What to Do?

Public libraries (and librarians) would love nothing more than to provide patrons with a room full of new computers and access to the latest databases; however, money usually poses quite a roadblock to pulling this off.  In what other ways could libraries provide patrons with access to cutting-edge technology without stretching their already limited budgets too thin?  What about patrons who might have the funds to possess a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, but can't necessarily afford data plans or Internet service?

                                                             

   

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

After learning that nearly a quarter of its nearby population had no way to access high-speed Internet, Kitchener Public Library (KPL) in Ontario, Canada, initiated a program to add portable devices to its circulation materials.  KPL has 25 Aircards that provide borrowers with a personal wi-fi hotspot for lending periods of up to 3 weeks.  As a graduate student a decade ago, I remember very well having a laptop computer and only being able to use it for composing term papers or surfing the web when one of my neighbor's unprotected wi-fi signals wafted in through my window.  This would have--and could be, in the future--a program that I would very much take advantage of!  KPL's program also relieves some of the bandwidth burden placed on library branches and might defray some costs in terms of maintaining and replacing computers and tablets.  

      
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

  

The article's author, Daniel Kitts, cited an ALA study that revealed 65% of libraries did not have enough Internet workstations to satisfy their daily demand.  Unfortunately, that statistic speaks to how difficult Internet access is to obtain for many people and how difficult it is for libraries to provide it.