Public Access Technology

Background

• Started offering in early 90s
• Experimental
• Absorbed into existing services without great consideration for management, facilities, staffing needs and other implications

Increase in connectivity and services

• Connectivity grew from 20.9% in 1994 to nearly 100% in 2006
• Nearly all libraries that connected to the Internet offer public access services
• Avg number of public access computers grew from 1.9 per public library in 1996 to 12 per public library in 2007
• hovered at 10-12 for 7 yrs until jumping to 14 in 2010 and 16 in 2011
• cost, staff and space were impediments
• In 2011, 85.7% of public libraries provide wifi (compared to 54.2% in 2007)

What is Public Access Technology?

• Public access computers
• Wifi access
• ILS (opac)
• Online databases
• Digital reference
• Downloadable audio/video
• Technology training classes
• General Computing, software, Internet/Web use
• Using library’s resources
• Online database use
• Government information/forms
• Job-seeking
• Digital photography software and online applications
• Genealogy info
• Hardware (public-access computers, reservation systems, self-checkout stations, printers, faxes, laptops, assistive technology, routers/hubs, etc)
• Software (Operating systems, office software--Microsoft Office/OpenOffice, graphics software, audio software, browsers, databases, etc)

Effects of Public Access Technology (PAT) on Libraries

• Maintenance and management
• Staff
• Finances
• Buildings

Maintenance areas:

• Public access computers
• Peripheral management (printers/faxes, etc)
• Public access management software or systems
• Wireless access
• Bandwidth management
• Training and patron assistance

Challenges:

• Broadband speeds not sufficient
• Number of public access computers is inadequate
• Costs, space, and buildings are barriers to what libraries can offer
• Nonprofessional IT staff for tech support
• Users expect services to resemble those in the marketplace

Existing Tech Support models

• No tech support
• Internal library support without tech staff
• Internal library support with tech staff
• Library consortia
• Tech partners
• City, county, or other agency it support
• State library support

What Next?

• Develop better understanding of success in PAT environment
• Further identify technology-supported models
• Determine levels of service capabilities
• Coalition has been formed using $2.8 M in funding from Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to develop guidelines/benchmarks for PAT in libraries
• Should the government be funding more public library PAT services?

 

References

Bertot, J. (2009). Public Access Technologies in Public Libraries: Effects and Implications. Information Technology & Libraries, 28(2), 81-92.

Bertot, J., Jaeger, P. T., Wahl, E. E., & Sigler, K. I. (2011). Chapter 2: Public Libraries and the Internet. Library Technology Reports, 47(6), 7-18.

COALITION TO DEVELOP BENCHMARKS FOR LIBRARY INTERNET ACCESS. (2011). Advanced Technology Libraries, 40(5), 3-4.

 

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