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Dear Colleagues, I am forwarding an important message for school and public librarians that I received on WEB4LIB: Peter Milbury, 530-891-3036 Librarian-Mentor Teacher http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~pmilbury Chico High School, Chico, CA 95926 http://dewey.chs.chico.k12.ca.us ....................................................................... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Libraries and the Digital Divide For Immediate Release July 8, 1999 Press Contacts: 202-606-8339 Mamie Bittner mbittner@imls.gov Washington, DC - Today the U.S. Department of Commerce released Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide. The report finds that the while the number of Americans connected to the nation's information infrastructure is soaring, a digital divide exists and is widening. The report finds that minorities, low-income persons, the less educated, and children of single parent households, particularly when they reside in rural areas or central cities, are among the groups that lack access to information resources. The report calls for public policies and private initiatives to expand affordable access to critical information resources. One of the solutions can be found at the school and public library. The report notes that "community access centers" such as libraries, schools and other public access points play an important role. The 1998 data demonstrate that community access centers are particularly well used by those groups who lack access at home or at work. A PDF version of the report is available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/ All types of libraries including public and school libraries are supported by a new program recently funded by Congress: The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Two main goals of LSTA are information access through technology and targeting the underserved. The Institute of Museum and Library Services administers LSTA which was funded at $163,275,000 in FY 1999. IMLS makes grants to state libraries, supports Native American and Native Hawaiian library services, and holds a national competition for National Leadership Grants. Beverly Sheppard, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services noted, "This study affirms the outstanding job libraries are doing throughout the country. They are innovators providing access and know how to bridge the digital divide." Excerpt from Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide: Access At Public Libraries and Community Centers Many Americans who obtain Internet access outside the home rely on such places as public libraries (8.2%) and community centers (0.6%). (Public libraries, in particular, are used by certain groups with some regularity. Unemployed persons who access the Internet outside their homes are nearly three times more likely to use public libraries as the national average (21.9% versus 8.2) Those Americans who are "not in the labor force," such as retirees or homemakers, are twice as likely to use the public libraries for access (16.1%). Both groups are even more likely to use public libraries in urban, as opposed to central city or rural, areas (22.8% and 17.9%, respectively). (MORE)Other groups that also use public libraries more frequently include those earning less than $25,000 (those with less than a high-school education (those in female-headed households and American Indians/Eskimos/Aleuts, Blacks, and Hispanics. Of these groups, American Indians/Eskimos/Aleuts are especially likely to use libraries in urban areas (17.3%), while Blacks are more likely to use libraries in rural areas (16.3%). Those in female-headed households are also more likely to gain Internet access in libraries in central cities (16.4%). Using a logistic regression analysis, we also compared the likelihood of a group's using public libraries or community centers for online access. Our analysis pertained only to those people who reported usage of the Internet from outside the home. This regression analysis revealed the additional interesting comparisons: * Those earning less than $20,000 who use the Internet outside the home are two times more likely (2.12 times) to get their access through a public library or community center than those earning more than $20,000. * Blacks using the Internet outside the home are nearly two times more likely (1.91 times) to use a public library or a community center as Whites. "Other non-Hispanic" minorities (including Asians/Pacific Islanders, American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts) are 1.24 times more likely to use these resources as Whites. * People without home computers are almost 1.5 times more likely than people with home computers to get outside access to the Internet through public libraries or community centers. * People without college degrees are also significantly (1.4 times) more likely to use public libraries or community centers for their outside Internet access than those who have earned a college degree. These findings support our general conclusion that those who are less likely to have Internet access at home or work (e.g., those earning less than $20,000, certain minorities, and those without a college degree) are relying on the resources of public facilities. Examples of how libraries use IMLS funds to close the digital gap: Establishing Internet Access: Hualapai Tribe, Arizona Prior to receiving this grant, the Tribe did not have any computers for public use on the reservation. The grant funds were used to establish a small computer lab in the library for community use. Students from five surrounding schools use the computers for school work; adults use the library and computers to enhance their employability skills and for research. In addition, the library installed basic skills lessons and tutorials on the computers, as well as a GED program. All of these resources benefit the tribe's population in many