistical Studies Funded by the Commission ................................. 17

Appendix A: The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet

 Connectivity; Summary Results, October 1998.............................................................................A-1

Appendix B: Survey Instrument ....................................................................................................... B-1

Appendix C: Survey Methodology ................................................................................................... C-1

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... C-3

1998 Study Survey Methodology................................................................................................... C-3

Outlet Geocoding by Metropolitan Status and Poverty.................................................................. C-5

Appendix D: Survey Results.............................................................................................................D-1

Survey Universe: Figure 1 .............................................................................................................D-3

Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity and Public Access: Figures 2 through 13 .................D-4

Public Library Outlet Type Of Public Access Services: Figures 14 through 22 .........................D-16

Maximum Speed Of Public Access: Figures 23 through 42 .......................................................D-25

Special Software/Hardware For Persons With Disabilities, Filtering Software, and

 Acceptable Use Policies For Public Access Internet Services: Figures 43 through 56...........D-45
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— ii —

Appendix E: Contractor's Analysis of the Survey Results ................................................................E-1

Executive Summary........................................................................................................................E-3

Key Findings ..................................................................................................................................E-3

Background ....................................................................................................................................E-5

Terms and Context .........................................................................................................................E-6

Comparisons to Earlier Data...........................................................................................................E-6

Themes and Implications from the 1998 Findings .........................................................................E-7

Linking Data to Policy Debates and Strategic Planning.................................................................E-9

Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................E-9

References ....................................................................................................................................E-10

/,672)),*85(6

Figure 1: Public Library Universes Under Study ........................................................................... 4

Figure 2: Public Library Internet Connectivity .............................................................................. 5

Figure 3: Public Internet Access in Public Libraries...................................................................... 6

Figure 4: Public Internet Access by Service Area Poverty Levels................................................. 6

Figure 5: Public Internet Access by Service Area Location........................................................... 7

Figure 6: Graphical Internet Access in Public Libraries ................................................................ 8

Figure 7: Fastest Speed of Internet Access in Public Libraries...................................................... 9

Figure 8: Progress Toward Effective Public Internet Access....................................................... 10

Figure 9: U.S. Public Libraries and the Internet 1996 To 1998 ................................................... 11

Figure 10: Number of Graphical Internet Workstations for Public Access in Libraries .............. 11

Figure 11: Status of Acceptable Use Policies and Internet Filtering Software in Public

 Libraries .................................................................................................................. 13
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— iii —

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Moving Toward More Effective Public Internet Access: The 1998 National Survey of Public Library

Outlet Internet Connectivity is a report on research sponsored by the U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science and the American Library Association. The research was

conducted to follow up on the 1997 survey of public libraries and the Internet, also co-sponsored by

the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the American Library

Association. The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in the body of this report are those

of the Commission, and not necessarily those of the American Library Association or its members.

Dr. John Carlo Bertot, with the School of Information Science and Policy at the State University of

New York, Albany, conducted the survey and processed the results in collaboration with Dr. Charles

R. McClure of the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University. The views, opinions and

recommendations in the appendices to this report are theirs and do not necessarily reflect the official

position or policy of the research sponsors.

The 1998 survey is based on a sample of 2,500 of the nation's 15,718 public library outlets. For

purposes of this survey an outlet is a main or branch library (bookmobiles are excluded). The survey

found that:

• A substantial number of public library outlets have Internet connectivity (83.6%), provide

public Internet access (73.3%), and offer graphical public Internet access (68.6%). However,

only 45.3% offer graphical public access to the World Wide Web at speeds of 56 kbps or

greater.

• Although the poverty level of the population served does not seem to be a significant factor in

determining the availability of public Internet access, metropolitan status does: rural libraries

lag behind other types of libraries in providing Internet access. Only 67.6% of rural public

libraries offer public Internet access which places these libraries 9.1% behind suburban

libraries and 16.4% behind urban libraries.

• Nearly one-third (31.4%) of the library outlets currently offer no graphical public Internet

access. 28.3% of the outlets have only one graphic workstation for public Internet access and

14.3% have only two graphic workstations. More needs to be learned about what constitutes

an adequate number of public access Internet workstations in a library. Nevertheless, in many

libraries, one graphic workstation for public Internet access is likely to be inadequate to meet

public needs.

• The Commission believes that achieving universal Internet connectivity is not enough.

Libraries need to implement effective public Internet access, offering graphic capability, as

well as sufficient speed, workstation functionality, and staff support to meet local needs.

The Commission understands that questions regarding effective public Internet access will require

dialog among a number of parties. Since there are a variety of perspectives that federal agencies and

departments can bring to bear on this question, the Commission will coordinate within the federal

sector to assess what constitutes a minimal level of effective public Internet access. Based on this
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— iv —

assessment, the Commission will advise the President and the Congress about the types and levels of

support necessary to achieve effective public Internet access.

The Commission recognizes that the advent of the discount rate for telecommunications services

authorized by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, popularly known as the E-Rate, and the

importance of the Internet as a national resource ensure that questions about effective public Internet

access will continue to be debated at the federal level for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the

Commission feels strongly that these questions remain primarily issues for local assessment and

decision-making. To be successful, current and future national programs for public Internet access,

such as the E-Rate, need to be based on guidelines for effective public Internet access that allow for

the wide variation in local resources and requirements. For these reasons, the Commission will lead a

dialog among state and local governments about how to implement and measure effective public

Internet access in light of varying local conditions, including the degree of existing Internet access

among the populations served.

The Commission will continue its support for the annual National Survey of Public Libraries and the

Internet to track the evolving state of public Internet access and the implementation of the goals of

universal service for public library Internet access.
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— v —

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The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) gratefully

acknowledges our partner in funding the research on which this report is based, the American Library

Association Office for Information Technology Policy (ALA-OITP).

As with any research project of this scope, there are a number of individuals whose participation

contributed greatly to the success of this effort. Dr. John Carol Bertot, with the School of Information

Science and Policy at the State University of New York, Albany, conducted the survey and processed

the results in collaboration with Dr. Charles R. McClure of the School of Information Studies,

Syracuse University. Dr. Dean Jue of Florida State University provided geocoded data for

identification of the library outlets and contributed to the development of the study methodology.

Andrew Magpantay, then with the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, also provided

guidance and suggestions for the development of the study and for presentation of the data. At the

Commission, Judy Russell and Howard Harris reviewed the data and made recommendations for

specific analyses as well as preparing this report for publication.

Of course, the Commission also wishes to thank those public librarians who completed the survey.

The information they contributed has made it possible to obtain a valuable snapshot of public library

Internet service immediately prior to issuance of the first E-Rate funding authorized by the

Telecommunications Act of 1996.
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The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) has a long-standing interest

in library statistics. Since 1988 NCLIS has maintained a partnership with the National Center for

Education Statistics (NCES) focused on collecting and reporting statistics regarding libraries of

various types across the United States. In addition, since 1994 NCLIS has tracked the increasing use

of the Internet among public libraries.1

 At first NCLIS supported these studies solely with its own

resources. In 1997 and 1998 the survey was funded jointly by NCLIS and the American Library

Association (ALA) Office of Information Technology Policy.2

 In each case, the contractors for the

research were John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure.

3

National surveys of U.S. public libraries and the Internet were done in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 1998

during a period in which the Internet has undergone tremendous growth in terms of users, accessible

information content, and range of services. The 1998 National Survey of Public Library Outlet

Connectivity was conducted between April and June 1998, against the backdrop of pending universal

service support for telecommunications services including Internet access in schools and public

libraries. The findings of the 1998 survey provide a very useful baseline of data about public library

Internet connectivity prior to the availability of universal service funding.

 7HOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV$FWRI8QLYHUVDO6HUYLFHDQG3XEOLF/LEUDULHV

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 the U.S. Congress recognized the growth of the Internet and

the significance of providing individual citizens with access to Internet information content and

services. In that legislation the U.S. Congress acknowledged, “the rapidly developing array of

Internet and other interactive computer services available to individuals Americans...[as] an

extraordinary advance in the availability of educational and informational resources to our citizens”

[47 U.S.C. 230]. The Congress also acknowledged the special role of elementary and secondary

schools, public libraries, and health care providers in conveying public access to these resources by

providing discounted telecommunications services under a program of universal service originally

established as a part of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 254h].

 

1

 A bibliography of the reports in this series is available in Section IV.

2

 The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in the body of this report (Sections I through IV)) are those of the

Commission, not necessarily those of the American Library Association or its members.

3

 Dr. John Carol Bertot, now with the School of Information Science and Policy at the State University of New York,

Albany, conducted the 1998 survey and processed the results in collaboration with Dr. Charles R. McClure of the School of

Information Studies, Syracuse University. The views, opinions and recommendations in the appendices to this report are

theirs and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of the research sponsors.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— 2 —

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 recognizes universal service as “an evolving level of

telecommunications services that the [FCC] shall establish periodically under this section, taking into

account advances in telecommunications and information technologies and services.” The legislation

created the Joint Federal State Board on Universal Service and directs the Board and the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) “to consider the extent to which such telecommunication

services,” among other criteria “are essential to education, public health, or public safety” in

establishing the definition of universal service.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 also directs the Joint Federal State Board on Universal Service

and the FCC to base forthcoming policies for the preservation and advancement of universal service

on a set of principles that provide some insight into the goals of the program. Among these principles

are:

• Access to advanced services in all regions of the nation;

• Access in rural and high cost areas; and

• Access to advanced telecommunications services for schools, health care, and libraries. [47

U.S.C. 254b]

For eligible schools and libraries, the mechanism for implementation of universal service established

under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is through a discount program to assist with the costs of

Internet and other telecommunications services. Discounts range from 20 to 90% based on need. The

discount rate is popularly called the Equity Rate or “E-Rate” because it will provide equitable access

for all communities.

 3XEOLF3ROLF\'HEDWH

As plans have moved forward to implement universal service for schools and libraries, a wideranging public discussion of policy issues related to schools, public libraries, and universal service

has begun. From some quarters questions have emerged about the need for universal service support

for schools and libraries and about the impact that information technology and Internet access can

make upon teaching and learning. Other questions have arisen about the mechanisms for assessing

and distributing Universal Service Fund support. In addition, some concerns have been raised about

appropriate types of safeguards to regulate the content to which adults and children may gain access

via the Internet in schools and libraries. Some of these issues may reach resolution in the near term;

debate about others may persist for a very long time.

Whether or not the incorporation of information technology in general or of the Internet in particular

within the school curriculum has a direct, singular, and positive effect upon student academic

performance is a question that will occupy researchers for some time. However, the role which the

Internet and information technology play in the overall U.S. economy has become much clearer

during the last year. Even more importantly a growing understanding has emerged about the need for

education and training for students, the workforce, consumers, and the public in general to function

within a rapidly changing technology-based economy and to assist in sustaining its continued growth.

 ,QIRUPDWLRQ7HFKQRORJ\,QWHUQHWDQGWKH'LJLWDO(FRQRP\

According to The Emerging Digital Economy,

4

 information technology and the Internet have begun to

exert a great influence on the U.S. economy in recent years. This Commerce Department study states

 

4 The Emerging Digital Economy, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, April 1998, p. 1-8,

http://www.doc.gov/ecommerce/emerging.htm.

.
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— 3 —

that within four years of its arrival in the open market 50 million people had begun to use the

Internet’s resources. Radio took 38 years to reach this level of penetration. Television reached 50

million viewers in 13 years. Sixteen years after the appearance on the market of the first PC kit, the

microcomputer had claimed 50 million users. This study estimates that in recent years the information

technology sector as a whole has contributed close to 15% of total nominal U.S. Gross Domestic

Product, has lowered the overall inflation rate by one full percentage point, and has accounted for

more than one-quarter of real U.S. economic growth. In 1996 the information technology sector

represented 45% of all business equipment investments and it currently employs 7.4 million people at

salaries and wages 64% higher than average salaries and wages in the private sector as a whole.

These perspectives on computing, communication, and the Internet do not yet take into account the

rapidly emerging global marketplace of electronic Internet-based commerce. Electronic commerce

among businesses is projected to exceed $300 billion worth of sales by 2002. For retail sales using

electronic commerce the potential market of those who use the Internet is expected by some experts

to grow from 100 million in 1998 to one billion by 2005.

These measures of the effect of the digital economy on overall U.S. economic well being have

profound implications for efforts to assist all segments of the U.S. population in accessing and

utilizing these technologies. Everyone needs to learn how to discern the value, accuracy, and

usefulness of information content conveyed via the Internet. For young people obtaining the

education, training, and skills needed to participate in the digital economy represents a high priority.

For consumers and those in the workforce learning to make informed choices within the wider and

wider array of information available through the Internet, including products, services, employment

opportunities, and entertainment, is an important issue. For senior citizens knowledge of how to use

various information technologies has significant impact in their efforts to communicate with distant

family and friends as well as to identify, evaluate, and exercise options about healthcare, insurance,

investments, personal interests, part-time employment, and volunteer work.5

Two recent studies highlight the gaps between our national aspirations for this new digital economy

and the reality of those who remain isolated from participating in this sector of the economy.

Bridging the Racial Divide on the Internet6

 documents gaps in personal computer ownership and

Internet access and use between African Americans and Caucasians as students and as members of

the workforce. Some of the policy points made by the authors that appear relevant for libraries

include the findings and recommendations that:

• African American students need multiple points of Internet access;

• Educational levels positively influence computer access and Web (Internet) use; and

• Access to Internet accessible workstations in multiple locations translates into greater

likelihood of using the Web (Internet).

The second study, Falling through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide7

 represents work

undertaken by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a follow-up to a similar study in 1994. Despite

the Commerce Department’s finding of significantly increased computer and modem ownership and

 

5

 Presentation of Jeanne Hurley Simon, Chairperson, National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, at the

Forum: The Internet: Empowering Older Americans, Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate, July 16, 1998,

http://www.nclis.gov/what/speeches/aging.html.

6 Thomas P. Novak and Donna L. Hoffman, "Bridging the Racial Divide on the Internet: The Impact of Race on Computer

Access and Internet Use, Science, 280, April 17, 1998, p. 380 and following. A longer version of the paper is available at

http://129.59.210.73/papers/race/science.html.

7 Falling through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide, National Telecommunications and Information Agency, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, July 1998, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/falling.html.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— 4 —

Internet use between 1994 and 1997, that study finds a persistent and widening gap in penetration of

these technologies between income groups, racial groups, and other demographic groups. According

to this Commerce Department study “the least connected” include:

• The rural poor;

• Rural and central city minorities;

• Young households; and

• Female-headed households.

Both studies identify geographic and demographic groups that lag with respect to Internet access and

emphasize the need for schools, libraries, and community-based access centers (CACs) to provide

access to computers and the Internet for those who otherwise lack such access. These studies also

emphasize the value that access to computers and the Internet from more than one location (e.g.,

home, work, school, and library) can have in developing information technology skills and

encouraging the use of those skills.

 3XEOLF/LEUDULHVDVD3XEOLF3RLQWRI,QWHUQHW3UHVHQFH

Based upon recent research, the public library already serves as an important public point of Internet

presence and access, which suggests that the library might play a role in bridging the gaps in Internet

access which other researchers have identified. The 2nd Annual MCI LibraryLINK® study8

 released

in April 1998 found that the public library represents the first choice among a number of other

locations as a public point of Internet access outside of home, school, and work. The 3,241

respondents to the survey who used the Internet during the prior six months represented 80.0 million

people aged 16 or older in the U.S. and Canada. 15.6 % of those respondents, representing 12.5

million people, reported using the Internet from a location other than home, work, or school. 44.7%

of those who used the Internet from a location other than home, work, or school used the Internet

from a public library. This means that approximately 5.6 million individuals accessed the Internet

through public libraries in the six months prior to the survey.

,, 5HVXOWV RI WKH  1DWLRQDO 6XUYH\ RI 3XEOLF /LEUDU\ 2XWOHW ,QWHUQHW

&RQQHFWLYLW\

The 1998 National Survey of Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity was conducted from April

through June 1998 by John Carlo Bertot and

Charles R. McClure. It was co-sponsored by

the Office for Information Technology Policy

of the American Library Association and the

National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science. The 1998 study builds

and expands upon public library Internet data

as reported in the 1997 ALA/NCLIS study

and the 1994 and 1996 NCLIS research. A

sample of 2,500 of the nation's 15,718 public

library outlets was selected for this survey.

The sample was weighted to represent public

libraries servicing areas with varying degrees

 

8

 The MCI Library Link study results are available at http://www.mci.com/librarylink/study.htm.

FIGURE 1

PUBLIC LIBRARY UNIVERSES

UNDER STUDY

1996 8,929 Library Systems

1997 8,921 Library Systems

1998 15,718 Library Outlets
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— 5 —

of poverty as well as those with urban, suburban, and rural locations. The survey achieved a response

rate of 75.5%.

9

Earlier NCLIS studies about the library as a point of presence for public Internet access focused on

the level of connectivity in place among

library systems. A library system consists of

a single, independent library or a main library

with one or more branch locations or other

types of outlets for service, such as a

bookmobile. As shown in Figure 1, there are

approximately 8,900 library systems in the

U.S.10 The 1998 National Survey of Public

Library Outlet Internet Connectivity departs

from the previous surveys in this series by

focusing on the level of Internet connectivity

at library outlets. For purposes of the 1998

survey, a library outlet is either a main library

or a branch, excluding bookmobiles. As shown in Figure 1, there are 15,718 public library outlets in

the U.S. covered by the survey.11

Within this report, the terms “library outlet(s)” and “library(ies)” will be used interchangeably, and

the term “library system(s)” will always be used when referencing data from the earlier surveys.

Also, unless otherwise specified, references to library(ies) will mean public library(ies).

Comparisons between the results of the 1998 survey and previous surveys must be done with great

caution due to the differences in universe size and library type under study.12 The 1998 percentages

may be the result of new Internet access for library systems that previously reported no Internet

service, or it may result from library systems that had reported Internet service in the main library in

prior years that have now extended Internet service to additional outlets. It is probably a combination

of both, but the 1998 survey was not designed to collect that data. Despite the differences, these three

surveys depict a substantial increase in public library Internet connectivity: from 44.4% in 1996 and

72.3% in 1997 for public library systems to 83.6% in 1998 for public library outlets as shown in

Figure 2.13

 $YDLODELOLW\RI3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

The library connectivity reported in Figure 2, however, is not a measure of public Internet access,

since it includes libraries that are connected to the Internet exclusively for staff use. Availability of

public access to the Internet lags behind connectivity by 10.3%. Figure 3 shows that 27.8% of public

library systems had public Internet access in place in 1996. By 1997 60.4% of public library systems

 

9

 The survey instrument is available in Appendix B. The survey methodology is described in Appendix C.

10 Bertot, J.C., and McClure, C. R., The 1997 National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet: Final Report, American

Library Association, Office for Information Technology Policy, Washington, DC, 1997, page 8; and Bertot, J.C., and

McClure, C.R., The 1996 National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet: Progress and Issues, U.S. National

Commission on Libraries and Information Science, Washington, DC, 1996, page 6.

11 Based on Appendix D, Figure 1: Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status and Poverty. According to NCES data on

public library outlets, there are 16,792 public library outlets, of which 894 are bookmobiles. After subtracting the 894

bookmobiles and addressing other issues encountered by the study team, it was possible to geocode 15,718 outlets.

