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Kentucky
Libraries: Lining Up to Get Online
January
7, 2004
Back
in the mid 1990's, the Commonwealth of Kentucky created a statewide,
integrated communications and information network
called the Kentucky Information Highway (KIH). It provides telecommunication
services to many areas of government from connecting court houses,
county and district courts, to linking state offices for families
and children and health services, to helping public safety officials
communicate. It also provides Internet access to Kentucky's libraries.
Today, all libraries offer Internet access either through the
KIH or using a local Internet provider. It's a service that is
proving to be a big hit with library visitors.
Visitors using the Internet at a Lexington Public
Library.
According
to Judith Gibbons, Director, Field Services at the Kentucky Department
for Libraries and Archives, "Public libraries are encouraged
to use a variety of funds to assist in establishing and sustaining
technology in the library. The funding mix may include state grants,
local taxes and partnerships. Each public library develops policies
and guidelines designed to assist the user in making the most
of this vital community resource."
At
the request of Techlines, Ms. Gibbons sent a note out to librarians
statewide to get a sense of how people are using the Internet
in their communities. Here is just a few of the responses:
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Kathy
Crouch,
Madison County Public Library
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"So far this fiscal year, we have had over 12,000
people on our Internet computers. We have everyone from
elementary kids to retirees. Our computers are used for
email, homework, registering for college, job research,
travel research, making online purchases, chatting, and
more. Our computers are often reserved for hours ahead
of time. There is definitely demand for more, newer, and
faster computers."
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Vicki
Logsdon, Director,
Hart County Public Library
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"We average between 400 and 500 Internet users a
month. The best thing about our computers is their remarkable
dependability. They have far exceeded our expectations
both in their ability to bring in many people to the library
who would otherwise not be regular patrons; their ability
to really broaden the scope of so many rural patrons;
and their durability. Internet has truly allowed even
the most remote, small public library to span the globe.
Internet access has done more to equalize resources to
the disadvantaged than any other service we provide."
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Nancy
Reed, Adult Services Manager, McCracken County Public Library
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"At
almost any time you can find a myriad of Internet activities
going on on our computers. Last month we logged over 3400
users."
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Pam Vincent, Assistant Director, Henderson County Public
Library
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"We
have 2 computer labs, 1 in the Reference Dept. and 1 in
the Children's Dept. Total usage in these labs for fiscal
year 2002-2003 was 31,269 users."
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Keeping
Up With Demand
Library directors in Kentucky and those involved with technology
at the state level are working to keep up with the increased demand
for Internet access and with the ever-changing technologies related
to providing dependable and affordable service. Today, some libraries
around the state, including the Lexington Public Libraries, are
now offering wireless Internet service. Visitors with a wireless-ready
laptop, for instance, simply walk into a branch and they're online.
Library officials anticipate demand for this service, and demand
for Internet access at Kentucky libraries in general, to continue
to increase in the future.
For
a list of all Kentucky libraries, go to: http://www.kdla.ky.gov/2003publibdirectory.htm
To
visit the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, go to:
http://www.kdla.ky.gov
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