However, in these times where each dollar has to be justified, these subsidies are less likely to occur. So if there could be a convergence of services utilising the mobile library and utilising cross subsidisation, this would assist to keep several services viable and not disadvantage the isolated and remote user. I have been assured that the technology exists to implement such services. Electronic point of sale type terminals could be easily installed, utilising either narrow or broad band technology. Of course, people would be able to find out a lot of the information they require by using their own PC logged onto the Internet, but such queries as licensing arrangements, built-in flexibility and even the social contact should be researched.
People can also order their books from a bookstore via the Internet.
I have just ordered from the US several books that I have been unable to access from Australian sources. All I did was go to the Amazon Bookstore site and place an order whilst connected. I paid by credit card as the numbers have been encrypted and if I d wanted to, I could have had them shipped by air arriving at my library s door early next week. So technology exists to allow this method of shopping to happen. And the same applies to libraries.