Students who came to the library and researched the answers to the questions were given extra credit. Frequent uses for the link include job searches, health and medical information, travel information and legal information. Recently an elderly patron wanted to be shown how to research a health condition. Concern about the diagnoses seemed to take second place to the excitement of this new skill. He found his information and promised to return soon for another session.
Age is one of the more easily overcome barriers.
There are many more difficult obstacles which must be addressed before this rural public library can provide equal access to data and technology. An additional loss of equipment and materials occurred in 1995 when a building collapsed on the Merryville Branch of the library. All available resources have been needed to replace the library building and to begin rebuilding the library materials collection. Now that we have moved into the building, we are faced with the need to purchase basic furnishings and shelving. The library needs help to purchase badly needed equipment and software for information technology and development of the Internet project.