12 A bar appears between the 1996 and 1997 data and the 1998 data in each Figure that compares the three surveys in order

to emphasize the difference between the survey universes and library types.

13 Based on Appendix D, Figure 2: Public Library Outlets Connected to the Internet (As a Percentage of All Library outlets).

FIGURE 2

PUBLIC LIBRARY

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

1996 44.4% Library Systems

1997 72.3% Library Systems

1998 83.6% Library Outlets
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— 6 —

offered public Internet service. In the current

survey 73.3% of all library outlets, including

independent or main libraries and branch

libraries, provide public Internet access.14

Historically, providing access to advanced

communications and information services to

individuals at various levels of income has

been an important national goal. This is

reaffirmed by provisions of the Telecommunications Act making the availability of

advanced communications and information

services throughout the U.S. one objective of

universal service. Public libraries are the traditional means of assuring broad public access to

information services, without regard to income. Figure 3 shows that there has been remarkable

progress toward assuring the availability of some level of free public Internet access through

America’s public libraries in the past two years, before the release of the E-Rate funds authorized by

the Telecommunications Act. However, based on the results of the 1998 survey, the Commission

concludes that it is too soon to congratulate ourselves for a job well done. There is much work still to

be done to define and achieve effective public Internet access for all Americans.

 3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVVIRU$UHDVZLWK9DU\LQJ/HYHOVRI3RYHUW\

The 1998 survey represents the

first attempt to examine library

connectivity by geographic coding

of each outlet as urban, suburban,

or rural15 and to understand the

disparities in public access to the

Internet among libraries in these

locations. The 1998 survey also

makes a first attempt to study

library Internet connectivity in

terms of the relative concentration

of poverty within the area

surrounding the library. For

purposes of the 1998 survey that

area consisted of the population

within a one mile radius from an

urban library outlet and within a

three or ten mile radius of an outlet

in a suburban or rural location,

respectively.16

 

14 Based on Appendix D, Figure 3: Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of

All Library Outlets).

15 This terminology represents an informal notation for the formal statistical categories provided in Appendix C.

16 This radius is not necessarily all, or even within, the library outlet’s service area. For example, a suburban branch library

less than three miles from a city boundary may not be responsible for servicing city residents, but the relative poverty of

those residents will be calculated in the geocoding of that outlet location.

FIGURE 3

PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS

IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

1996 27.8% Library Systems

1997 60.4% Library Systems

1998 73.3% Library Outlets

79.5%

73.2% 72.8%

50.0%

55.0%

60.0%

65.0%

70.0%

75.0%

80.0%

85.0%

Poverty Less

than 20%

Poverty Betw een

20% and 40%

Poverty Greater

than 40%

73.3% 

Average

FIGURE 4

PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS BY

SERVICE AREA POVERTY LEVELS
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— 7 —

Results from the 1998 survey show little variation in public Internet access when comparing libraries

with differing poverty levels in the surrounding area, although libraries with poverty levels of more

than 40% have a marginally higher level of public Internet access than libraries with a lesser degree

of poverty. As shown in Figure 4, 73.2% of public libraries with poverty levels less than 20% in their

surrounding area offer public Internet access.17 By comparison, 72.8% of public libraries with

poverty levels between 20% and 40% offer public Internet access, and 79.5% of libraries with poverty

levels of more than 40% offer such access. Overall, in 1998 public libraries achieved a 73.3% level

of public Internet access availability.

 3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVVIRU8UEDQ6XEXUEDQDQG5XUDO$UHDV

A substantial difference does exist

with respect to public Internet

access through public libraries in

terms of metropolitan status. As

shown in Figure 5, in 1998 84.0%

of urban public libraries and 76.7%

of suburban libraries offered public

Internet access while only 67.6%

of rural public libraries offered

such access.18 These percentages

reflect a significant difference with

respect to public Internet access.

The finding that public Internet

access in rural areas lags

significantly behind that found in

urban and suburban areas is

consistent with findings regarding

the state of individual Internet

access as reported by the

Commerce Department.19 Lagging

wireline telecommunications infrastructure and a less competitive telecommunications market both

may contribute to such a lower overall level of access. Suburban and urban libraries situated in more

densely populated areas benefit from better access to traditional wireline telecommunications

infrastructure and from greater competition among potential service providers.

Suburban and urban libraries also benefit from participation in “library systems” where multiple

library outlets share a larger service area and a larger financial base. In such situations, a central

decision to put public Internet access in place often results in a number of outlets gaining Internet

access. By contrast, rural libraries are more likely to consist of a single library outlet and to have less

financial resources.

 *UDSKLFDO3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

Increasingly Internet access has come to mean graphical Internet access such as that which users

experience via the World Wide Web – with the availability of pictures, sound and even video. While

 

17 Based on Appendix D, Figure 4: Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library

outlets).

18 Based on Appendix D, Figure 3: Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of

All Library Outlets).

19 Falling through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide, National Telecommunications and Information Agency, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, July 1998, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/falling.html.

FIGURE 5

PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS BY

SERVICE AREA METROPOLITAN STATUS

67.6%

76.7%

84.0%

50.0%

55.0%

60.0%

65.0%

70.0%

75.0%

80.0%

85.0%

Urban Suburban Rural

73.3% 

Average
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— 8 —

this type of public Internet access has

increased substantially over time, graphical

public Internet access lags behind overall

public Internet access in public library outlets

by nearly 5%.

As shown in Figure 6, in 1996 23.7% of

public library systems offered graphical

Internet access to users. The number of

public library systems providing graphical

Internet access to users more than doubled by

1997, reaching 52.1%. In 1998 68.6% of all

public library outlets had implemented

graphical Internet access for the public.20

While the percentage of library outlets connected to the Internet in 1998 stands at 83.6% (Figure 2)

and the level of library outlets with public Internet access is 73.3% (Figure 3), the level of library

outlets with graphical public access to the World Wide Web is only 68.6% (Figure 6). The 4.7% of

library outlets that offer public Internet access without graphical Internet workstations cannot provide

public access to the very capabilities that for many have come to define the Internet experience.

 %DQGZLGWKDVD&RPSRQHQWRI3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

Speed of connection (bandwidth) has become an increasingly important component of Internet

service as information services have improved to take advantage of the newest technology and

software. With each advance in the speed of a user’s Internet connection, new services, applications,

and resources become possible, and users without high speed connections do not have the capability

to make effective use of these new developments. At present, a speed of 56 kbps represents the state

of the consumer marketplace in terms of modem technology. Being able to connect at 56 kbps allows

users to make effective use of graphic and multimedia content on the World Wide Web.21

The 1998 survey inquired about the maximum speed of the Internet connection available for public

access in the responding library.22 As shown in Figure 7,23 the 68.6% of public library outlets that

offer graphical public Internet access are fairly evenly distributed among those that offer speeds less

than 56 kbps (22% of all public library outlets), those that offer 56 kbps Internet access (21.9%) and

those that offer speeds greater than 56 kbps (23.7%).24 The remaining 1% of the libraries offering

graphical public Internet access either did not respond to the survey question or did not identify a

specific speed.

 

20 Based on Appendix D, Figure 17: Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Graphical Workstations for Public Internet

Access by metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Public Library Outlets).

21 Effective speed may be significantly different for a 56 kbps dial-up connection dedicated to a single workstation than for

a 56 kbps leased line shared by multiple workstations. The effective speed of a shared connection varies with the number of

workstations in use and is also affected by the age and configuration of those workstations.

22 Survey Instrument, Question 5, Appendix B.

23 Percentages of graphical public access are based on Appendix D, Figure 41: Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical

Public Internet Access by Speed of Connection and Metropolitan Status (As A Percentage of All Public Library Outlets).

The other percentages are based on Appendix D, Figure 3: Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan

Status (As A Percentage of All Public Library Outlets) and Figure 17. Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Graphical

Workstations for Public Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

24 Based on Appendix D, Figure 41: Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed of

Connection and Metropolitan Status (As A Percentage of All Public Library Outlets). Percentages are adjusted to reflect

the non-respondents and those who provided "other" answers.

FIGURE 6

GRAPHICAL INTERNET ACCESS

IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

1996 23.7% Library Systems

1997 52.1% Library Systems

1998 68.6% Library Outlets
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— 9 —

FIGURE 7

MAXIMUM SPEED OF INTERNET ACCESS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

 'HILQLQJ(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

For individuals establishing personal Internet access in mid-1998, effective Internet access implies a

56 kbps connection to the Internet as well as a computer workstation with sufficient hardware and

software capability to support graphic access to the World Wide Web. The Commission believes that

effective public Internet access in a library in 1998 has similar requirements: an appropriately

equipped computer workstation available for public access to the World Wide Web, with bandwidth

from the workstation to the Internet of at least 56 kbps. In the library setting there is, however, one

additional requirement — an adequate number of workstations for the population served. As shown

in Figure 8, between April and June of 1998 only 45.6% of public library outlets had graphical public

Internet access at 56 kbps or greater at one or more workstations.25

 

25 Based on Appendix D, Figure 41: Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed of

Connection and Metropolitan Status (As A Percentage of All Public Library Outlets). Percentages are adjusted to reflect

the non-respondents and those who provided "other" answers. The survey instrument did not inquire about other

characteristics of the library workstations that would affect their performance.

16.4%

10.3%

4.7%

22.0%

21.9%

23.7%

1.0%

68.6%

Not Connected (16.4%)

Connected, No Public Access (10.3%)

Connected, No Graphical Public Access (4.7%)

Graphical Public Access Below 56Kbps (22.0%)

Graphical Public Access at 56Kbps (21.9%)

Graphical Public Access Above 56Kbps (23.7)

Graphical Public Access Speed Unknown (1.0%)
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— 10 —

FIGURE 8

PROGRESS TOWARD EFFECTIVE PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS

Thus, although the 1998 survey shows levels of connectivity and public Internet access at 83.6%

(Figure 2) and 73.3% (Figure 3) respectively, and the level of graphical public Internet access at

68.6% (Figure 6), less than half of all public libraries offered graphical public Internet access at

speeds of 56 kbps or greater — the minimum configuration currently necessary for effective public

Internet access in the view of the Commission.

At the time of the survey, any speed less than 56 kbps certainly represented access using a dial-up

modem configuration. Some of the 56 kbps access could be dial up connections through modems or

modem pools as well. For libraries, use of a dial-up connection may pose additional barriers to

effective public Internet access. In many locations libraries incur per call or per minute charges for

business phone lines. In cases where such charges exist, public Internet access may need to be reestablished for each user via a dial-up connection in order to avoid the high cost of a connection

which remains in place throughout the day. Such an arrangement may restrict or hinder access in a

number of ways -- from library concern about the duration of a user’s Internet session due to financial

constraints to the need for staff assistance to dial-out with attendant issues of user privacy.

 .H\0HDVXUHV&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

Figure 9 summarizes some of the key measures of connectivity and public Internet access tracked by

the surveys sponsored or co-sponsored by NCLIS in 1996, 1997, and 1998. As noted at the beginning

of Section II, comparisons between the 1998 survey and the earlier surveys must be done with great

caution due to the differences in universe size and library type under study in each year. 26 The earlier

NCLIS studies about the library as a point of presence for public Internet access focused on the level

of connectivity in place among library systems, while the 1998 survey focuses on the level of

 

26 A bar appears between the 1996 and 1997 data and the 1998 data in the Table in order to emphasize the difference

between the survey universes and library types.

100.0%

83.6%

73.3%

68.6%

45.6%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

Public Library

Outlets

Internet

Connection

Public Internet

Access

Graphic Public

Internet Access

56K or Above

Graphic Public

Internet Access
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

— 11 —

connectivity among library outlets. Even allowing for these differences, Figure 9 clearly shows

substantial growth in connectivity, public Internet access and graphical public Internet access.

FIGURE 9

U.S. PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THE INTERNET 1996 TO 199827

Year Universe28 Connected

Public

Internet

Access

WWW/

Graphic

Access

Max Speed

56K or Greater

Maximum

Speed

Less than 56K

1996 8,929 44.4% 27.8% 23.1%

1997 8,921 72.3% 60.4% 52.1%

1998 15,945 83.6% 73.3% 68.6% 45.3% 54.7%

 1XPEHURI*UDSKLFDO:RUNVWDWLRQVDVD&RPSRQHQWRI(IIHFWLYH$FFHVV

The 1998 survey also provided the basis for additional insights into the numbers of Internet

workstations in public libraries. Figure 9 shows that 31.4% of all library outlets do not have any

graphical public access to the Internet.29 At an additional 28.3% of library outlets only a single

graphical Internet workstation is available for public access. Stated another way, in only 40.3% of

public library outlets do patrons have graphic access to the Internet at more than one workstation. In

terms of future research, gaining a better understanding of how the number of public Internet access

workstations relates to the population of the library’s service area is a high priority since it would

contribute to a more accurate measurement of effective public Internet access. Nevertheless, the

Commission believes that it is safe to assume that a single workstation is inadequate for effective

public Internet access in many of these library outlets.

FIGURE 10

NUMBER OF GRAPHICAL INTERNET WORKSTATIONS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IN LIBRARIES

 

27 Bertot, J.C., and McClure, C. R., The 1997 National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet: Final Report, American

Library Association, Office for Information Technology Policy, Washington, DC, 1997; and Bertot, J.C., and McClure, C.

R., The 1996 National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet: Progress and Issues, U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science, Washington, DC, 1996.

28 The 1996 and 1997 data (Universe) represent public library systems; the 1998 data (Universe) represent individual public

library outlets. The difference between a library system and a library outlet is explained at the beginning of Section II.

29 Based on Appendix D, Figure 22: Frequency Analysis of Public Library Outlet Graphical Public Access Workstations.

For consistency of presentation, Figure 9 presents the frequency analysis as a percentage of all public library outlets.

Number of Cumulative 

Graphic Workstations % %

Unspecified 2.4% 100.0%

10 or more 3.4% 97.6%

9 0.9% 94.2%

8 1.5% 93.3%

7 1.7% 91.8%

6 2.6% 90.1%

5 2.5% 87.5%

4 4.9% 85.0%

3 6.2% 80.1%

2 14.2% 73.9%

1 28.3% 59.7%

None 31.4% 31.4%
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— 12 —

 8VH RI )LOWHULQJ 6RIWZDUH DQG $YDLODELOLW\ RI DQ $FFHSWDEOH 8VH 3ROLF\ IRU

3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

For some time the Commission has been concerned about the dangers to children from the “dark side

of the Internet.” There are dangers from predatory pedophiles using chat rooms to contact children.

There are violations of privacy, especially in the case of marketing efforts that entice kids to provide a

wide variety of consumer information about themselves and their families. There are also dangers

from exposure to inappropriate materials, generally sexually explicit matter, including pornography,

but also hate language, cult messages, and other troublesome material.

The Commission recognizes that these concerns must be balanced against the freedom of speech

guaranteed by the First Amendment and the library community’s aversion to censorship. It also

acknowledges that individual library policies on Internet use are appropriately local issues, based on

the culture, customs and character of each community. Nevertheless, protecting our children is an

issue of such importance that the Commission held a hearing in November 1998 on Kids and the

Internet: The Promise and the Perils. The purpose of the hearing was to focus attention on the

enormous benefits of the Internet as well as the significant dangers it poses for children and to seek

advice on appropriate means for libraries to protect children without denying them access to the

benefits of the Internet.

Many pubic libraries have already addressed the issue of protecting children from inappropriate

materials by developing “acceptable use policies” for public Internet access and/or by installing

filtering software on some or all of their public access Internet workstations. The Commission

believes that the decision about use of filtering software on workstations for public Internet access is

a matter for local assessment and decision-making. However, the Commission passed a resolution at

its December 3, 1998, meeting in Seattle, Washington, stating:

The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science feels strongly

that the governing body of every school and public library, in order to meet its

trustee responsibilities, should establish, formally approve, and periodically review a

written acceptable use policy statement on Internet access.

Recognizing the importance of these issues, the 1998 survey contained questions about the use of

Internet content filtering software to block pornography30 and also about the availability of an

“acceptable use public access Internet policy.”31 Library outlets report availability of acceptable use

policies far more frequently than use of content filtering software. The survey results regarding the

number of Internet workstations provide some insight into one possible reason for such a preference.

The survey results indicate that 42.7% of the 10,251 library outlets offering graphical public Internet

access have only one workstation.32 As shown in Figure 10, this is the equivalent of 28.3 % of all

public library outlets.

Where only a single public Internet access workstation exists, such a workstation must serve all of the

library’s users, whether children and adults. Content filtering to protect children from pornography

may constrain the Internet content that adults access as well. Depending on the software used,

filtering might block an adult from gaining important information on healthcare or other matters due

to the inclusion in the response of terms that the filtering software deems objectionable for children.

 

30 Survey Instrument, Question 6b, Appendix B.

31 Survey Instrument, Question 7, Appendix B.

32 Based on Appendix D, Figure 22: Frequency Analysis of Public Library Outlet Graphical Public Access Workstations.

For consistency of presentation, Figure 10 presents the frequency analysis as a percentage of all public library outlets.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

— 13 —

Figure 1133 shows that, when the survey data was gathered in May and June 1998, acceptable use

policies were already in place in 62.2% of the library outlets, while another 8.9% of these outlets

were in the process of developing acceptable use policies. The survey results show only 10.7% of

public library outlets using filtering software on some or all of their Internet workstations. Only 2.1%

of public libraries did not use filtering software and did not have an acceptable use policy in place or

under development.

FIGURE 11

STATUS OF ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES AND INTERNET FILTERING SOFTWARE

IN PUBLIC LIBRARY OUTLETS

 

33 Acceptable use policy and filtering software data are based on Appendix D, Figure 56: Overall Distribution of Public

Library Outlet Acceptable Use Policy for Public Internet Access and Public Internet Access Terminal/Workstation Filtering

Software Use (as a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access). The other percentages are based on

Appendix D, Figure 3: Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status (As A Percentage of All Public

Library Outlets). For consistency of presentation, the data from Figure 56 are presented as a percentage of all public library

outlets.

16.4%

10.3%

2.1%

0.1%

9.4%

1.1%

7.8%

73.3%

52.7%

Not Connected (16.4%)

Connected, No Public Access (10.3%)

No Acceptable Use Policy; No Filters on Any Workstation (2.1%)

Acceptable Use Policy; No Filters on Any Workstations (52.7%)

No Acceptable Use Policy; Filters on Some or All Workstations (0.1%)

Acceptable Use Policy; Filters on Some or All Workstations (9.5%)

Developing Acceptable Use Policy; Filters on Some or All Workstations (1.1%)

Developing Acceptable Use Policy; No Filters on Any Workstations (7.8%)
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— 14 —

,,, )LQGLQJV3ROLF\,VVXHVDQG&RPPLVVLRQ5HVSRQVHV

NCLIS supports work such as this survey based on its statutory authority. The statute states that "The

Commission shall have the primary responsibility for developing or recommending overall plans for,

and advising the appropriate governments and agencies on, [the library and information services

adequate to meet the needs of the people of the United States]" [20 U.S.C. 1504]. In carrying out

that responsibility, the Commission shall:

• Advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of national policy by such

statements, presentations, and reports as it deems appropriate;

• Conduct studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and informational needs of the

nation...and the means by which these needs may be met through information centers [and

libraries];

• Develop overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs and for the

coordination of activities at the federal, state, and local levels, taking into consideration all of

the library and informational resources of the nation to meet those needs; and

• Promote research and development activities that will extend and improve the nation's library

and information-handling capability as essential links in the national and international

communications and cooperative networks.

