ALA Urges Public Libraries to Fill Out Internet Use Survey

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) is encouraging public libraries to participate in the 2011-2012 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study online survey.


The survey provides an important opportunity for libraries to share information on computer and Internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training and other uses of public libraries, such as providing public access technology centers in their communities. The current year’s online survey, available at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org, will be available through Nov. 11, 2011.


"The record-high response rate for last year’s survey clearly demonstrates that library leaders recognize the impact this study provides for their advocacy efforts,” said ALA Associate Executive Director Cathleen Bourdon. “The strength of the study rests on the level of participation. We encourage libraries to keep the momentum going to create the most current and complete snapshot of technology in U.S. public libraries.”
Recent study findings have been cited in hundreds of media outlets, including USA Today, The Washington Post, Fast Company, and The Huffington Post. Data has informed the National Broadband Plan and has been used in congressional and state-level testimony, as well as in comments to national agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission.


The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, continues work begun by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure in 1994. The survey is managed by the Information Policy & Access Center at the University of Maryland.


More information, including results from the 2010-2011 study, is available at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding. Related news, insights and free resources from the study are available on the study blog – Libraries Connect Communities – and Twitter feed (ala_ors).

Public libraries, please fill out ALA survey on Internet services and funding by Nov. 14

Please make sure your library completes the 2010-2011 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study online survey, which provides an important opportunity for libraries to share information regarding computer and Internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training and other uses of public libraries.

Libraries are encouraged to log on now at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org.

This critical survey and study are coordinated by the American Library Association and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Recently, study findings have:

• been cited in hundreds of media outlets, including Newsweek, Governing Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and NPR;
• informed the National Broadband Plan and successful library grant applications for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program;
• been used in presentations to the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and the National Association of Counties Association; and
• been used in Congressional and state-level testimony, as well as in comments to federal agencies.

In addition to national data, the research team is able to produce state-level analysis for all states where there is an adequate and representative response rate. One-page state summaries on employment and e-government services in public libraries also are available for these states.

“The power of the survey as an advocacy tool rests largely on the individual state response rates,” said Larra Clark, project manager for the American Library Association Office for Research & Statistics. “Libraries regularly report back the impact of the study data in raising awareness of the successes and challenges in meeting community needs.”

Improvements in the Web survey now make it easier for libraries with multiple branches to report where data is the same across branches (“ditto” feature) and for libraries that responded last year to import and update previous responses.

The study continues work begun by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure in 1994. The survey is managed by the Center for Library & Information Innovation at the University of Maryland.

More information, including results from the 2009-2010 study, is available online at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding. A new blog – Libraries Connect Communities – and Twitter feed (ala_ors) also share news, findings, insights and free resources from the study.

Questions, please contact: Caroline Jewell