He said he had grown tired of being told he was underqualified for positions. He said Internet knowledge is an important tool for career advancement. People who cannot afford a computer have few options for getting on the Internet. Only six of the area's 16 public libraries have free access. More than 600 hours of Net time are logged per week at St. Louis public libraries - nearly all the time that is available.
Reservations have to be made in advance, and walk-ins often are turned away.
Patty Carleton, manager of youth programs at St. Louis' Central Library, said that Internet access in St. Louis probably was inadequate. But that should improve at some libraries, she said. Some branches, including Divoll and Buder, will be getting more computers with Internet access soon. If we took out all the books and filled up the library with computers they would always be busy. She advocates putting computers with Net access in homeless shelters and after-school programs.