And the Internet is key to today's information society. The Internet is changing the way we live, learn, work, govern and interact with one another. In short, they must be logged on and literate or they will be lost in the 21st Century. Libraries in low-income and geographically isolated areas of the country are struggling to maintain the technology, services, staff and funding necessary to keep up with a rapidly advancing digital world. Forcing libraries to choose between federal funding for technology improvements and censorship means millions of library users will lose.
Libraries are the number one access point for people without computers at home, school or work.
The American Library Association, with a membership of 61,000 librarians, library trustees, and library advocates, is the voice of America's libraries and the millions of people who depend on them. We are here speaking for all of them today.