ways. DelAWARE: The Digital Library of the First State, Delaware DelAWARE, which was developed by the State Library, ensures that all citizens of Delaware have access to library information services and the Internet regardless of geographic location or economic circumstance. DelAWARE provides a variety of statewide online products and services, including more than 1,800 full text magazines, journals, and newspapers; State of Delaware government information; a subject guide to selected Internet sites; and links to all types of Delaware libraries. Located at www.lib.de.us, DelAWARE is available through tens of thousands of library, home, workplace, and school computers in Delaware and is heavily used - recording more than 235,000 users and more than 1.5 million hits in 1998 alone. Muncie Public Library Cybermobile, Indiana The public library cooperated with several local organizations - including Ball State University, area schools, the City of Muncie - to expand technology access to persons who are unable to easily travel to their local library. A high technology van was outfitted to offer computer training and on-line resources through regularly scheduled stops throughout the community. Efforts were made to target inner-city and rural residents, children, and the disabled. This project was developed as a logical offshoot of the traditional Bookmobile, and demonstrated to the library world the need to expand technology access. Public Library Internet Project, South Carolina Since 1997, the South Carolina State Library has been involved in a project designed to bring public Internet access to every public library in the state. Through a combination of state and federal funds, the State Library provided technical support to libraries, assisting them with hardware and telecommunications specifications, guidance in drafting Internet use policies, and training. State and federal funds were made available to purchase the necessary telecommunications hardware and the access to the Internet. When the project began, only 25% of the 39 public library systems in the state had Internet connections - now, all South Carolina public library sites have Internet access, which gives library patrons an immensely expanded wealth of information resources to utilize. Targeted Services: Homework Centers, Public Library of Des Moines, Iowa With this grant, electronic homework centers were created at the six branches of the Public Library of Des Moines to demonstrate how libraries can support the formal education needs of students. Each site received a package of CD-ROMs including maps, 20th century current events, science, animals, and encyclopedias; a core set of printed reference materials; and access to helpful Internet sites. The Homework Centers were then set up to allow for quick and easy use by students. Library staff encourages teachers to advise them of upcoming assignments so that library resources can be ready and available. The homework centers have been very popular, and heavily used by students of all ages. Computer Training Centers, New Jersey The New Jersey State Library awarded grants in the amount of $20,000 each of ten libraries across the state to create computer training centers. As information is increasingly available in electronic formats, there is a need to ensure that all library users have the skills necessary to effectively use computers and search for information on electronic databases and the Internet. These grants supported the purchase of a half-dozen PCs for the computer training center, and the presentation of multiple computer training courses per month on a variety of topics. Nearly 140,000 patrons were served by the ten libraries receiving the grants. Rural Access to Job Information, Pioneer Library System, New York The Pioneer Library System covers four primarily rural counties with 41 branch libraries. This project established job information centers in 13 libraries in all four counties. At the job information center, patrons can search Internet job sites, New York State Department of Labor information, and access software, books, and videos to help prepare resumes, cover letters, and for interviews. The project forged links between library staff and the regional state-sponsored Workforce Development System, which is important in future partnerships as the federal Workforce Investment Act is implemented in New York State. In addition, the NY State Department of Labor wants to encourage the use of libraries as centers for labor market information--the 1,000 public libraries in all parts of New York State are ideal public access points for DOL information. This project is a model for cost-effective partnerships in this area, and will be replicated around the state. Davis Homes Library Branch, Morristown, Tennessee The C. Frank Davis Homes Housing Project in Morristown is located in an area with subsidized housing, a Title I elementary and middle school, and a high school with high dropout rates. To assist poor families in desperate need of educational resources, the county opened a branch library in this neighborhood. The library is housed in a building with many other local community service organizations - a police substation, the DARE program, the local Housing Authority, and an Americorps project office. The new library branch has computers, educational software, library materials to supplement homework assignments, GED and job search materials, and more. The branch has proved very popular, with students always reading, working on the computers, or studying with volunteer tutors. About IMLS -- IMLS was created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208. IMLS is an independent federal grantmaking agency that fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting museums and libraries. For more information, including guidelines contact : Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20506, http://www.imls.gov #### =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=