 6XSSRUWLQJ2QJRLQJ6XUYH\VRQ3XEOLF/LEUDULHVDQGWKH,QWHUQHW

The series of surveys sponsored by the Commission provide valuable baseline information, useful in

understanding the state of public library Internet connectivity and service, and the 1998 survey is

particularly useful in providing a snapshot of public library Internet service immediately prior to

issuance of the first E-Rate funding.

Based on its analyses of the 1998 survey results, the Commission has identified some significant

findings as well as a number of policy issues and questions for further research, whether by the

Commission and its research partners or by others. Based on the survey and other collateral

information, the Commission finds that:

• A substantial number of public libraries have Internet connectivity (83.6%), provide public

Internet access (73.3%), and offer graphical public Internet access (68.6%). However, only

45.3% offer graphical public access to the World Wide Web at speeds of 56 kbps or greater.

• Although the poverty level of the population served does not seem to be a significant factor in

determining the availability of public Internet access, metropolitan status does: rural libraries

lag behind other types of libraries in providing Internet access. Only 67.6% of rural public

libraries offer public Internet access which places these libraries 9.1% behind suburban

libraries and 16.4% behind urban libraries.

• Nearly one third (31.4%) of the library outlets currently offer no graphical public Internet

access. 28.3% of the outlets have only one graphic workstation for public Internet access and

14.3% have only two graphic workstations. More needs to be learned about what constitutes

an adequate number of public access Internet workstations in a library. Nevertheless, in many

libraries, one graphic workstation for public Internet access is likely to be inadequate to meet

public needs.

• The Commission believes that achieving universal Internet connectivity is not enough.

Libraries need to implement effective public Internet access, offering graphic capability, as

well as sufficient speed, workstation functionality, and staff support to meet local needs.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

— 15 —

Based on these findings, the Commission will continue its support for the annual

National Survey of Public Libraries and the Internet to track the evolving state of

public Internet access and the implementation of the goals of Universal Service for

public library Internet access.

 ,QLWLDWLQJD'LDORJRQ(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV

The Commission understands that questions regarding effective public Internet access will require

ongoing dialog among a number of parties. In the federal sector this includes a number of agencies

and departments that have active interests and responsibilities.

Recognizing the variety of perspectives which federal agencies and departments can

bring to bear on such questions, the Commission will coordinate within the federal

sector to assess what constitutes a minimal level of effective public Internet access.

Based on this assessment, the Commission will advise the President and the Congress

about the types and levels of support necessary to achieve effective public Internet

access on an ongoing basis.

The Commission recognizes that the advent of the E-Rate and the importance of the Internet as a

national resource ensure that questions about effective public Internet access will continue to be

debated at the federal level for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the Commission feels strongly

that these questions remain primarily issues for local assessment and decision-making. To be

successful, current and future national programs for public Internet access, such as the E-Rate, need

to be based on guidelines for effective public Internet access that allow for the wide variation in local

resources and requirements.

The Commission will lead a dialog among state and local governments about how to

implement and measure effective public Internet access in light of varying local

conditions, such as the degree of existing Internet access among the populations

served.

 ,GHQWLI\LQJ3ROLF\4XHVWLRQVDQG3URPRWLQJ$GGLWLRQDO5HVHDUFK

The 1998 survey only touched on the degree to which libraries have put in place Internet capabilities

to serve the physically disabled34 and did not provide an adequate basis for drawing conclusions in

this area. Additionally, while the survey included the population density near the library building in

general terms (urban, suburban or rural), it did not address the size of the population served by each

library. It is reasonable to assume that library capacity for public Internet access should be

proportional to the population to be served, although other local factors, such as the penetration of

personal Internet access among library patrons, also must be considered. The survey did not provide

an adequate basis for drawing conclusions in this area. These are both possible areas for inclusion in

future research, whether by the Commission and its research partners or by others with an interest in

these issues.

Based on the survey and other collateral information, the Commission has identified a number of

questions regarding the public library as a provider of public Internet access that deserve further

investigation. Future national surveys sponsored in full or in part by the Commission may be able to

address some of these questions, but certainly cannot address all of them. Nevertheless, it is valuable

to identify these questions in order to focus attention on the work that remains to be done in order to

 

34 Survey Instrument, Question 6a, Appendix B.
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— 16 —

implement and evaluate effective public Internet access through America's public libraries. The

questions that can be addressed by surveying the libraries include the following:

• How well located are public libraries with respect to populations requiring the most

assistance in obtaining Internet access, such as rural or high poverty areas or other underserved populations; and how well are libraries serving populations which lack or lag behind

in Internet access?

• What effect, if any, does measured telephone service (i.e. service that incurs charges for each

minute or other unit of use), or the process of establishing and maintaining a dial-up Internet

connection, have on the amount and effectiveness of dial-up Internet service?

• What types of acceptable use policies are in effect in libraries and how well do those policies

satisfy community concerns for protecting children from inappropriate materials available

through the Internet?

• What Internet applications, content, and library staff services do public libraries deliver

within the library building and via the Internet to users at home, at work, or elsewhere (e.g.,

database access, e-mail, and voice and/or video reference services)?

• What role do librarians play in facilitating public Internet access; what amount and type of

Internet training do the library staff receive; and what training do public libraries provide to

users?

• How much staff time and budget do Internet-related services consume in relationship to other

library services, and what contribution does the E-Rate make to the ongoing costs of

providing effective public Internet access and the related technology, applications and

services?

The Commission also identified research questions that require research methods beyond an

institutional survey of libraries. Such questions require resources for investigation well beyond the

resources available for the Commission surveys. For example, the MCI LibraryLink® Survey

referenced in Section I.4 is based on a large scale telephone survey of the general population.

Questions that require research methods beyond an institutional survey of libraries include:

• To what degree do libraries continue to serve as a principal or significant public point of

Internet presence; and how could the role of libraries be improved or strengthened?

• How successful are libraries in serving those who lack other means of gaining Internet

access; and how could libraries be more effective in reaching under-served populations?

• How many persons receive service in library buildings and from beyond library buildings and

what population groups do they represent?

• How does library public Internet access compare to other public Internet points of presence?

• What outcomes do users have from their use of the Internet via public libraries (both in

buildings and from remote locations); and how do those outcomes compare with their

experience with the Internet at home, at work, at school, or at other public Internet points of

presence?

• How, and to what extent, do public libraries cooperate with schools and school library media

centers, or other public Internet points of presence, in order to provide public Internet access?

The Commission has an interest in such questions, but recognizes both its own limited resources and

the fact that many others are engaged in investigation of related topics.
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— 17 —

The Commission will continue to develop partnerships and cooperative relationships

with federal agencies and with other organizations with similar research interests to

investigate questions related to public access to the Internet and the role that

libraries play in providing such access. The Commission will work with such

organizations to identify relevant issues to be studied and to review the results of

such research. By publicizing its own findings, placing those findings in the context

of other research, and continuing to identify unanswered questions, the Commission

will promote research and development on these topics when it cannot pursue them

directly or through partnerships or cooperative relationships.

,9 %LEOLRJUDSK\RI2WKHU6WDWLVWLFDO6WXGLHV)XQGHGE\WKH&RPPLVVLRQ

As noted in Section I, the Commission has tracked the increasing use of the Internet among public

libraries since 1994. Some of these studies were supported solely by NCLIS and others were funded

jointly with the American Library Association (ALA) Office of Information Technology Policy

(OITP). In each case, the contractors for the research were Dr. John Carol Bertot, now with the

School of Information Science and Policy at the State University of New York, Albany, and Dr.

Charles R. McClure of the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University. Entries are presented

in chronological order.

• McClure, Charles R., Bertot, John Carlo, and Zweizig, Douglas L. Public Libraries and the

Internet: Study Results, Policy Issues and Recommendations. Washington, DC, NCLIS, 1994.

62 pages. http://www.nclis.gov/what/what.html.

• McClure, Charles R., Bertot, John Carlo, and Beachboard, John C. Internet Costs and Cost

Models for Public Libraries: Final Report. Washington, DC, NCLIS, 1995. 47 pages.

http://www.nclis.gov/what/what.html.

• Bertot, John Carlo, McClure, Charles R., and Zweizig, Douglas L. The 1996 National Survey

of Public Libraries and the Internet: Progress and Issues. Washington, DC, NCLIS, 1996.

67 pages. [Survey sponsored by American Library Association Office for Information

Technology Policy (ALA/OITP) and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science (NCLIS).] http://www.nclis.gov/what/what.html.

• Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R., Policy Issues & Strategies Affecting Public

Libraries in the National Networked Environment: Moving Beyond Connectivity.

Washington, DC, NCLIS, 1997. 26 pages. http://www.nclis.gov/what/what.html.

• American Library Association, Office of Information Technology Policy, The 1997 National

Survey of U.S. Public Libraries and the Internet: Final Report. Washington, DC, American

Library Association, 1997. 100 pages. [Survey conducted by Dr. John Carlo Bertot, Dr.

Charles R. McClure, and Dr. Patricia Diamond Fletcher and sponsored by the American

Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy (ALA/OITP) and the U.S.

National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS).]

http://www.ala.org/oitp/research/survey97.html.

• American Library Association, Office of Information Technology Policy, The 1997 National

Survey of U.S. Public Libraries and the Internet: Summary Results. Washington, DC,

American Library Association, 1997. 8 pages. [A report on a survey conducted by Dr. John

Carlo Bertot, Dr. Charles R. McClure, and Dr. Patricia Diamond Fletcher and sponsored by

the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy (ALA/OITP)

and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS).]

http://www.ala.org/oitp/research/survey97.html.
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— 18 —

• Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R., The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public

Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, DC: NCLIS, 1998. 85

pages. [Survey sponsored by the American Library Association Office for Information

Technology Policy (ALA/OITP) and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science (NCLIS).] http://www.nclis.gov/what/survey98.pdf and included in this

document as Appendices B through E.

• Bertot, John Carlo and McClure, Charles R., The 1998 National Survey of Public Library

Outlet Internet Connectivity, Summary Results. Washington, DC, American Library

Association, 1998. 4 pages. [Survey sponsored by the American Library Association Office

for Information Technology Policy (ALA/OITP) and the U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS).] http://www.ala.org/oitp/research/survey98.html

and included in this document as Appendix A.
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35 Copyright © 1998 by the American Library Association. Published by the ALA Office for Information Technology

Policy. Reprinted with the permission of the American Library Association.
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— A-2 —
Copyright © 1998 by the American Library Association. Published by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. All or part of “The 1998

National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Summary Results” may be reprinted for distribution, with appropriate credits.

The 1998

National Survey

of U.S. Public Library

Outlet Internet

Connectivity

Summary Results

October 1998

L

ess than 1 in 2 public library outlets are able

to offer multimedia Internet access to the

public at speeds of 56 kbps or greater.

Approximately 8 in 10 public library outlets are

connected to the Internet. About 7 in 10 offer public

Internet access, with almost the same numbers

offering multimedia access to the Internet.

At the time of this survey, the National Center

for Education Statistics reported that in 1994 there

were 8,921 library systems representing 15,945

library outlets—that is central and branch libraries.

A sample of 2,500 of the nation's 15,718 public

library outlets was selected for this survey. The

survey achieved a response rate of 75.5%.

American Library Association

Office for Information Technology Policy

Dr. John Carlo Bertot

University of Albany, State University of New York

Dr. Charles R. McClure

Syracuse University

Graphic public

access with speed

of 56k or more:

45.3%

Graphical public

Internet access:

68.6%

Public Internet

access:

73.3%

Connected to the

Internet:

83.6%

All public library outlets:

100%

The survey was sponsored by the American Library

Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy in

cooperation with the U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science. Unless otherwise

noted, information contained in this summary reflects

results from the 1998 National Survey of Public Libraries

Outlet Internet Connectivity.

* * * *
Public Library

Outlets in Rural and

Poverty Areas

n=15,718

More than half of all public

library outlets are located in

rural areas. Almost 1 in 5

public library outlets serve a

poverty area. About 1 in 10

public library outlets serve

rural poverty areas.

Urban:

17.1%

Suburban:

31.4%

Rural:

51.5%

Extreme

poverty: 2.0%

Poverty:

16.8%

Nonpoverty:

81.2%

Distribution by Metropolitan Status Distribution by Poverty Areas

Connected

with public

Internet

access:

Connected with 73.3%

no public

Internet access:

16.4%

Not connected

to the Internet:

10.3%

Public Library Outlet

Connectivity

n=15,718

Seven out of 10 public library outlets

offer public Internet access and

nearly 2 in 10 are connected to the

Internet, but are not offering any

public Internet access.

Public Library Outlets Help Bridge the Digital Divide

Non-poverty: n=12,757

Poverty: n=2,644

Extreme Poverty: n=317

Urban: n=2,691

Suburban: n=4,933

Rural: n=8,094

In urban and suburban areas, about 4 out of 5 public library outlets offer public Internet access; in rural areas, a little

more than 3 in 5 offer public Internet access.

Public access to the Internet from libraries is about equal in poverty and non-poverty areas. However, a smaller

proportion of rural libraries offer public Internet access than their urban and suburban counterparts.

Urban:

84.0%

Suburban:

76.7%

Rural:

67.6%

Non-poverty:

73.2%

Poverty:

72.8%

Extreme poverty:

79.5%

Connectivity by Metropolitan Status Connectivity by Poverty Area

Copyright © 1998 by the American Library Association. Published by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. All or part of “The 1998

National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Summary Results” may be reprinted for distribution, with appropriate credits.
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9+

42.7%

21.5%

9.4%

7.4%

3.7%

3.9%

2.6%

2.3%

6.5%

Adequacy of

Access in

Public

Library

Outlets:

Workstations

n=10,623

Nearly half of all

public library

outlets with public

Internet access

have only 1

multimedia

workstation

available to the

public.

68.6%

Less than

56 kbps:

32.4%

56 kbps:

32.0%

Greater than

56 kbps:

35.0%

Adequacy of

Access in Public

Library Outlets:

Speed of

Connections

n=10,079

Only about 1 in 3 public

library outlets with

multimedia public

Internet access are

connecting at speeds

greater than 56 kbps.

Number of

workstations

Percentage of Outlets With This Number

of Multimedia Workstations

Copyright © 1998 by the American Library Association. Published by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. All or part of “The 1998

National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Summary Results” may be reprinted for distribution, with appropriate credits.
1 The remaining 227 libraries did not have metropolitan status codes in the NCES public library universe file and so could not be included in

the universe for this study. Of the remaining 15,718 over half, 51.5%, of these outlets are in rural areas, 17.1% in urban areas, and 31.4% in

suburban areas. About 81.2% of outlets are in non-poverty areas, 16.8% in poverty areas, and 2% in extreme poverty areas.

2 The U.S. Census defines a poverty census tract as one in which 20% or more of residents have incomes at or below the poverty level.

Extreme poverty areas are those tracts in which 40% or more of residents have incomes at or below the poverty level.

T

he 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity was conducted from May through

June 1998 by Dr. John Carlo Bertot, associate professor at the School of Information Science and Policy,

University of Albany, State University of New York and Dr. Charles McClure, distinguished professor at the School

of Information Studies, Syracuse University. It was sponsored by the American Library Association's Office for

Information Technology Policy and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. The 1998 study

builds and expands upon areas of public library Internet-related data as reported in the ALA/NCLIS report of 1997

and the NCLIS-sponsored 1994 and 1996 studies.

The number of public library outlets comes from the National Center for Education Statistics. While 1995

statistics are now available, in 1994, the latest year for which statistics were available at the time of the study, there

were 8,921 library systems representing 15,945 library outlets—that is central and branch libraries. A sample of 2,500

of the nation's 15,718 public library outlets was selected for this survey.

1 The sample was weighted to represent

public libraries across various poverty and non-poverty areas and central city, suburban, and rural locations based on

U.S. Census definitions of poverty areas

2

and metropolitan status. The survey achieved a response rate of 75.5%.

Limited copies of “The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Summary

Results” are available at no charge from the address below or online at

http://www.ala.org/oitp/research/survey98.html. A more detailed final report should be available by early 1999.

Inquiries concerning the information presented here should be directed to the Office for Information Technology

Policy, American Library Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701;

phone: 202/628-8421; fax: 202/628-8424; e-mail: oitp@alawash.org or the National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science, 1110 Vermont Ave., N.W. Suite 820, Washington, D.C. 20005-3522; phone: 202/606-9200; fax:

202/606-9203.

Funding for the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy was made possible

through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and with the

support of ALA members. 

Internet Use Policies

in Public Library

Outlets

Nearly every public library

outlet has or is developing

an Internet acceptable use

policy for patrons using

their facilities. More than 8

in 10 public library outlets

have an acceptable use policy

and another 1 in 10 are

developing such policies.

About 1 in 7 public library

outlets use filters on some or

all of their public

workstations.

Libraries with no

filters; no acceptable

use policy: 2.9%

Use filters on some or all public

terminals; no acceptable use policy: 0.2%

Use filters on some or all of

their public terminals;

developing an acceptable use

policy: 1.5%

No filters; currently

developing an

acceptable use policy:

10.7%

Use filters on some

or all workstations;

have an acceptable

use policy: 12.9% Have an acceptable use

policy; no filters: 71.9%

n=11,519

Copyright © 1998 by the American Library Association. Published by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. All or part of “The 1998

National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Summary Results” may be reprinted for distribution, with appropriate credits.
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— B-3 —

National Survey of Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity

Instructions: The American Library Association and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science are

surveying a national sample of public library outlets regarding their connectivity to the Internet. Please respond to the

questions that follow for the outlet listed on the backside of this survey form. Thank you for your participation! PLEASE

RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE BY MAY 29, 1998.

1. Is this library outlet currently connected to the Internet in any way? (FILL IN ONE z ONLY)

{ No (please go to question 2)

{ Yes (please go to question 3)

2. If this library outlet does not now have any access to the Internet, is there a plan to connect the outlet to the

Internet in any way in the next 12 months? (FILL IN ONE z ONLY)

{ YES, for library staff use only { NO Internet connection planned

{ YES, for library staff use AND public access

3. Does this library outlet provide public access to the Internet? (FILL IN ONE z ONLY)

{ No (please return the survey. THANK YOU!)

{ Yes (please go to question 4)

4. Please indicate the type(s) and number of public access Internet terminals/workstations provided by this

library outlet: (FILL IN ALL z THAT APPLY)

a. { Text-based (e.g., non-graphical). Please enter the number of terminals: _____

b. { Graphical (e.g., can display images). Please enter the number of workstations: _____

5. Please indicate the maximum speed of this library outlet’s public access Internet service connection: (FILL

IN ONE z ONLY)

{ 14.4 kbps or less { 56 kbps { T1 (1.5 mbps)

{ 28.8 kbps { 64 kbps ISDN 1B+D) { Cable service (10 mbps)

{ 33.6 kbps { 128 kbps (ISDN 2B+D)

6. Please complete the following questions about this library outlet’s public access Internet services: (FILL IN

ALL z THAT APPLY)

On all On some On no

terminals/ terminals/ terminals/

workstations workstations workstations

a) Our library offers special hardware/ {{{

software for individuals with disabilities

b) Our library uses filtering software (e.g., {{{

blocking software for pornography)

7. Does this library outlet have an acceptable use public access Internet policy in place (e.g., a policy that

informs the public about the use of the Internet by minors, pornographic material, chat rooms)? (FILL IN ONE

z ONLY)

{ Yes { No { Currently developing a policy

Thank you for your participation! Please return the survey in the enclosed stamped envelope.

