National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity, 1998. Final211 Report

摘要

The 1998 data studied all library outlets (defined as both central or211u001esystem/administrative units and branches, excluding bookmobiles and 227 outlets 211u001efor which it was not possible to determine the geocodes), the poverty level of 211u001ethe users served by these outlets, and the library's metropolitan status as 211u001eurban, suburban, and rural (see Figure 1 for a detailed breakdown of public 211u001elibrary outlets and their poverty-metropolitan status categories). This 211u001ecomprehensive picture can provide the public library community, policy makers, 211u001eand researchers with a more informed picture of which library outlets in 211u001edifferent types of poverty and/or urban/rural settings provide what level and 211u001etype of Internet connectivity. Such data provide an important benchmark 211u001edescribing how public library outlets support University Service objectives as 211u001elegislated through the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104). The data 211u001ecan also inform policy makers as to possible future changes and impacts resulting 211u001efrom the disbursement of funds to these public library outlets in support of 211u001eUniversal Service objectives.