 (Survey contact information is on the other side).
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— B-4 —

NOTE: The above contact information was accurate at the time of the survey, but it is no longer current.

The contact information at the time of publication is:

John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D. < jcbertot@cnsunix.albany.edu>

Associate Professor, School of Information Science & Policy

State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany

135 Western Avenue

Albany, NY 12222

(518) 442-5125 phone

(518) 442-5367 fax

http://www.albany.edu/~jcbertot/

For questions concerning the survey, please contact:

John Bertot <bertot@umbc.edu>

Assistant Professor

Department of Information Systems

1000 Hilltop Circle

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD 21250

(410) 455-3883 phone

(410) 455-1073 fax
$33(1',;&6859(<0(7+2'2/2*<

 

36 From The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Final Report,

by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R McClure, Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science, 1998.
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The 1998 public library outlet study (hereafter referred to as the 1998 Study) used two distinct

methodologies: one for the survey component and one for the geocoding of all public library outlets

based on the library outlet metropolitan status code and the poverty rate of the population an outlet

serves. The authors were responsible for the survey methodology, with the geocoding component of

the study coming from a variation of a study conducted by the American Library Association's Office

for Information Technology Policy (available at http://www.ala.org/oitp/). This section describes

both study methods.

6WXG\6XUYH\0HWKRGRORJ\

Funding for the 1998 Study was finalized in March 1998. Upon funding, the authors drafted an

initial survey form for distribution to public library outlets. The authors pre-tested the initial survey

form with public librarians, state library agencies, library association professionals, and state library

data coordinators (those individuals responsible for the collection and submission of state-based

public library statistics). In all, the authors received comments and input into the survey from 70

individuals. Based on these suggestions, the authors modified the survey form and made it available

electronically (both via the Web and as an e-mail attachment) for review by the state data

coordinators. Once again, comments and suggestions were incorporated into a final version of the

survey by April 1998.

While the pre-test of the survey was in progress, the authors contracted with Dr. Dean Jue of

Florida State University to:

• Recalculate the poverty radii for all public library outlets based on a 1 mile radius for urban

library outlets, a 3 mile radius for suburban library outlets, and a 10 mile radius for rural library

outlets. This recalculation was pre-tested with and recommended by the state data coordinators

as well as library researchers.

• Draw a proportionate-to-size sample of 2,561 public library outlets based on outlet metropolitan

status and poverty classifications. The sample surveyed all outlets in poverty/metropolitan status

cells with fewer than 350 outlets (see Figure 1).

• Generate a label file for survey mailing.

This portion of the 1998 study was completed in mid-April 1998.

Upon the recommendation of the state data coordinators and public librarian survey pre-testers,

the authors mailed survey forms during the first week in May to the library director of a public library

outlet's central entity/administrative unit. For most library outlets, this meant that the central

entity/administrative unit was the surveyed outlet (as only approximately 16% of public library

systems have branches, according to NCES (1997)). For other library outlets, however, a central

entity/administrative unit may have received multiple survey forms -- one for each sample outlet in

that library's system. Survey data collection activities ended during the last week of June 1998 (see

Appendix A for a copy of the final mail survey).
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— C-4 —

The survey form was also available for completion on the Web. Using Cold Fusion software for

the electronic survey form design and Microsoft Access database software for the survey database,

users were able to complete the responses for their library outlets electronically. Over 200 survey

forms (approximately 11.1%) were submitted electronically.

Prior to the distribution of the mail survey forms, each state data coordinator received a copy of

the final survey form and a list of the public library outlets surveyed in their respective states. The

state data coordinators were critical contact points for the authors for the success of the survey. The

authors kept in constant contact with the state data coordinators via a listserv and fax. This enabled

the authors to keep the state data coordinators informed as to the progress of the survey in general and

the survey in their states in particular.

Due to public library outlet closures and consolidations (between the 1993 public library data --

the most currently available for the geocoding component of the study -- and 1998), the original

sample of 2,561 was adjusted to 2,500. Based on a sample of 2,500, 1,888 completed survey forms

were received for a response rate of 75.5%.

Weighting of Survey Responses

To generate national estimates of public library outlet Internet connectivity, each responding

outlet survey received a weight based on the outlet's metropolitan status/poverty classification. The

weights ranged from 1.22 for urban library outlets in poverty areas of greater than 40% to 11.31 for

suburban library outlets in poverty areas of less than 20%. Thus, for example, each suburban library

outlet in a poverty area of less than 20%'s survey response would be multiplied by the 11.31 weight

and counted as 11.31 outlets out of the total outlets for any given survey question.

By summing all the assigned weights, it is possible to project Internet connectivity for all 15,718

geocoded library outlets.37 The weights are also used to project Internet connectivity within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell. To provide national estimates and standard deviation figures, the

authors used SPSS Standard Edition software, version 8.0.1.

The weighting necessitates the rounding of outlets and percentages throughout the figures

presented in this report. Thus, it is possible that not all cell n's and percentages will add

correctly.

Data Analysis and Data Verification Issues

Upon completion of the data collection phase of the 1998 survey, the authors, as well as NCLIS

and ALA-OITP staff, reviewed the database and initial data analysis for inconsistencies. This review

resulted in the need for corrections to the data set. The corrections took the form of both assumptions

by the authors as well as follow-up questioning with survey respondents via phone and e-mail.

The corrections/assumptions took the following form:

• Assumption/correction 1: Public Access. If a library outlet responded that it has a connection

and completed all the public access questions but left the public access question blank, a "yes"

was entered for public access (survey question 3).

 

37 According to NCES (1996), there are 16,792 public library outlets, of which 894 were bookmobiles. By subtracting the

bookmobiles, and other issues encountered by Dr. Dean Jue (see the following section of this appendix for additional detail

on the geocoding process), the study team was not able to identify and geocode all outlets. In the end, the study team was

able to geocode 15,718 outlets.
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— C-5 —

• Assumption/correction 2: Software/Hardware for Disabilities. If a library outlet answered all

the survey questions, but entered nothing for the software/hardware question (survey question

6a), this was changed to a "on no terminals." The assumption here is that, in most surveys,

questions are skipped/left blank if it does not pertain to the respondent.

• Assumption/correction 3. Filtering Software. If a library outlet answered all the survey

questions, but entered nothing for the filtering software question (survey question 6b), this was

changed to a "on no terminals." The assumption here is that, in most surveys, questions are

skipped/left blank if it does not pertain to the respondent.

For other questions such as graphical workstation and text-based terminal public access, the authors

had to contact participating library outlets/administrative units to correct/clarify responses.

Generally, the follow-up questions were necessary for two reasons:

(1) The submitted surveys indicated a number of text-based terminals or graphical workstations, but

had no indication that the library outlet provided either type of access. The authors wanted to

ensure that the libraries indeed provided either text-based or graphical public Internet access.

(2) The submitted surveys indicated that the library outlet provided text-based terminals or graphical

workstations, but had no indication of the number of such terminals/workstations.

The authors wanted to ensure the correct response for the outlet surveys in question so as to provide

accurate data.

In all, the authors had to conduct survey follow-ups with approximately 30 public library outlets

(which had a significant impact on the final analysis of the data due to the weighted nature of the

sample).

2XWOHW*HRFRGLQJE\0HWURSROLWDQ6WDWXVDQG3RYHUW\

This analysis was performed using two data sets obtained from other sources. One is a digital

census tract map of the entire U.S. and the other is the Federal-State Cooperative System’s (FSCS)

database of public library outlets for 1993 (NCES, 1996). This document describes the procedure

used to prepare the data sets used for this analysis.

A. Census Tracts

The census tract data set was purchased from Claritas, Inc. of Ithaca, New York. The data set

consisted of a complete digital set of census tract maps of all 50 U.S. states and the District of

Columbia (D.C.) in ESRI’s Arc/Info format. These 51 files contained no census data other than a

concatenated FIPS 15-character code comprised of the state, county, and census tract identification

code.

The associated poverty data, also prepared by Claritas, were in 51 separate files. Each file had a

FIPS 15-character code that could be linked to the digital census tract maps. These poverty data

included all fields from the P117 table in the STF-3A files (i.e., the poverty status by age group data).

The Arc/Info command ‘JOINITEM’ was used to join each of the 51 poverty data files to its

corresponding digital census tract files using the 15-character FIPS code as the link. The Arc/Info

command ‘MAPJOIN’ was then used to merge the 48 contiguous states and D.C. into two coverages.

The states west of the Mississippi River (22 states) were merged into a coverage named WESTUS

and the states east of the Mississippi (26 states) plus Washington, D.C. were merged into a coverage

named EASTUS. Hawaii and Alaska remained as separate and independent coverages.
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Because the poverty analysis relied on an accurate calculation of the size of each census tract over

a fairly large area (e.g., the eastern U.S.), the four coverages were projected from their original

latitude/longitude coordinate system into the Albers Equal-Area Conic projection. The standard

parallels and central meridian used for each of the four projected coverages are:

ALASKA HAWAII EASTUS WESTUS

1st St. Parallel 55 00 00 8 00 00 29 30 00 29 30 00

2nd St. Parallel 65 30 00 18 30 00 45 30 00 45 30 00

Central Meridian -150 00 00 -157 00 00 -82 00 00 -106 00 00

After the four coverages were projected into the Albers projection, several procedures were applied to

all four of the coverages:

(1) The Arc/Info command ‘ADDITEM’ was used to add the variables NABPOV (the number of

individuals above the poverty level, NBEPOV (the number of individuals below the poverty

level), and ITAREA (the initial geographic area of the entire census tract) into the census tract

coverages.

(2) The Info command ‘CALCULATE’ was used to calculate the values of NABPOV, NBEPOV,

and ITAREA for all the census tracts in each of the four coverages. NABPOV was set equal to

the sum of the first twelve values of the P117 table while NBEPOV was set equal to the sum of

the last twelve values of the P117 table. Since no geographic modifications had been made to

the census tract coverage yet, ITAREA was just equal to AREA, an area value maintained by

Arc/Info for each polygon (i.e., the individual census tract in this case).

(3) The Arc/Info command ‘DROPITEM’ was used to drop attribute values from the census tract

coverages that were no longer needed (e.g., the individual poverty by age group values of the

P117 table).

The four census tract coverages were now ready to be used for the poverty analysis.

B. Public Library Outlets

The public library outlets digital file was provided to us by Dr. Keith Curry Lance and

corresponds to the Federal-State Cooperative System’s (FSCS) 1993 list of public library outlets.

The list of 1993 library outlets was the most current as of late 1996. The list contains 16,792 public

library outlets.

The list of outlets was sent to Qualitative Marketing Software (QMS) of Clearwater, Florida for

geocoding. Using, in order of preference, either the street address, zip+4, or zip, QMS calculated a

latitude and longitude value for the library outlets. There were 20 library outlets for which QMS was

not able to derive a latitude/longitude value for which more individualized attention was needed. The

returned file was in Dbase (.dbf) format.

The FSCS list of public library outlets included 894 bookmobile service outlets. It was agreed

upon between FREAC and the ALA Washington office that poverty statistics for such outlets were

meaningless because of the mobile nature of these services. Thus, bookmobiles were excluded from

this poverty analysis. The maximum number of geocoded outlets that could be used in this poverty

analysis then is 15,898 (16,792 – 894 bookmobiles). Subtracting the 20 library outlets that required

more detailed attention reduced the initial group of geocoded library outlets to 15,878.
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— C-7 —

A perusal of the 15,878 geocoded library outlets showed an unanticipated problem that needed

resolving. Some library systems used the same mailing address for all their library outlets. Under

such circumstances, it is impossible to determine the poverty rate around these library outlets because

their mailing addresses (which was used to geocode the outlet’s location and resulting service area)

would be identical to that of the central outlet.

The duplicates wizard was used in Microsoft’s Access 97 to find library outlets that were

geocoded to the identical latitude and longitude (and thus have the same mailing address). This

procedure identified 405 libraries representing 188 locations that had duplicate addresses. Some of

these duplicate sites were joint public library and school library locations. Others were branch outlets

whose mail were being sent to a central library location. In very rural areas, different towns had the

same zip codes.

The decision was made to incorporate these duplicate libraries into the poverty analysis by

selecting just one of the duplicate sites based on the following criteria:

1) Use the ‘CE’ library outlet whenever possible

2) Use public library outlets over school outlets

3) Use the ‘CE’ library outlet over regional libraries

4) If all the outlets having the same address are ‘CE’ outlets, arbitrarily pick one.

For rural locations in which different towns had the same zip code, the U.S. Gazetteer at the U.S.

Census Bureau’s web page provided latitude and longitude values for the center of some of these

towns. The URL for the U.S. Gazetteer is http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer. If these latitude

and longitudes were different for the towns in question, then these values were used for distinguishing

and geocoding the formerly duplicate library outlets. The assumption is that the library outlet is very

close to the center of town in these locations. The elimination of library outlets with duplicate

addresses from the initial group of 15,878 outlets reduced the total number of outlets for the poverty

analysis down to 15,707.

The U.S. Gazetteer was also used on the 20 library outlets that QMS was not able to geocode. A

review of the information associated with these 20 outlets showed that all of them had invalid zip

codes (e.g., a zip code value beginning with ‘3’ but with the town supposedly in California). The

decision was made to attempt to geocode these 20 outlets using just the town and state information

since the zip code information was obviously wrong. Using the U.S. Gazetteer, eleven of these 20

library outlets were geocoded. Thus, the final library group used for the poverty analysis included

15,718 libraries out of a total universe of 15,898 total (98.868% inclusion).

The .dbf file provided by QMS was modified to reflect the corrections described above for the

applicable library outlets. An ASCII comma delimited file was then generated from the .dbf file that

included the longitude and latitude for each of the 15,718 library outlets generated from the QMS

geocoding process. This ASCII file could then be entered into Arc/Info using the ‘GENERATE’

command for point data. The library coverage was named ALLLIB. The command

‘PROJECTDEFINE’ was used to define the locational values in ALLLIB as being in decimal

degrees.

The library attributes associated with each library provided with the FSCS data file were read into

a Microsoft Excel 97 file. After organizing this attribute file, the file was exported into a formatted

ASCII text file, with blanks separating each of the fields in the records. This allowed the text file to

be read into an Info file using the ‘GET’ command into a file named ALLLIBS.ATT. This Info file
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— C-8 —

of library attribute data was then linked to the ALLLIB geographic coverage using the Arc/Info

command ‘JOINITEM.’

Arc/Info’s ARCEDIT program was then used on the ALLLIB coverage to select out library

outlets relative to their location. This resulted in four separate library coverages that corresponded to

those of the census tract coverages. Each of these four library coverages was also projected into the

Albers projection to correspond to that of the census tract coverages. Each of the four library

coverages was then further divided into (potentially) four coverages depending on the outlets’

metropolitan status. A breakdown of the public library outlets’ distribution by area of the country and

type is:

Status Alaska Hawaii East U.S. West U.S. TOTAL

CC 4 7 1,628 928 2567

NC 0 0 3,142 1,613 4,755

NO 89 14 4,388 3,484 7,965

Unknown 0 27 390 14 431

TOTAL 93 48 9,548 6,029 15,718

Thus, there were a total of 13 library coverages, one for each of the cells in the above table that does

not have a value of zero and that is not a total.

At this point, the U.S. Bureau of the Census’s CD-ROM (SSTF17) entitled “Poverty in the U.S.”

which is based on poverty statistics collected from the 1990 census was used. This CD-ROM also had

two pieces of information associated with each census tract: whether it was part of a CMSA/PMSA

and whether it was part of a central city. Based on this information, the following assignments could

be made to all census tracts:

(1) If a census tract was “central city”, a library outlet in that tract should be ‘CC’;

(2) If a census tract was part of a CMSA or PMSA but not part of a central city, then a library

outlet in that tract should be ‘NC’; and

(3) If a census tract was not part of a CMSA or PMSA, then a library outlet in that tract should be

‘NO’.

This information was extracted from the CD-ROM and then read into an Info file. This Info file was

then merged (using Arc/Info’s ‘JOINITEM) with the respective census tract coverages for the three

regions in which there were ‘UK’ libraries (Hawaii, eastern U.S., and western U.S.). By overlaying

this information with the original library point files for these regions, it was possible to assign a

metropolitan status code to all the libraries with ‘UK’ status in the original FSCS files. The results of

this analysis were:

124 ‘CC’ library outlets

178 ‘NC’ library outlets

129 ‘NO’ library outlets

431 old ‘UK’ library outlets

These libraries were placed into their appropriate library coverage files, giving the table below:

Status Alaska Hawaii East U.S. West U.S. TOTAL

CC 4 14 1,732 941 2,691

NC 0 9 3,310 1,614 4,933

NO 89 25 4,506 3,474 8,094

TOTAL 93 48 9,548 6,029 15,718
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— C-9 —

The Arc/Info ‘REGIONBUFFER’ command was then used on each of the coverages to generate a

buffer around each library point. Central city (CC) library outlets had a buffer of one mile (1610

meters). NC library outlets had a buffer of both two miles (3220 meters) and three miles (4830

meters). Rural (NO) libraries had buffers of both five miles (8050 meters) and ten miles (16,100

meters). REGIONBUFFER was used instead of the ‘BUFFER’ command because

REGIONBUFFER allows for overlapping polygons (i.e., the market area of one library outlet in close

proximity to another may overlap that of the other).

Each of these buffered library files was then overlaid on top of its appropriate census tract area

coverage using the Arc/Info ‘INTERSECT’ command. This resulted in the creation of new polygons

as the census tract polygons would be cut into smaller polygons by the market area(s) of library

outlets created by the REGIONBUFFER command. Note that the census statistics on poverty would

NOT be modified by this action. For instance, if only one-tenth of the original census tract actually

fell into a market area buffer, the entire census tract population statistics would still be assigned to

this new small census tract polygon created by the INTERSECT command. To account for this

splitting of census tracts, the variables PBEPOV and PABPOV were added to each of the 10 library

coverages (See below for how they were used.).

In order to analyze the poverty statistics in the census tract polygons created by the INTERSECT

command, it was necessary to use the Arc/Info ‘REGIONQUERY’ command due to the existence of

overlapping market areas, especially for two-mile diameter market areas in central city areas. This

command analyzed each market area region for each library outlet relative to its census tract region.

After this procedure was completed, the Info program was used within Arc/Info for each of the 10

library market area coverages for the following calculations:

CALC PBEPOV = ( AREA / ITAREA ) * NBEPOV

CALC PABPOV = (AREA / ITAREA ) * NABPOV

These two calculations divide the actual area of a census tract within a library outlet market area

(AREA, which is automatically calculated by Arc/Info) by the initial size of the entire census tract

region (ITAREA). This value is then multiplied by the number of individuals within the entire census

tract region that are below poverty (NBEPOV) or above poverty (NABPOV) and puts the result into

the newly-defined variables (PBEPOV and PABPOV). This procedure re-calculates the number of

individuals that are above or below poverty assigned to the library market area from each of the

census tracts relative to the percentage of the total census tract that actually falls within the library

outlet’s market area.

A library outlet’s market area and associated poverty statistics could now be calculated from the

many small polygons. The Arc/Info’s FREQUENCY command was used to sum the total number of

individuals within each census tract polygon that was below or above poverty level status for each

library outlet after the above calculations. The Arc/Info command ‘INFODBASE’ was then used to

convert the results from these calculations into a Dbase file format that could be read by Microsoft

Excel.

The Excel program was used to calculate the poverty percentage rate for each library outlet’s

market area. This was calculated by dividing the number of individuals below poverty status for each

market region by the total number of individuals within each region for whom poverty status was

determined. Excel was also used to find the absolute number as well as the relative percentage of

library outlets within each poverty percentage point.
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— C-10 —

C. Random Sampling

Once the radius of the market area was determined, then the exact Arc/Info coverages to

be used was identified because each coverage contained one particular radius (market area)

for one particular library type (i.e., either urban, suburban, or rural). The radii of one, three,

and ten were selected for urban, suburban, and rural libraries, respectively, by Dr. John

Bertot (as discussed in the Survey Methodology section above). The breakdown of library

types by poverty was as following using those radii:

Status < 20.5% Poverty 20.51–40.5% Poverty >40.5% Poverty TOTAL

Urban 1587

(58.97%)

885

(32.89%)

219

(8.14%)

2,691

Suburban 4602

(93.29%)

313

(6.35%)

18

(0.36%)

4,933

Rural 6568

(81.15%)

1446

(17.87%)

80

(0.99%)

8,094

TOTAL 12,757 48 9,548 15,718

At this point, Dr. Bertot decided that all the libraries that fell within four particular cells would be

included in the study. These were all libraries surrounded by extreme poverty, regardless of their

location, as well as those suburban libraries serving populations in poverty. The rest would have a

proportional sample drawn to approximate 2000 libraries. Using this technique, the following

number of libraries were actually to be included in the sample:

Status < 20.5% Poverty 20.51–40.5% Poverty >40.5% Poverty TOTAL

Urban 202 113 219 343

Suburban 586 313 18 628

Rural 836 184 80 1030

TOTAL 1624 610 317 2551

To draw the sample itself for those cells that needed sampling, the random number generator

function within Microsoft Excel was used. The random number assigned to each library branch

within each coverage was calculated as follows:

=INT(RAND()*10000)

Once this random number was assigned to each branch in each coverage, the Excel spreadsheet was

sorted by the column containing the randomly-generated number. The top ‘X’ libraries within that

coverage was then used for the sample. For instance, for the coverage containing the 1,587 libraries

in urban areas whose market area had poverty less than 20.5%, the 202 libraries that were randomly

assigned the highest numbers were selected to be included in the sample. The associated address

information for all those selected libraries were then sent to Dr. Bertot.

References

National Center for Education Statistics. (1997). Public libraries in the United States: FY 1994.

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement

[NCES 97-418].

National Center for Education Statistics. (1996). Public libraries in the United States: FY 1993.

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
$33(1',;'6859(<5(68/76

 

38 From The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Final Report,

by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R McClure, Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science, 1998.
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— D-3 —

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Figure 1. Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status and Poverty.

Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 10.1%

(n=1,587)

5.6%

(n=885)

1.4%

(n=219)

17.1%

(n=2,691)

Suburban 29.3%

(n=4,602)

2.0%

(n=313)

0.1%

(n=18)

31.4%

(n=4,933)

Rural 41.8%

(n=6,568)

9.2%

(n=1,446)

0.5%

(n=80)

51.5%

(n=8,094)

Overall 81.2%

(n=12,757)

16.8%

(n=2,644)

2.0%

(n=317)

100.0%*

(n=15,718)

* According to NCES (1996), there are 16,792 public library outlets, of which 894 are

bookmobiles. By subtracting the 894 bookmobiles, and other issues encountered by the study

team, it was possible to geocode 15,718 outlets. See Appendix B of the final report for details on

the outlet geocoding process.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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— D-4 —

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Figure 2. Public Library Outlets Connected to the Internet (Both Public Access and No

Public Access) by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Poverty Base=15,718 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 91.1%

(n=1,445)

91.9%

(n=813)

87.2%

(n=191)

91.0%

+/- 2.9%

(n=2,449)

Suburban 88.7%

(n=4,082)

79.2%

(n=248)

83.3%

(n=15)

88.1%

+/- 3.2%

(n=4,345)

Rural 79.3%

(n=5,207)

74.5%

(n=1,077)

72.5%

(n=58)

78.4%

+/- 4.1%

(n=6,343)

Overall

84.1%

+/- 3.6%

(n=10,735)

80.9%

+/- 3.9%

(n=2,138)

83.3%

+/- 3.7%

(n=264)

83.6%

+/- 3.7%

(n=13,137)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of all connected public library outlets.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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— D-5 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 3. Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status (As a

Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Internet Status

Base = 15,718

Connected with

Public Internet

Access

Connected with

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Metropolitan

Status

Urban

84.0%

+/- 3.7%

(n=2,261)

7.0%

+/- 2.6%

(n=188)

9.0%

+/- 2.9%

(n=242)

100.0%

(n=2,691)

Suburban

76.7%

+/- 4.2%

(n=3,783)

11.4%

+/- 3.2%

(n=562)

11.9%

+/- 3.2%

(n=588)

100.0%

(n=4,933)

Rural

67.6%

+/- 4.7%

(n=5,475)

10.7%

+/- 3.1%

(n=868)

21.6%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,751)

100.0%

(n=8,094)

Overall

73.3%

+/- 4.7%

(n=11,519)

10.3%

+/- 3.0%

(n=1,618)

16.4%

+/- 3.7%

(n=2,581)

100.0%

(n=15,718)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of public library outlets connected to the Internet,

not connected to the Internet, or connected to the Internet with public access services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell and Figure 2 for the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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— D-6 —

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Figure 4. Internet Status for All Public Library Outlets by Poverty (As a Percentage of All

Library Outlets).

Internet Status

Base = 15,718

Connected with

Public Internet

Access

Connected with

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Poverty

Less than 20%

73.2%

+/- 4.4%

(n=9,431)

10.9%

+/- 3.1%

(n=1,394)

15.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=2,022)

100.0%

(n=12,757)

20%-40%

72.8%

+/- 4.5%

(n=1,925)

8.1%

+/- 2.7%

(n=213)

19.1%

+/- 3.9%

(n=506)

100.0%

(n=2,644)

More than 40%

79.5%

+/- 4.0%

(n=252)

3.8%

+/- 1.9%

(n=12)

16.7%

+/- 3.7%

(n=53)

100.0%

(n=317)

Overall

73.3%

+/- 4.7%

(n=11,519)

10.3%

+/- 3.0%

(n=1,618)

16.4%

+/- 3.7%

(n=2,581)

100.0%

(n=15,718)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of public library outlets connected to the Internet,

not connected to the Internet, or connected to the Internet with public access services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell and Figure 2 for the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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— D-7 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 5. Public Library Outlets With No Internet Access that Plan to Connect to the

Internet for Library Staff Use Only by June 1999 by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a

Percentage of Library Outlets without Internet Access).

Base = 2,581 Poverty

Non-response=53 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 7.1%

(n=10)

25.0%

(n=18) N/A

11.6%

+/- 3.2%

(n=28)

Suburban 6.5%

(n=34)

7.8%

(n=5) N/A

6.6%

+/- 2.5%

(n=39)

Rural 13.8%

(n=182)

2.8%

(n=10)

22.7%

(n=5)

11.6%

+/- 3.1%

(n=197)

Overall

11.4%

+/- 3.1%

(n=226)

6.9%

+/- 2.5%

(n=34)

9.4%

+/- 2.9%

(n=5)

10.4%

+/- 3.0%

(n=265)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of non-connected public library outlets that plan

to connect to the Internet for library staff use.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 1 and 2 for the total number of public library outlets within

each poverty/metropolitan status cell and the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell, respectively.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the 2,581 unconnected

library outlets did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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— D-8 —

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Figure 6. Public Library Outlets With No Internet Access that Plan to Connect to the

Internet for Library Staff Use and Public Access by June 1999 by Metropolitan Status and

Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets without Internet Access).

Base = 2,581 Poverty

Non-response=53 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 71.6%

(n=101)

50.0%

(n=36)

53.6%

(n=15)

62.8%

+/- 4.8%

(n=152)

Suburban 67.4%

(n=351)

56.3%

(n=36)

50.0%

(n=2)

66.1%

+/- 4.7%

(n=388)

Rural 35.0%

(n=461)

54.3%

(n=195)

38.1%

(n=8)

39.1%

+/- 4.8%

(n=664)

Overall

46.1%

+/- 4.9%

(n=912)

53.8%

+/- 4.9%

(n=267)

46.2%

+/- 4.0%

(n=24)

47.6%

+/- 4.9%

(n=1,204)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of non-connected public library outlets that plan

to connect to the Internet for library staff use and public access.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 1 and 2 for the total number of public library outlets within

each poverty/metropolitan status cell and the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell, respectively.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the 2,581 unconnected

library outlets did not respond to this question.

Note 5: The survey did not ask responding libraries that are currently connected to the Internet but

do not provide public access to indicate their plans to convert to public access Internet

services by June 1999.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-9 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 7. Public Library Outlets With No Internet Access that Do Not Plan to Connect to the

Internet by June 1999 by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library

Outlets without Internet Access).

Base = 2,581 Poverty

Non-response=53 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 21.3%

(n=30)

25.0%

(n=18)

46.4%

(n=13)

25.6%

+/- 4.3%

(n=62)

Suburban 26.2%

(n=136)

35.4%

(n=23)

50.0%

(n=2)

27.2%

+/- 4.4%

(n=160)

Rural 51.2%

(n=675)

42.9%

(n=154)

38.1%

(n=8)

49.3%

+/- 4.9%

(n=837)

Overall

42.5%

+/- 4.9%

(n=841)

39.3%

+/- 4.8%

(n=195)

44.2%

+/- 5.0%

(n=23)

41.9%

+/- 4.9%

(n=1,059)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of non-connected public library outlets that do

not plan to connect to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 1 and 2 for the total number of public library outlets within

each poverty/metropolitan status cell and the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell, respectively.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the 2,581 unconnected

library outlets did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-10 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 8. Public Library Outlets that Provide Public Internet Access by Metropolitan Status

and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Connected to the Internet).

Base = 13,137 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 93.7%

(n=1,354)

88.9%

(n=722)

96.3%

(n=184)

92.3%

+/- 2.7%

(n=2,261)

Suburban 87.3%

(n=3,562)

83.9%

(n=208)

87.5%

(n=14)

87.1%

+/- 3.4%

(n=3,783)

Rural 85.0%

(n=4,425)

92.4%

(n=984)

94.8%

(n=55)

86.3%

+/- 3.4%

(n=5,475)

Overall

87.0%

+/- 3.4%

(n=9,341)

90.0%

+/- 3.0%

(n=1,925)

95.5%

+/- 2.1%

(n=252)

87.7%

+/- 3.3%

(n=11,519)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of all connected public library outlets that provide

public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 2 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell that have an Internet connection.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-11 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 9. Public Library Outlets that Provide Public Internet Access by Metropolitan Status

and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Base = 15,718 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 85.4%

(n=1,354)

81.6%

(n=722)

84.0%

(n=184)

84.0%

+/- 3.2%

(n=2,261)

Suburban 77.4%

(n=3,562)

66.5%

(n=208)

73.7%

(n=14)

76.7%

+/- 4.2%

(n=3,783)

Rural 67.4%

(n=4,425)

68.8%

(n=995)

68.8%

(n=55)

67.6%

+/- 4.7%

(n=5,475)

Overall

73.2%

+/- 4.4%

(n=9,341)

72.8%

+/- 4.5%

(n=1,925)

79.5%

+/- 4.0%

(n=252)

73.3%

+/- 4.3%

(n=11,519)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of all public library outlets that provide public

access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-12 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 10. Projected Internet Status for Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status As of

June 1999 (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Internet Status

Base = 15,718

Non-response=53

Connected With

Public Internet

Access

Connected With

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Metropolitan

Status

Urban

89.7%

+/- 3.0%

(n=2,413)

8.0%

+/- 2.7%

(n=216)

2.3%

+/- 1.5%

(n=62)

100.0%

(n=2,691)

Suburban

84.6%

+/- 3.6%

(n=4,171)

12.2%

+/- 3.3%

(n=601)

3.2%

+/- 1.8%

(n=160)

100.0%

(n=4,932)

Rural

76.3%

+/- 4.2%

(n=6,139)

13.2%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,065)

10.4%

+/- 3.1%

(n=837)

100.0%

(n=8,041)

Overall

81.2%

+/- 3.9%

(n=12,723)

12.0%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,883)

6.8%

+/- 2.5%

(n=1,059)

100.0%

(n=15,664)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell, Figure 2 for the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell, and Figure 3 for the total number of

public library outlets that provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the library outlets did not

respond to this question.

Note 5: The survey did not ask responding libraries that are currently connected to the Internet but do

not provide public access to indicate their plans to convert to public access Internet services

by June 1999.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-13 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 11. Projected Internet Status for Public Library Outlets by Poverty As of June 1999 (As

a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Internet Status

Base = 15,718

Non-response=53

Connected With

Public Internet

Access

Connected With

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Poverty

Less than 20%

80.6%

+/- 4.0%

(n=10,253)

12.7%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,620)

6.6%

+/- 2.5%

(n=841)

100.0%

(n=12,714)

20%-40%

83.2%

+/- 3.7%

(n=2,192)

9.4%

+/- 2.9%

(n=247)

7.4%

+/- 2.6%

(n=195)

100.0%

(n=2,634)

More than 40%

87.3%

+/- 3.3%

(n=276)

5.4%

+/- 2.3%

(n=17)

7.3%

+/- 2.6%

(n=23)

100.0%

(n=316)

Overall

81.2%

+/- 3.9%

(n=12,723)

12.0%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,883)

6.8%

+/- 2.5%

(n=1,059)

100.0%

(n=15,664)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 1 for the total number of public library outlets within each

poverty/metropolitan status cell, Figure 2 for the total number of connected public library

outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell, and Figure 4 for the total number of

public library outlets that provide public access to the Internet by poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the library outlets did not

respond to this question.

Note 5: The survey did not ask responding libraries that are currently connected to the Internet but do

not provide public access to indicate their plans to convert to public access Internet services

by June 1999.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-14 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 12. Projected Internet Status for Public Library Outlets by Metropolitan Status As of

June 1999 (As a Percentage of Library Outlets without Internet Access).

Internet Status

Base = 2,581

Non-response=53

Connected With

Public Internet

Access

Connected With

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Metropolitan

Status

Urban

62.8%

+/- 4.8%

(n=152)

11.6%

+/- 3.2%

(n=28)

25.6%

+/- 4.4%

(n=62)

100.0%

(n=242)

Suburban

66.1%

+/- 4.7%

(n=388)

6.6%

+/- 2.5%

(n=39)

27.2%

+/- 4.4%

(n=160)

100.0%

(n=587)

Rural

39.1%

+/- 4.9%

(n=664)

11.6%

+/- 3.2%

(n=197)

49.3%

+/- 5.0%

(n=837)

100.0%

(n=1,698)

Overall

47.6%

+/- 5.0%

(n=1,204)

10.4%

+/- 3.1%

(n=265)

41.9%

+/- 4.9%

(n=1,059)

100.0%

(n=2,528)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the number of currently non-connected public

library outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the 2,581 unconnected

library outlets did not respond to this question.

Note 5: The survey did not ask responding libraries that are currently connected to the Internet but do

not provide public access to indicate their plans to convert to public access Internet services

by June 1999.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-15 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW,QWHUQHW&RQQHFWLYLW\DQG3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 13. Projected Internet Status for Public Library Outlets by Poverty As of June 1999 (As

a Percentage of Library Outlets without Internet Access).

Public Library Outlet Special Software/ Hardware Status

Base = 2,581

Non-response=53

Connected With

Public Internet

Access

Connected With

No Public

Internet Access

Not Connected to

the Internet Total

Poverty

Less than 20%

46.1%

+/- 5.0%

(n=912)

11.4%

+/- 3.2%

(n=226)

42.5%

+/- 4.9%

(n=841)

100.0%

(n=1,979)

20%-40%

53.8%

+/- 5.0%

(n=267)

6.9%

+/- 2.5%

(n=34)

39.3%

+/- 4.9%

(n=195)

100.0%

(n=496)

More than 40%

46.2%

+/- 5.0%

(n=24)

9.4%

+/- 3.0%

(n=5)

44.2%

+/- 5.0%

(n=23)

100.0%

(n=52)

Overall

47.6%

+/- 5.0%

(n=1,204)

10.4%

+/- 3.1%

(n=265)

41.9%

+/- 4.9%

(n=1,059)

100.0%

(n=2,528)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the number of currently non-connected public

library outlets within each poverty/metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 53 of the 2,581 unconnected

library outlets did not respond to this question.

Note 5: The survey did not ask responding libraries that are currently connected to the Internet but do

not provide public access to indicate their plans to convert to public access Internet services

by June 1999.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-16 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 14. Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Text-Based Terminals for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-reponse=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 30.4%

(n=384)

28.0%

(n=190)

42.9%

(n=72)

30.6%

+/- 4.6%

(n=646)

Suburban 22.0%

(n=780)

24.9%

(n=51)

35.7%

(n=5)

22.2%

+/- 4.2%

(n=836)

Rural 12.5%

(n=546)

15.6%

(n=154)

12.7%

(n=7)

13.1%

+/- 3.34

(n=707)

Overall

18.6%

+/- 3.9%

(n=1,711)

21.2%

+/- 4.1%

(n=395)

35.2%

+/- 4.7%

(n=83)

19.4%

+/- 3.9%

(n=2,188)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

text-based public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-17 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 15. Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Text-Based Terminals for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Base=15,718 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 25.7%

(n=384)

22.6%

(n=190)

35.5%

(n=72)

25.4%

+/- 4.4%

(n=646)

Suburban 17.0%

(n=780)

16.5%

(n=51)

26.3%

(n=5)

17.0%

+/- 3.8%

(n=836)

Rural 8.4%

(n=546)

10.7%

(n=154)

8.8%

(n=7)

8.8%

+/- 2.8%

(n=707)

Overall

13.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,711)

15.3%

+/- 3.6%

(n=395)

27.6%

+/- 4.5%

(n=83)

14.1%

+/- 3.4%

(n=2,188)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of all public library outlets that provide textbased public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 library outlets did not

respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-18 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 16. Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Graphical Workstations for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 84.8%

(n=1,071)

92.0%

(n=623)

78.0%

(n=131)

86.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,826)

Suburban 94.9%

(n=3,353)

90.7%

(n=186)

100.0%

(n=14)

94.7%

+/- 2.2%

(n=3,558)

Rural 96.6%

(n=4,222)

97.9%

(n=964)

96.4%

(n=53)

96.8%

+/- 1.8%

(n=5,239)

Overall

94.3%

+/- 2.3%

(n=8,651)

95.0%

+/- 2.2%

(n=1,773)

83.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=198)

94.2%

+/- 2.3%

(n=10,623)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

graphical public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-19 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 17. Public Library Outlets that Provide Some Graphical Workstations for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Base=15,718 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 71.6%

(n=1,071)

74.2%

(n=623)

64.5%

(n=131)

71.9%

+/- 4.5%

(n=1,826)

Suburban 73.3%

(n=3,358)

60.0%

(n=186)

73.7%

(n=14)

72.5%

+/- 4.5%

(n=3,558)

Rural 64.8%

(n=4,222)

67.1%

(n=964)

66.3%

(n=53)

65.2%

+/- 4.8%

(n=5,239)

Overall

68.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=8,651)

68.6%

+/- 4.6%

(n=1,773)

65.8%

+/- 4.8%

(n=198)

68.6%

+/- 4.7%

(n=10,623)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of all public library outlets that provide graphical

public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 library outlets did not

respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-20 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 18. Public Library Outlets that Provide Both Graphical Workstations and Text-Based

Terminals for Public Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of

Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 15.2%

(n=192)

19.9%

(n=135)

20.8%

(n=35)

17.2%

+/- 3.8%

(n=363)

Suburban 16.9%

(n=599)

15.6%

(n=32)

35.7%

(n=5)

16.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=636)

Rural 9.1%

(n=396)

13.5%

(n=133)

9.1%

(n=5)

9.9%

+/- 2.9%

(n=535)

Overall

12.9%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,188)

16.1%

+/- 3.7%

(n=301)

19.0%

+/-3.9%

(n=45)

13.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,534)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

graphical and text-based public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-21 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 19. Public Library Outlets that Provide Only Text-Based Terminals for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 15.2%

(n=192)

8.0%

(n=54)

22.0%

(n=37)

13.4%

+/- 3.4%

(n=283)

Suburban 5.1%

(n=181)

9.3%

(n=19) N/A

5.3%

+/- 2.2%

(n=200)

Rural 3.4%

(n=150)

2.1%

(n=21)

3.6%

(n=2)

3.2%

+/- 1.8%

(n=172)

Overall

5.7%

+/- 2.3%

(n=523)

5.0%

+/- 2.2%

(n=94)

16.1%

+/- 3.7%

(n=39)

5.8%

+/- 2.3%

(n=655)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

only text-based public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-22 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 20. Public Library Outlets that Provide Only Graphical Workstations for Public

Internet Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=241 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 69.6%

(n=879)

72.0%

(n=488)

57.1%

(n=96)

69.4%

+/- 4.6%

(n=1,463)

Suburban 78.0%

(n=2,759)

75.1%

(n=154)

64.3%

(n=9)

77.8%

+/- 4.2%

(n=2,922)

Rural 87.5%

(n=3,825)

84.4%

(n=831)

87.3%

(n=48)

86.9%

+/- 3.4%

(n=4,704)

Overall

81.4%

+/- 3.9%

(n=7,464)

78.8%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,472)

64.8%

+/- 4.8%

(n=153)

80.6%

+/- 4.0%

(n=9,089)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

only text-based public access to the Internet.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 241 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-23 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 21. Frequency Analysis of Public Library Outlet Text-Based Public Access

Terminals.

Base=2,116

Non-response=72

Quartile

Number of TextBased Terminals

Per Outlet

Percentage of

Outlets for Each

Quantity of TextBased Terminals

Cumulative Percentage of

Outlets for Each Quantity

of Text-Based Terminals

1 (25%) 1 37.1% 37.1%

2 (50%) 2

3

4

5

17.4%

10.0%

4.1%

4.5%

54.5%

64.5%

68.7%

73.1%

3 (75%) 6

7

8

9

10

12

13

14

15

16

18

19

21

22

25

35

39

42

45

156

183

6.1%

5.3%

5.7%

3.1%

0.5%

0.9%

0.5%

0.5%

0.1%

0.6%

0.5%

0.5%

0.1%

0.1%

0.2%

0.4%

0.1%

0.5%

0.5%

0.5%

0.4%

79.2%

84.5%

90.2%

93.3%

93.7%

94.7%

95.2%

95.7%

95.8%

96.3%

96.8%

97.3%

97.4%

97.5%

97.6%

98.0%

98.1%

98.6%

99.1%

99.6%

100.0%

Note 1: Readers should refer to Figure 14 for the number of public library outlets that provide

text-based public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-24 —

3XEOLF/LEUDU\2XWOHW7\SH2I3XEOLF$FFHVV6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 22. Frequency Analysis of Public Library Outlet Graphical Public Access

Workstations.

Base=10,251

Non-response=372

Quartile

Number of

Graphical

Workstations per

Outlet

Percentage of

Outlets for Each

Quantity of

Graphical

Workstations

Cumulative Percentage of

Outlets for Each Quantity

of Graphical

Workstations

1 (25%) 1 42.7% 42.7%

2 (50%) 2

3

21.5%

9.4%

64.2%

73.6%

3 (75%) 4

5

6

7

8

9

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

19

23

24

25

26

28

34

35

37

41

42

44

56

82

135

215

289*

318*

7.4%

3.7%

3.9%

2.6%

2.3%

1.4%

0.7%

0.4%

0.2%

0.3%

0.5%

0.3%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

0.2%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.3%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

81.0%

84.7%

88.6%

91.2%

93.5%

94.9%

95.6%

96.0%

96.2%

96.5%

97.0%

97.3%

97.5%

97.7%

97.9%

98.2%

98.3%

98.5%

98.7%

98.8%

98.9%

99.0%

99.1%

99.2%

98.6%

99.7%

99.8%

99.9%

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

* Due to rounding, frequencies that are less than 0.05% appear as 0.0%.

Note 1: Readers should refer to Figure 16 for the number of public library outlets that provide

graphical public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-25 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 23. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of Public Internet Access by Metropolitan

Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Metropolitan Status Poverty Level

Base=11,519

Nonresponse=556

Urban Suburban Rural Less than

20% 20%-40%

More

than

40%

Overall

Maximum

Speed

14.4kbps 3.6%

(n=76)

3.7%

(n=133)

4.7%

(n=248)

4.8%

(n=431)

0.9%

(n=16)

3.8%

(n=9)

4.2%

+/- 1.9%

(n=456)

28.8kbps 4.9%

(n=103)

13.4%

(n=486)

21.8%

(n=1,143)

16.9%

(n=1,509)

11.3%

(n=204)

7.7%

(n=18)

15.8%

+/- 3.6%

(n=1,731)

33.6kbps 2.8%

(n=59)

7.9%

(n=288)

20.4%

(n=1,071)

13.7%

(n=1,224)

10.3%

(n=186)

3.0%

(n=7)

12.9%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,417)

56kbps 33.5%

(n=700)

35.1%

(n=1,273)

30.7%

(n=1,608)

32.0%

(n=2,853)

34.8%

(n=628)

42.6%

(n=100)

32.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,581)

64kbps 4.8%

(n=100)

4.3%

(n=156)

4.3%

(n=223)

4.1%

(n=368)

6.0%

(n=108)

1.7%

(n=4)

4.4%

+/-2.0%

(n=479)

128kbps 10.7%

(n=223)

6.0%

(n=218)

2.8%

(n=148)

4.8%

(n=432)

8.1%

(n=146)

4.7%

(n=11)

5.4%

+/- 2.2%

(n=589)

T1 (1.45mbps) 36.5%

(n=764)

26.0%

(n=946)

13.3%

(n=695)

20.4%

(n=1,823)

27.6%

(n=498)

34.0%

(n=80)

21.9%

+/- 4.0%

(n=2,401)

Cable

(10mbps)

1.5%

(n=32)

2.8%

(n=103)

1.8%

(n=96)

2.4%

(n=218)

0.7%

(n=12)

0.4%

(n=1)

2.1%

+/- 1.4%

(n=231)

Other 1.7%

(n=35)

0.6%

(n=21)

0.2%

(n=11)

0.6%

(n=52)

0.5%

(n=9)

2.1%

(n=5)

0.6%

+/- .07%

(n=67)

Overall 100.0%

(n=2,092)

100.0%

(n=3,624)

100.0%

(n=5,243)

100.0%

(n=8,910)

100.0%

(n=1,811)

100.0%

(n=235)

100%

(n=10,961)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the maximum speed of connected public library

outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-26 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 24. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 14.4kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 4.8%

(n=61)

1.4%

(n=9)

3.6%

(n=6)

3.6%

+/- 1.8%

(n=76)

Suburban 3.6%

(n=124)

3.4%

(n=7)

15.4%

(n=2)

3.7%

+/- 1.8%

(n=133)

Rural 5.8%

(n=246) N/A 3.6%

(n=2)

4.7%

+/- 2.0%

(n=248)

Overall

4.8%

+/- 2.1%

(n=431)

0.9%

+/- .09%

(n=16)

3.6%

+/- 1.9%

(n=9)

4.2%

+/- 1.9%

(n=456)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 14.4kbps maximum speed of connected

public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-27 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 25. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 28.8kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 5.6%

(n=71)

4.1%

(n=27)

3.0%

(n=5)

4.9%

+/- 2.0%

(n=103)

Suburban 13.2%

(n=452)

16.7%

(n=34) N/A

13.4%

+/- 3.4%

(n=486)

Rural 23.2%

(n=986)

15.3%

(n=144)

23.6%

(n=13)

21.8%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,143)

Overall

16.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=1,509)

11.3%

+/- 3.2%

(n=204)

7.7%

+/- 2.7%

(n=18)

15.8%

+/- 3.6%

(n=1,731)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 28.8kbps maximum speed of connected

public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-28 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 26. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 33.6kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 1.6%

(n=20)

5.5%

(n=36)

1.2%

(n=2)

2.8%

+/- 1.5%

(n=59)

Suburban 7.9%

(n=271)

7.8%

(n=16) N/A

7.9%

+/- 2.7%

(n=288)

Rural 22.0%

(n=932)

14.1%

(n=133)

9.1%

(n=5)

20.4%

+/- 4.0%

(n=1,071)

Overall

13.7%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,224)

10.3%

+/- 3.0%

(n=186)

3.0%

+/- 1.7%

(n=7)

12.9%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,417)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 33.6kbps maximum speed of connected

public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-29 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 27. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 56kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 37.6%

(n=475)

24.7%

(n=163)

36.9%

(n=62)

33.5%

+/- 4.7%

(n=700)

Suburban 35.4%

(n=1,210)

27.1%

(n=55)

61.5%

(n=8)

35.1%

+/- 4.7%

(n=1,273)

Rural 27.5%

(n=1,168)

43.5%

(n=410)

55.4%

(n=30)

30.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=1,608)

Overall

32.0%

+/- 4.6%

(n=2,853)

34.8%

+/- 4.7%

(n=628)

42.6%

+/- 4.9%

(n=100)

32.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,581)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 56kbps maximum speed of connected public

library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-30 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 28. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 64kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 4.8%

(n=61)

5.5%

(n=36)

2.4%

(n=4)

4.8%

+/- 2.1%

(n=100)

Suburban 4.0%

(n=136)

9.9%

(n=20) N/A

4.3%

+/- 2.0%

(n=156)

Rural 4.0%

(n=171)

5.4%

(n=51) N/A

4.3%

+/- 2.0%

(n=223)

Overall

4.1%

+/- 2.0%

(n=368)

6.0%

+/- 2.3%

(n=108)

1.7%

+/- 1.2%

(n=4)

4.4%

+/- 1.9%

(n=479)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 64kbps maximum speed of connected public

library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-31 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 29. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 128kbps for Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet

Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 9.6%

(n=121)

13.7%

(n=90)

6.5%

(n=11)

10.7%

+/- 3.1%

(n=223)

Suburban 6.0%

(n=204)

7.4%

(n=15) N/A

6.0%

+/- 2.4%

(n=218)

Rural 2.5%

(n=107)

4.3%

(n=41) N/A

2.8%

+/- 1.6%

(n=148)

Overall

4.8%

+/- 2.1%

(n=432)

8.1%

+/- 2.7%

(n=146)

4.7%

+/- 2.1%

(n=11)

5.4%

+/- 2.0%

(n=589)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the 128kbps maximum speed of connected

public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-32 —

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Figure 30. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 1.45mbps (T1) for Public Internet Access

by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public

Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 31.2%

(n=394)

45.2%

(n=298)

42.9%

(n=72)

36.5%

+/- 4.7%

(n=764)

Suburban 26.2%

(n=893)

22.5%

(n=46)

25.0%

(n=3)

26.0%

+/- 4.4%

(n=942)

Rural 12.6%

(n=536)

16.3%

(n=154)

9.1%

(n=5)

13.3%

+/- 3.4%

(n=695)

Overall

20.4%

+/- 4.0%

(n=1,823)

27.6%

+/- 4.5%

(n=498)

34.0%

+/- 4.7%

(n=80)

21.9%

+/- 4.0%

(n=2,401)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the T1 (1.45mbps) maximum speed of

connected public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-33 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 31. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of 10mbps (Cable) for Public Internet

Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering

Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 2.4%

(n=30) N/A 0.6%

(n=1)

1.5%

+/- 1.2%

(n=32)

Suburban 3.0%

(n=102)

0.5%

(n=1) N/A

2.8%

+/- 1.6%

(n=103)

Rural 2.0%

(n=86)

1.1%

(n=10) N/A

1.8%

+/- 1.3%

(n=96)

Overall

2.4%

+/- 1.5%

(n=218)

0.7%

+/- .08%

(n=11)

0.4%

+/- .07%

(n=1)

2.1%

+/- 1.4%

(n=231)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the cable (10mbps) maximum speed of

connected public library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-34 —

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Figure 32. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed Not Identified (Other) for Public Internet

Access by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering

Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 2.4%

(n=30) N/A 3.0%

(n=5)

1.7%

+/- 1.2%

(n=35)

Suburban 0.3%

(n=11)

4.4%

(n=9) N/A

0.6%

+/- .07%

(n=21)

Rural 0.3%

(n=11) N/A N/A

0.2%

+/- .04%

(n=11)

Overall

0.6%

+/- .07%

(n=52)

0.5%

+/- .07%

(n=9)

2.1%

+/- 1.4%

(n=5)

0.6%

+/- .07%

(n=67)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of the Other maximum speed of connected public

library outlet public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-35 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 33. Public Library Outlets with Maximum Speed Less Than 56kbps* for Public Access

Internet by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering

Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 12.0%

(n=152)

10.9%

(n=63)

7.7%

(n=13)

11.3%

+/- 3.0%

(n=237)

Suburban 24.8%

(n=848)

27.9%

(n=55)

15.4%

(n=2)

25.0%

+/- 4.3%

(n=906)

Rural 51.0%

(n=2,164)

29.3%

(n=277)

36.4%

(n=20)

47.0%

+/- 5.0%

(n=2,461)

Overall

35.5%

+/- 4.8%

(n=3,164)

22.5%

+/- 4.2%

(n=406)

14.9%

+/- 3.6%

(n=35)

32.9%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,605)

* The less than 56kbps category combines the 14.4kbps, 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access

speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of public library outlet public access Internet

services with a maximum speed of less than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty and Figure 23 for

the number and percentage of library outlets by public access connection maximum speed.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-36 —

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Figure 34. Public Library Outlets with Maximum Speed of 56kbps for Public Access Internet

by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public

Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 37.6%

(n=475)

24.7%

(n=163)

36.9%

(n=62)

33.5%

+/- 4.7%

(n=700)

Suburban 35.4%

(n=1,210)

27.1%

(n=55)

61.5%

(n=8)

35.1%

+/- 4.7%

(n=1,273)

Rural 27.5%

(n=1,168)

43.5%

(n=410)

55.4%

(n=30)

30.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=1,608)

Overall

32.0%

+/- 4.6%

(n=2,853)

34.8%

+/- 4.7%

(n=628)

42.6%

+/- 4.9%

(n=100)

32.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,581)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of public library outlet public access Internet

services with a maximum speed of 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty and Figure 23 for

the number and percentage of library outlets by public access connection maximum speed.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-37 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 35. Public Library Outlets with Maximum Speed Greater Than 56kbps* for Public

Access Internet by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Non-response=556 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 48.0%

(n=606)

64.3%

(n=424)

52.4%

(n=88)

53.5%

+/- 5.0%

(n=1,119)

Suburban 39.1%

(n=1,334)

40.4%

(n=82)

25.0%

(n=3)

39.1%

+/- 4.8%

(n=1,420)

Rural 21.2%

(n=900)

27.1%

(n=256)

9.1%

(n=5)

22.2%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,161)

Overall

31.8%

+/- 4.6%

(n=2,841)

42.2%

+/- 4.9%

(n=763)

40.9%

+/- 4.9%

(n=96)

33.7%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,700)

* The greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1 (1.45mbps), and cable

(10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of public library outlet public access Internet

services with a maximum speed of more than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty and Figure 23 for

the number and percentage of library outlets by public access connection maximum speed.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-38 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 36. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of Public Internet Access by

Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=11,519

Non-response=556

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Metropolitan Status

Urban 3.6%

(n=76)

7.7%

(n=161)

33.5%

(n=700)

53.5%

(n=1,119)

Suburban 3.7%

(n=133)

21.3%

(n=774)

35.1%

(n=1,273)

39.1%

(n=1,420)

Rural 4.7%

(n=248)

42.2%

(n=2,213)

30.7%

(n=1,608)

22.2%

(n=1,161)

Overall

4.2%

+/- 1.9%

(n=456)

28.7%

+/- 4.5%

(n=3,148)

32.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,581)

33.7%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,700)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-39 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 37. Public Library Outlet Maximum Speed of Public Internet Access by Poverty

(As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=11,519

Non-response=556

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Poverty

Less than 20% 4.8%

(n=431)

30.6%

(n=2,733)

32.0%

(n=2,853)

31.8%

(n=2,841)

20%-40% 0.9%

(n=16)

21.6%

(n=380)

34.8%

(n=628)

42.4%

(n=763)

Greater than 40% 3.8%

(n=9)

11.1%

(n=26)

42.6%

(n=100)

40.9%

(n=96)

Overall

4.2%

+/- 1.9%

(n=456)

28.7%

+/- 4.5%

(n=3,148)

32.7%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,581)

33.7%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,700)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 11,519 library

outlets that provide public access Internet services did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-40 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 38. Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed

of Connection (As a Percentage of Library Outlets with Graphical Public Internet Access).

Base=10,623

Non-response=356 Graphical Public Internet Access

Speed of Public Access*

Less than 56kbps

32.4%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,329)

56kbps

32.0%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,303)

Greater than 56kbps

34.9%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,580)

Total 100.0%

(n=10,212)

* The less than 56kbps category combines the 14.4kbps, 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access

speeds in survey question 5; the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 56kbps, 56kbps, and greater than

56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds and Figure 16 for the total number of connected

public library outlets that provide graphical public access to the Internet within each

poverty/ metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 356 of the 10,623 library

outlets that provide graphical public access Internet services did not respond to this

question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-41 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 39. Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed

of Connection and Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of Library Outlets with

Graphical Public Internet Access).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=10,623

Non-response=356

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Metropolitan Status

Urban 1.2%

(n=21)

8.0%

(n=143)

31.4%

(n=558)

57.6%

(n=1,024)

Suburban 2.8%

(n=95)

21.5%

(n=738)

34.6%

(n=1,189)

40.9%

(n=1,406)

Rural 4.1%

(n=205)

42.1%

(n=2,126)

30.8%

(n=1,555)

22.8%

(n=1,151)

Overall

3.1%

+/- 1.7%

(n=321)

29.3%

+/- 4.5%

(n=3,008)

32.2%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,303)

34.9%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,580)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds and Figure 16 for the total number of connected

public library outlets that provide graphical public access to the Internet within each

poverty/ metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 356 of the 10,623 library

outlets that provide graphical public access Internet services did not respond to this

question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-42 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 40. Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed

of Connection and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets with Graphical Public

Internet Access).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=10,623

Non-response=356

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Poverty

Less than 20% 3.7%

(n=314)

31.3%

(n=2,624)

31.4%

(n=2,630)

32.9%

(n=2,758)

20%-40% 0.2%

(n=3)

21.3%

(n=360)

35.1%

(n=594)

43.3%

(n=733)

Greater than 40% 2.1%

(n=4)

12.2%

(n=24)

39.8%

(n=78)

45.1%

(n=88)

Overall

3.1%

+/- 1.7%

(n=321)

29.3%

+/- 4.5%

(n=3,008)

32.2%

+/- 4.6%

(n=3,303)

34.9%

+/- 4.7%

(n=3,580)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds and Figure 16 for the total number of connected

public library outlets that provide graphical public access to the Internet within each

poverty/ metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 356 of the 10,623 library

outlets that provide graphical public access Internet services did not respond to this

question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-43 —

0D[LPXP6SHHG2I3XEOLF$FFHVV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 41. Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed

of Connection and Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=15,718

Non-response=556

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Metropolitan Status

Urban 0.8%

(n=21)

5.3%

(n=143)

20.7%

(n=558)

38.1%

(n=1,024)

Suburban 1.9%

(n=95)

14.7%

(n=738)

23.6%

(n=1,189)

28.3%

(n=1,406)

Rural 2.5%

(n=205)

26.2%

(n=2,126)

14.2%

(n=1,555)

22.8%

(n=1,151)

Overall

2.1%

+/- 1.6%

(n=321)

19.8%

+/- 4.0%

(n=3,008)

21.7%

+/- 4.1%

(n=3,303)

23.6%

+/- 4.1%

(n=3,580)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds and Figure 16 for the total number of connected

public library outlets that provide graphical public access to the Internet within each

poverty/ metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 15,718 library

outlets did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— D-44 —

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Figure 42. Public Library Outlets that Provide Graphical Public Internet Access by Speed

of Connection and Poverty (As a Percentage of All Library Outlets).

Speed of Public Access*

Base=15,718

Non-response=556

Less than

28.8kbps

28.8kbps to

56kbps 56kbps

Greater

than

56kbps

Poverty

Less than 20% 2.5%

(n=314)

20.6%

(n=2,624)

20.6%

(n=2,630)

21.6%

(n=2,758)

20%-40% 0.1%

(n=3)

13.6%

(n=360)

22.5%

(n=594)

27.8%

(n=733)

Greater than 40% 1.3%

(n=4)

7.6%

(n=24)

24.6%

(n=78)

27.8%

(n=88)

Overall

2.1%

+/- 1.6%

(n=321)

19.8%

+/- 4.0%

(n=3,008)

21.7%

+/- 4.1%

(n=3,303)

23.6%

+/- 4.1%

(n=3,580)

* The less than 28.8kbps category is the 14.4kbps public access speed in survey question 5, the

28.8kbps to 56kbps category combines the 28.8kbps, and 33.6kbps public access speeds in

survey question 5, and the greater than 56kbps category combines the 64kbps, 128kbps, T1

(1.45mbps), and cable (10mbps) public access speeds in survey question 5.

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of graphical public library outlet public access

Internet services with a maximum speed of less than 28.8kbps, 28.8kbps to 56kbps,

56kbps, and greater than 56kbps.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figure 23 for the total number and percentage of public access

Internet services maximum speeds and Figure 16 for the total number of connected

public library outlets that provide graphical public access to the Internet within each

poverty/ metropolitan status cell.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data, rounding,

missing values, and not including the "other" speed category, not all cell n's will sum or

cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: Non-response is indicated as a weighted non-response. Thus, 556 of the 15,718 library

outlets did not respond to this question.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

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Figure 43. Public Library Outlets that Provide Special Software/Hardware for Persons with

Disabilities on All of Their Public Access Internet Workstations by Metropolitan Status and

Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 2.2%

(n=30)

2.5%

(n=18)

1.1%

(n=2)

2.3%

+/- 1.4%

(n=51)

Suburban 1.3%

(n=45) N/A N/A

1.2%

+/- 1.0%

(n=45)

Rural 3.4%

(n=150)

8.3%

(n=82) N/A

4.2%

+/- 2.0%

(n=232)

Overall

2.4%

+/- 1.5%

(n=226)

5.3%

+/- 2.2%

(n=100)

0.8%

+/- .09%

(n=2)

2.9%

+/- 1.6%

(n=328)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all public access Internet

terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

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Figure 44. Public Library Outlets that Provide Special Software/Hardware for Persons with

Disabilities on Some of their Public Access Internet Workstations by Metropolitan Status and

Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 23.1%

(n=313)

25.0%

(n=181)

26.6%

(n=49)

24.1%

+/- 4.2%

(n=543)

Suburban 14.9%

(n=531)

18.8%

(n=39) N/A

15.1%

+/- 3.6%

(n=571)

Rural 7.8%

(n=343)

10.4%

(n=103)

14.5%

(n=8)

8.3%

+/- 2.7%

(n=454)

Overall

12.7%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,188)

16.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=322)

23.0%

+/- 4.2%

(n=57)

13.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,567)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that use

filtering software on some of their public access Internet terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

— D-47 —

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Figure 45. Public Library Outlets that Provide Special Software/Hardware for Persons with

Disabilities on None of their Public Access Internet Workstations by Metropolitan Status and

Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 74.6%

(n=1,011)

72.5%

(n=524)

72.3%

(n=133)

73.8%

+/- 4.4%

(n=1,666)

Suburban 83.8%

(n=2,985)

81.3%

(n=169)

100.0%

(n=14)

83.7%

+/- 3.7%

(n=3,166)

Rural 88.9%

(n=3,932)

81.4%

(n=810)

85.5%

(n=47)

87.5%

+/- 3.3%

(n=4,789)

Overall

84.9%

+/- 3.5%

(n=7,928)

77.9%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,503)

76.1%

+/- 4.3%

(n=193)

83.6%

+/- 3.7%

(n=9,624)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on none of their public access

Internet terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

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Figure 46. Public Library Outlets that Provide Special Software/Hardware for Persons with

Disabilities by Metropolitan Status (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public

Internet Access).

Special Software/ Hardware Status

Base=11,519

On all public

access terminals/

workstations

On some public

access terminals/

workstations

On no public

access terminals/

workstations

Total

Metropolitan

Status

Urban

2.3%

+/- 1.4%

(n=51)

24.1%

+/- 4.2%

(n=543)

73.8%

+/- 4.4%

(n=1,666)

100.0%

(n=2,261)

Suburban

1.2%

+/- 1.0%

(n=45)

15.1%

+/- 3.6%

(n=571)

83.7%

+/- 3.7%

(n=3,166)

100.0%

(n=3,783)

Rural

4.2%

+/- 2.0%

(n=232)

8.3%

+/- 2.7%

(n=454)

87.5%

+/- 3.3%

(n=4,789)

100.0%

(n=5,475)

Overall

2.9%

+/- 1.6%

(n=328)

13.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,567)

83.6%

+/- 3.7%

(n=9,624)

100.0%

(n=11,519)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

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$FFHSWDEOH8VH3ROLFLHV)RU3XEOLF$FFHVV,QWHUQHW6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 47. Public Library Outlets that Provide Special Software/Hardware for Persons with

Disabilities by Poverty (As a Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Special Software/Hardware Status

Base=11,519

On all public

access terminals/

workstations

On some public

access terminals/

workstations

On no public

access terminals/

workstations

Total

Poverty

Less than 20%

2.4%

+/- 1.5%

(n=226)

12.7%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,188)

84.9%

+/- 3.5%

(n=7,928)

100.0%

(n=9,342)

20%-40%

5.3%

+/- 2.2%

(n=100)

16.9%

+/- 3.7%

(n=322)

77.9%

+/- 4.1%

(n=1,503)

100.0%

(n=1,925)

More than 40%

0.8%

+/- .09%

(n=2)

23.0%

+/- 4.2%

(n=57)

76.1%

+/- 4.3%

(n=193)

100.0%

(n=252)

Overall

2.9%

+/- 1.6%

(n=328)

13.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,567)

83.5%

+/- 3.7%

(n=9,624)

100.0%

(n=11,519)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all, some, or none of their public

access Internet workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

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$FFHSWDEOH8VH3ROLFLHV)RU3XEOLF$FFHVV,QWHUQHW6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 48. Public Library Outlets that Use Filtering Software on All of their Public Internet

Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of Library

Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 8.2%

(n=111)

10.0%

(n=72)

8.7%

(n=16)

8.8%

+/- 2.8%

(n=199)

Suburban 7.0%

(n=249)

11.1%

(n=23)

14.3%

(n=2)

7.2%

+/- 2.5%

(n=273)

Rural 7.3%

(n=321)

8.3%

(n=82)

3.6%

(n=2)

7.4%

+/- 2.6%

(n=404)

Overall

7.3%

+/- 2.6%

(n=681)

9.3%

+/- 2.9%

(n=177)

7.7%

+/- 2.6%

(n=19)

7.6%

+/- 2.6%

(n=878)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that use

filtering software on all public access Internet terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

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Figure 49. Public Library Outlets that Use Filtering Software on Some of their Public

Internet Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of

Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 6.7%

(n=91)

11.2%

(n=81)

7.1%

(n=13)

8.2%

+/- 2.8%

(n=185)

Suburban 9.5%

(n=339)

8.7%

(n=18)

14.3%

(n=2)

9.5%

+/- 2.9%

(n=357)

Rural 4.8%

(n=214)

4.1%

(n=41)

3.6%

(n=2)

4.7%

+/- 2.1%

(n=257)

Overall

6.9%

+/- 2.5%

(n=644)

7.2%

+/- 2.6%

(n=138)

6.9%

+/- 2.5%

(n=17)

7.0%

+/- 3.4%

(n=801)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that provide

special software/hardware for persons with disabilities on some of their public access

Internet terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

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Figure 50. Public Library Outlets that Use Filtering Software on None of their Public

Internet Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of

Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 85.1%

(n=1,152)

78.7%

(n=569)

83.6%

(n=153)

82.9%

+/- 3.8%

(n=1,875)

Suburban 83.5%

(n=2,974)

80.7%

(n=167)

78.6%

(n=11)

83.3%

+/- 3.7%

(n=3,152)

Rural 87.9%

(n=3,890)

87.6%

(n=872)

94.5%

(n=52)

87.9%

+/- 3.3%

(n=4,813)

Overall

85.8%

+/- 3.5%

(n=8,016)

83.1%

+/- 3.8%

(n=1,599)

85.4%

+/- 3.5%

(n=216)

85.3%

+/- 3.7%

(n=9,839)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that use

filtering software on none of their public access Internet terminals/workstations.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
0RYLQJ7RZDUG0RUH(IIHFWLYH3XEOLF,QWHUQHW$FFHVV$SSHQGL['

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Figure 51. Public Library Outlets that Have an Acceptable Use Policy for Their Public

Internet Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of

Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 85.8%

(n=1,162)

89.9%

(n=641)

88.5%

(n=162)

87.3%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,965)

Suburban 86.0%

(n=3,064)

85.5%

(n=178)

64.3%

(n=9)

85.9%

+/- 3.5%

(n=3,250)

Rural 82.8%

(n=3,665)

84.5%

(n=841)

85.5%

(n=47)

83.1%

+/- 3.7%

(n=4,553)

Overall

84.5%

+/- 3.6%

(n=7,891)

86.6%

+/- 3.4%

(n=1,660)

86.3%

+/- 3.4%

(n=214)

84.8%

+/- 3.6%

(n=9,769)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that have an

acceptable use policy in place for their public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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Figure 52. Public Library Outlets that Do Not Have an Acceptable Use Policy for Their

Public Internet Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a Percentage of

Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Base=11,519 Poverty

Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 3.0%

(n=40)

1.3%

(n=9)

0.5%

(n=1)

2.3%

+/- 1.4%

(n=51)

Suburban 2.9%

(n=102)

1.4%

(n=3) N/A

2.8%

+/- 1.6%

(n=104)

Rural 3.9%

(n=171)

2.1%

(n=21) N/A

3.5%

+/- 1.8%

(n=192)

Overall

3.4%

+/- 1.8%

(n=314)

1.7%

+/- 1.2%

(n=32)

0.4%

+/- .07%

(n=1)

3.0%

+/- 1.7%

(n=347)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that do not

have an acceptable use policy in place for their public access Internet services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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$FFHSWDEOH8VH3ROLFLHV)RU3XEOLF$FFHVV,QWHUQHW6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 53. Public Library Outlets that are Currently Developing an Acceptable Use Policy

for Their Public Internet Access Workstations by Metropolitan Status and Poverty (As a

Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Poverty Base=11,519 Less than 20% 20%-40% More than 40% Overall

Metropolitan

Status

Urban 11.2%

(n=152)

8.7%

(n=63)

10.4%

(n=19)

10.4%

+/- 3.1%

(n=234)

Suburban 11.1%

(n=396)

13.1%

(n=27)

35.7%

(n=5)

11.3%

+/- 3.2%

(n=427)

Rural 13.5%

(n=600)

13.5%

(n=133)

15.7%

(n=8)

13.5%

+/- 3.4%

(n=742)

Overall

12.3%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,147)

11.7%

+/- 3.2%

(n=224)

13.0%

+/- 3.3%

(n=32)

12.2%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,403)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that are

currently developing an acceptable use policy in place for their public access Internet

services.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 3 and 4 for the total number of public library outlets that

provide public access to the Internet by metropolitan status and poverty.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding,

not all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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Figure 54. Public Library Outlet Public Internet Access Terminal/Workstation Filtering Software

Use by Acceptable Use Policy for Public Internet Access (As Applied to Library Outlets Offering

Public Internet Access).4

Internet Filtering Software Status

Base=11,519 On all public

access terminals/

workstations

On some public

access terminals/

workstations

On no public

access

terminals/

workstations

Acceptable Use Policy for Public Internet

Access Status

Acceptable Use Internet Policy In Place

88.4%

+/- 3.2%

(n=775)

88.8%

+/- 3.2%

(n=711)

84.2%

+/- 3.6%

(n=8,283)

Currently Developing an Acceptable Use

Internet Policy

11.5%

+/- 3.2%

(n=101)

8.7%

+/- 2.8%

(n=70)

12.5%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,231)

No Acceptable Use Internet Policy in

Place

0.1%

+/- 0.03%

(n=1)

2.5%

+/- 1.5%

(n=20)

3.3%

+/- 1.8%

(n=326)

Total 100.0%

(n=878)

100.0%

(n=801)

100.0%

(n=9,839)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that have an

acceptable use policy in place on all, some, or none of their public access Internet

workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 48-50 for the total number of public library outlets that provide

public access to the Internet and use filtering software on all, some, or none of their public

access terminals/ workstations within each poverty/metropolitan status cell and Figures 51-53

for the total number of public library outlets that provide public access to the Internet and have,

do not have, or are developing an acceptable use policy for their public access Internet services.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not all

cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: The cells are calculated based on Internet filtering software status, so that each column totals

100%. Consequently, percentages cannot be added across rows. See Figure 55 for calculations

based on acceptable use policy status and Figure 56 for calculations based on the overall

distribution of filtering software and acceptable use policies.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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$FFHSWDEOH8VH3ROLFLHV)RU3XEOLF$FFHVV,QWHUQHW6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 55. Public Library Outlet Acceptable Use Policy for Public Internet Access by Public

Internet Access Terminal/Workstation Filtering Software Use (As Applied to Library Outlets

Offering Public Internet Access).4

Base = 11,519 Internet Filtering Software Status

On all public

access terminals/

workstations

On some public

access terminals/

workstations

On no public

access

terminals/

workstations

Total

Acceptable Use Policy for

Public Internet Access

Status

Acceptable Use Internet

Policy In Place

7.9%

+/- 3.2%

(n=775)

7.3%

+/- 3.2%

(n=711)

84.8%

+/- 3.6%

(n=8,283)

100.0%

(n=9,769)

Currently Developing and

Acceptable Use Internet

Policy

7.2%

+/- 3.2%

(n=101)

5.0%

+/- 2.8%

(n=70)

87.8%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,231)

100.0%

(n=1,403)

No Acceptable Use

Internet Policy in Place

0.3%

+/- 0.03%

(n=1)

5.8%

+/- 1.5%

(n=20)

93.7%

+/- 1.8%

(n=326)

100.0%

(n=347)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that have an

acceptable use policy in place on all, some, or none of their public access Internet

workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 48-50 for the total number of connected public library outlets

that provide public access to the Internet and use filtering software on all, some, or none of

their public access terminals/workstations within each poverty/metropolitan status cell and

Figures 51-53 for the total number of connected public library outlets that provide public

access to the Internet and have, do not have, or are developing an acceptable use policy for

their public access Internet services.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

Note 4: The cells are calculated based on acceptable use policy status, so that each row totals 100%.

Consequently, percentages cannot be added down columns. See Figure 54 for calculations

based on Internet filtering software status and Figure 56 for calculations based on the overall

distribution of filtering software and acceptable use policies.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.
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$FFHSWDEOH8VH3ROLFLHV)RU3XEOLF$FFHVV,QWHUQHW6HUYLFHV)LJXUHVWKURXJK

Figure 56. Overall Distribution of Public Library Outlet Acceptable Use Policy for Public

Internet Access and Public Internet Access Terminal/Workstation Filtering Software Use (As a

Percentage of Library Outlets Offering Public Internet Access).

Internet Filtering Software Status

Base = 11,519 On all public

access terminals/

workstations

On some public

access terminals/

workstations

On no public

access

terminals/

workstations

Overall

Acceptable Use Policy for

Public Internet Access

Status

Acceptable Use Internet

Policy In Place

6.7%

+/- 3.2%

(n=775)

6.2%

+/- 3.2%

(n=711)

71.9%

+/- 3.6%

(n=8,283)

84.8%

+/- 3.6%

(n=9,769)

Currently Developing

and Acceptable Use

Internet Policy

0.9%

+/- 3.2%

(n=101)

0.6%

+/- 2.8%

(n=70)

10.7%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,231)

12.2%

+/- 3.3%

(n=1,403)

No Acceptable Use

Internet Policy in Place

0.0%

+/- 0.03%

(n=1)

0.2%

+/- 1.5%

(n=20)

2.9%

+/- 1.8%

(n=326)

3.0%

+/- 1.7%

(n=347)

Overall

7.6%

+/- 2.6%

(n=878)

7.0%

+/- 3.4%

(n=801)

85.3%

+/- 3.7%

(n=9,839)

100.0%

(n=11,519)

Note 1: The cell n's represent weighted estimates of connected public library outlets that have an

acceptable use policy in place on all, some, or none of their public access Internet

workstations/terminals.

Note 2: Readers should refer to Figures 48-50 for the total number of connected public library outlets

that provide public access to the Internet and use filtering software on all, some, or none of

their public access terminals/workstations within each poverty/metropolitan status cell and

Figures 51-53 for the total number of connected public library outlets that provide public

access to the Internet and have, do not have, or are developing an acceptable use policy for

their public access Internet services.

Note 3: Due to the weighted statistical analysis technique used to analyze the data and rounding, not

all cell n's will sum or cell percentages will total to 100.0%.

From: Bertot, John Carlo, and McClure, Charles R. (1998). The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet

Internet Connectivity: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

References

National Center for Education Statistics. (1997). Public libraries in the United States: FY 1994. Washington, D.C.: U.S.

Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement [NCES 97-418].

National Center for Education Statistics. (1996). Public libraries in the United States: FY 1993. Washington, D.C.: U.S.

Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
$33(1',;(&2175$&725
6$1$/<6,62)7+(6859(<5(68/76

 

39 From The 1998 National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity: Final Report,

by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R McClure, Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Commission on

Libraries and Information Science, 1998.
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([HFXWLYH6XPPDU\

Previous national studies of public libraries and the Internet documented the state and changes of

public library Internet connectivity, type of connectivity, public access services, and costs associated

with such connectivity from public library central or administrative units (Bertot, McClure, and

Fletcher, 1997; Bertot, McClure, and Zweizig, 1996; McClure, Bertot, and Zweizig, 1994).

The 1998 data studied all library outlets (defined as both central or system/administrative units

and branches, excluding bookmobiles and 227 outlets for which it was not possible to determine the

geocodes), the poverty level of the users served by these outlets, and the library’s metropolitan status

as urban, suburban, and rural (see Figure 1 for a detailed breakdown of public library outlets and their

poverty-metropolitan status categories). This comprehensive picture can provide the public library

community, policy makers, and researchers with a more informed picture of which library outlets in

different types of poverty and/or urban/rural settings provide what level and type of Internet

connectivity. Such data provide an important benchmark describing how public library outlets

support Universal Service objectives as legislated through the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L.

104-104). The data can also inform policy makers as to possible future changes and impacts resulting

from the disbursement of funds to these public library outlets in support of Universal Service

objectives.

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Overall the study finds that there are some significant disparities among public library outlets in

terms of their connectivity to the Internet, the type and speed of their public access connections to the

Internet, and Internet-based service provision issues. The data also show, nationally, the degree to

which public library outlets -- especially those in rural areas and areas with high poverty -- contribute

to enhanced Universal Service as per the goals of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The key findings presented here offer highlights from the study. The following sections of this

report contain detailed results and tables describing public library outlet Internet access, connectivity,

and use of the Internet.

Internet Connectivity and Public Access [Figures 2-13]

Overall, the data show that 83.6% of all public library outlets have some type of connection to the

Internet. The study also found that some disparities exist among public library outlets in terms of

Internet access by metropolitan status. For example:

• 91.0% of urban public library outlets are connected to the Internet;

• 88.1% of suburban public libraries are connected to the Internet; and

• 78.4% of rural public library outlets are connected to the Internet.

The study also shows that disparities in terms of connectivity by different poverty levels is minimal:

• 84.1% of public library outlets are connected that serve areas with 20% or less poverty;

• 80.9% of public library outlets are connected that serve areas with 20-40% poverty; and
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— E-4 —

• 83.3% of public library outlets are connected that serve areas with more than 40% poverty.

A majority of public library outlets -- 73.3% -- provide public Internet access services (87.7% of

connected public library outlets). However, there are disparities in public access by metropolitan

status:

• 84.0% of urban library outlets provide public access (92.3% of connected urban public library

outlets);

• 76.4% of suburban library outlets provide public access (87.1% of connected suburban public

library outlets); and

• 67.6% of rural library outlets provide public access (86.3% of connected rural library outlets).

Thus, rural library outlet patrons are less likely to have access to a public library outlet that provides

public access Internet services than urban and suburban library outlet patrons. Such disparities do not

appear to exist when looking at public access services by poverty.

The data also show that 93.2% of public library outlets plan to have some type of Internet

connection by June 1999. Of that 93.2%, 81.2% plan to provide public Internet access services and

12.0% will have an Internet connection for library staff use only. Once again, there is a projected

disparity in public access Internet services by metropolitan status:

• 89.7% of urban library outlets will offer public Internet services by June 1999;

• 84.6% of suburban library outlets will offer public Internet services by June 1999; and

• 76.3% of rural library outlets will offer public Internet services by June 1999.

Again, rural library outlet patrons will be less likely to have access to a public library outlet that

provides public access Internet services than urban and suburban library outlet patrons. Such

disparities do not appear to exist when looking at public access services by poverty.

Type of Outlet Public Access Internet Services [Figures 14-22]

An important distinction regarding the type of connectivity is whether public library outlets have

graphical public access to the Internet rather than only text-based access. For many Internet and

web-based applications, graphical access is now essential. The 1998 data show that 68.6% of public

library outlets provide their users with graphical access to the Internet. The data also show that this

average varies only slightly by metropolitan status or poverty level.

Of those library outlets connected to the Internet, 5.8% provide only text-based access to the

Internet. Urban outlets and outlets serving poverty levels of greater than 40% are more likely to

provide only text-based public access Internet services. Of interest is that rural library outlets --

86.9% -- are more likely to provide only graphical public access to the Internet as opposed to urban

and suburban outlets, with 69.4% and 77.8% respectively.

Overall, however, the number of public access text-based terminals and graphical workstations

are few. Indeed, 73.1% of library outlets offer five or fewer text-based public access terminals for

patron use. Similarly, 73.6% of library outlets offer three or fewer graphical public access

workstations for patron use.
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— E-5 —

Public Access Services Connection Speed [Figures 23-42]

A critical factor that determines the types of applications that are possible to use via a library

outlet's public access connection is the speed -- bandwidth -- of that connection. Overall:

• 32.9% of public library outlets have public access connection speeds of 33.6kbps or less

(primarily 28.8kbps -- 15.8% -- and 33.6kbps -- 12.9%);

• 32.7% of public library outlets have public access connection speeds of 56kbps; and

• 33.7% of public library outlets have public access connection speeds of greater than 56kbps

(primarily T1 service -- 21.9%).

Urban settings have almost three times the percentage of outlets with T1 connectivity than rural

outlets (36.5% versus 13.3%). Interestingly, however, 34.0% of outlets serving poverty levels of

more than 40% have T1 connections whereas 20.4% of outlets serving poverty levels of less than

20% have T1 connectivity (a review of the data shows that this is likely due to urban library systems

that have outlets in high poverty areas).

Issues with Public Access Internet Services [Figures 43-56]

Public library outlet survey respondents were asked to identify the extent to which their public

Internet access services:

• Provided special software/hardware for persons with disabilities;

• Used filtering software; and

• Had acceptable use policies.

This section presents selected findings from these survey questions.

Overall, 2.9% of public library outlets provide special software/hardware for persons with

disabilities on all of their public access terminals/workstations and 13.6% do so on some of their

public access terminals/workstations. Urban library outlets are more likely to provide special

software/hardware for persons with disabilities on all or some of their public access terminals/

workstations -- 26.4% -- as opposed to suburban public library outlets with 16.3% and rural library

outlets with 12.5%.

A vast majority of public library outlets -- 85.3% -- do not use filtering software for their public

access Internet services. This trend holds true across public library outlet metropolitan status and

poverty classifications.

The data reveal, however, that 84.8% of public library outlets have a formal acceptable use policy

for their public access Internet services. Another 12.2% of public library outlets are in the process of

developing a formal acceptable use policy for their public access Internet services. By June 1999 or

sooner, therefore, 97.0% of public library outlets will have some type of formal acceptable use policy

for their public access Internet services in place.

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This study is the first national effort to identify the extent and type of Internet connectivity and

Internet service provision issues at the public library outlet level. The term outlet includes 15,945

public library facilities of which 8,921 are central or system/administrative units and 7,024 are branch

public libraries (National Center for Education Statistics, 1997). In addition, the study collected data
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— E-6 —

to analyze library outlets in terms of the poverty levels of the community they serve and whether the

library is in an urban, suburban, or rural setting.

The study collected data during May and June 1998 from 2,50040 public library outlets that

received a quick-response survey asking about the library outlet’s connectivity, speed, access, and

other topics related to their provision of Internet services (see Appendix A for a copy of the survey

instrument41). These libraries were selected by a carefully drawn weighted sample that resulted in a

75.5% response rate. An innovative aspect of the study was the use of geodata that linked Census

Bureau poverty data to the geographic area served by individual public library outlets. Details of the

study method and research design can be found in Appendix B42.

One purpose of the study was to produce findings to better describe the role of public library

outlets in promoting Universal Service objectives. The Universal Service Fund (USF), as established

by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104), is charged with the responsibility of

reimbursing public libraries for up to 90% of their telecommunications costs depending on (a) the

poverty rate of the area served by the library (as measured by the percentage of students eligible for

school lunch programs) and (b) their urban/rural status. This study is one means to monitor the

implementation of Universal Service initiatives as defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

7HUPVDQG&RQWH[W

It is important to understand that the study relied on the Metropolitan Status codes used by the

U.S. Bureau of the Census and ascribed to the communities served by the library outlets surveyed in

this study. Those codes are: CC, Central City (urban); NC, Metropolitan area but not within central

city limits (suburban); and NO, Not in a metropolitan area (rural).

Outlets were categorized based on the level of poverty among the individuals living within a

specified radius of their buildings. The radius varied for central cities, suburbs (incorporated places

within metropolitan areas, but not central cities), and non-metropolitan areas. Caliper Corporation

Maptitude Geographic Information System software was used to estimate the amount of poverty

within this circular area (defined as 1 mile for urban library outlets, 3 miles for suburban library

outlets, and 10 miles for rural library outlets), which usually encompassed portions of several

different census block groups. Outlets were divided into three groups, based on the calculated

percentage of the population living below the Census's poverty threshold: less than 20%, 20-39%, and

40% or more. Additional detail about the terms and study method can be found in Appendix B43.

As context for interpreting this data, the study shows that 17.1% of all public library outlets are in

urban areas; 31.4% are in suburban areas; and 51.5% are in rural areas. Furthermore, 81.2% of public

library outlets serve poverty levels of less than 20%; 16.8% serve users in poverty levels of 20-40%;

and only 2.0% of public library outlets serve users in poverty levels of more than 40%.

&RPSDULVRQVWR(DUOLHU'DWD

Data concerning public library involvement with and use of the Internet were collected in 1994,

1996, and 1997 (Bertot, McClure, and Fletcher, 1997; Bertot, McClure, and Zweizig, 1996; McClure,

Bertot, and Zweizig, 1994). The 1994 through 1997 studies, however, collected data from public

 

40 The original sample consisted of 2,560 library outlets based on 1994 public library data (NCES, 1997). However, due to

library facility closures and consolidations, the sample was adjusted to 2,500 outlets.

41 In this presentation of the contractors' report, the survey instrument appears in Appendix B.

42 In this presentation of the contractors' report, the methodology appears in Appendix C.

43 Ibid.
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— E-7 —

library systems, not outlets. Direct comparisons to the 1994 through 1997 data from data reported

here should be made only with extreme caution.

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Findings from this survey suggest that overall, public libraries in the United States continue to

make progress in connecting to the Internet and in the quality of their connectivity. On closer review

of the data, however, there are other themes and issues requiring additional consideration. While

there are numerous key themes and implications that can be discussed from the 1998 data, the

following appear to be especially important.

Improved Public Library Internet Connectivity With Continued Disparities in Access

The data show that 83.6% of all public libraries have some type of connectivity and that by June

1999 approximately 93.2% are likely to have some type of connectivity to the Internet. But it is also

important to recognize that, as of June 1998:

• 16.4% of public library outlets do not have an Internet connection; and

• 10.3% of those library outlets currently connected to the Internet do not provide public access.

Said differently, 26.7% of all public library outlets do not provide public access to the Internet.

Disparities continue to exist in terms of which types of public libraries provide connectivity and

public access.

Rural public libraries still lag behind urban and suburban public libraries in having an Internet

connection and providing public access. Thus, continued effort by public libraries will be needed to

meet the country’s Universal Services goals with regard to the nation’s rural populations.

Access to the Internet via Public Libraries from High Poverty Levels

The 1998 data indicate that 83.3% of the public library outlets serving communities with poverty

levels of more than 40% have an Internet connection. But a context for this finding is that only 2.0%

of all public library outlets (317 of the 15,718) serve communities with poverty levels of 40% of

more. What is not known, however, is the extent to which there are additional communities with

poverty levels of 40% or more that are not being served by a public library outlet -- to say nothing of

library services that provide public access to the Internet. The issue of unserved populations by

public library outlets requires additional study as Universal Service goals are implemented in high

poverty areas.

Connection Speed and Type and Quality of Public Access Internet Services Provision

The fact that 66.4% of all public library outlets connected to the Internet that provide public

access Internet services have connection speeds of 56kbps or higher, or that 21.9% of those connected

have at least a T1 connection, again, suggests significant and ongoing improvement in the connection

speeds used by public libraries. Connection speeds are critical for the provision of high quality

services, Websites, interactive video, etc. But one must be cautious in explaining the data reported

here with regard to public library services provision.

Simply because the data suggest that public libraries are increasing their use of high speed and

dedicated lines for connectivity does not necessarily mean that they are also providing a range of high
861DWLRQDO&RPPLVVLRQRQ/LEUDULHVDQG,QIRUPDWLRQ6FLHQFH

— E-8 —

quality, interactive, and useful services to their users with these improved connection speeds. The

data suggest that public libraries increasingly have the capability to provide such networked-based

services. But public libraries will need to move beyond connectivity issues and move into strategies

for better services provision in the networked setting (Bertot and McClure, 1997). There is a need for

additional study and research to know if, in fact public libraries are providing such services, what

those services are, and the degree to which those services meet user or societal needs.

What Constitutes an Acceptable Level of Public Access to the Internet?

Yet to be resolved by policy makers and public librarians are guidelines or national standards that

define and measure the concept of “public access to the Internet via public libraries.” For example, if

a public library outlet serving a rural community with high poverty (meaning few computers and

modems at home) provides one 28.8kbps public access workstation for its entire legal population area

of 48,950, does such constitute acceptable public access?

Data reported here may be useful (in conjunction with the 1997 data) to begin national

discussions as to what constitutes acceptable levels of public access for communities served by public

library outlets. The following factors appear to be important considerations in developing such

guidelines:

• The number of public access workstations per legal population served;

• The speed of those public access workstations; and

• The level of home connectivity in a particular public library’s legal population served.

Other factors may also be considered in such a debate. An implication, however, from data reported

here and in earlier studies by the authors is that there continues to be a need to better define the term

“public library provided public access to the Internet.”

Impact of the E-Rate on Public Library Connectivity

As this Executive Summary is written in August 1998, there continues to be much

contentiousness on the appropriateness of the E-Rate as administered by the Universal Services Fund

as a means to reduce disparities in access to the Internet for those in high poverty regions. The issues

and data are complex and cannot be reviewed in detail here although an earlier discussion offered by

the authors is still useful (Bertot and McClure, 1997, pp. 8-9).

The data reported here suggest that there are disparities -- at least in terms of public library

Internet connectivity. Regardless of one’s position on the E-Rate and its appropriateness, the data

reported here can provide an important benchmark for longitudinal tracking of connectivity, type of

connectivity speed, and other topics related to public library access to the Internet. Assuming that

some disbursements to public libraries occurs from the Universal Services Fund it will be important

to assess the degree to which those libraries that received such funds improved connectivity and

access versus those that did not receive funds.

Defining Public Library Service Area Poverty

This study made use of an innovative and previously unused method for determining public

library outlet poverty status (as discussed in Appendix B44). To continue the evaluation process of

public library outlet Internet connectivity in general and the impact of the E-Rate on public library

 

44 In this presentation of the contractors' report, the methodology appears in Appendix C.
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— E-9 —

outlet connectivity in particular, there needs to be continued discussion and acceptance of an

appropriate methodology to characterize public library outlet poverty status. Agreement by policy

makers, researchers, and public librarians will enable the longitudinal collection of Internet-related

data from public library outlets.

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The national studies of public libraries and the Internet completed in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 1998

provide a wealth of information that can inform national policy making and strategic planning for

improved public library connectivity and networked-based services. Data from these studies as well

as a number of other studies are important to consider as policy makers and the public library

community consider the future role of public libraries in the National and Global Information

Infrastructures (NII and GII).

Evidence continues to mount that there are a number of disparities in access and levels of

connectivity among different segments of the population depending on their geographic location and

the poverty level of the community in which they live. Recent data reported by the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration concluded (1998, p. 2):

The gap between the information “haves” and “have nots” widened in the last three years. Blacks

and Hispanic Americans lag even further behind white Americans in computer ownership and online access despite significant growth in computer ownership and overall computer usage in

America.

Disparities in access also exist in terms of ethnicity and level of household income (Benton

Foundation, 1998). Given such data, the role of the public library as a “safety net” for all people to

have access to networked information resources and services continues to be important -- particularly

in light of the relatively low levels at which households in general have the required computer and

online access (26.3%, NTIA, 1998).

As the nation approaches the new millennium and works to implement the Universal Service

goals outlined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, there is a need for a comprehensive review of

data sources and policy issues related to public access to the Internet. This review should lead to a

national debate to develop goals and strategies for how best to:

• Provide equitable access to the Internet and networked information services;

• Determine the role of the federal and state governments in implementing such goals; and

• Determine the degree to which public libraries should be part of the overall strategy.

Clearly, a strategic plan for accomplishing such goals will need the input from a number of

stakeholder groups. But such discussions and strategic planning should begin soon if (1) disparities

in access to and use of networked information resources and services are to be reduced in the near

term, and (2) policy makers and librarians are to determine how public libraries can best contribute to

providing equitable access for all members of the country.

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As with previous national public library Internet studies conducted by these authors, there are

numerous individuals who participated in the effort. First and foremost we thank those public
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— E-10 —

librarians who completed the survey. Again, the assistance of the FSCS Coordinators at the state

level was essential in encouraging libraries to respond and obtaining a high response rate. Dr. Dean

Jue provided geocoded data and contributed to the development of the study methodology. Dr. Keith

Curry Lance also assisted significantly in development of the study methodology. Judy Russell and

Howard Harris at the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) and

Andrew Magpantay at the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy

(ALA-OITA) also provided guidance and suggestions for the development of the study and for

specific analyses and presentation of the data. Such guidance offers readers the opportunity to view

study data from multiple perspectives.

We also gratefully acknowledge funding support for this study by the American Library

Association Office for Information Technology Policy and the National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science.

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Benton Foundation. (1998). Losing ground bit by bit: Low income communities in the information

age. Washington, D.C.: The Benton Foundation.

Bertot, J.C., and McClure, C. R. (1997). Policy issues & strategies affecting public libraries in the

national networked environment: Moving beyond connectivity. Washington, D.C.: National

Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

Bertot, J.C., and McClure, C. R. (1998). The 1998 national survey of public library outlet Internet

connectivity: Summary results. Washington, D.C.: American Library Association, Office for

Information Technology Policy. Available: <http://www.ala.org/oitp/research/ survey98.html>.

Bertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., and Fletcher, P. D. (1997). The 1997 national survey of U.S. public

libraries and the Internet: Final report. Washington, D.C.: American Library Association, Office for

Information Technology Policy.

Bertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., and Zweizig, D. L. (1996). The 1996 national survey of public libraries

and the Internet: Progress and issues. Washington, D.C.: National Commission on Libraries and

Information Science.

McClure, C. R., Bertot, J. C., and Zweizig, D. L. (1994). Public libraries and the Internet: Study

results, policy issues, and recommendations. Washington, D.C.: National Commission on Libraries

and Information Science.

National Center for Education Statistics. (1997). Public libraries in the United States: FY 1994.

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement

[NCES 97-418].

National Telecommunications and Information Administration. (1998). Falling through the net II:

New data on the digital divide. Washington, D.C.: National Telecommunications and Information

Administration.