Internet aids library patronage
An explosive rise in Internet access at the nation’s public libraries has also led to a solid increase in the number of visitors, according to a study released Monday by the American Library Assn.
“Far from hurting American libraries, the Internet has actually helped to spur more people to use their local libraries because it has increased our hunger for knowledge and information,” Loriene Roy, president-elect of the American Library Assn., said in a statement.
According to the ALA’s State of America’s Libraries report for 2007, the number of libraries offering free Internet use increased 400% from 1994 to 2004, with 99% of libraries providing such a service. Visits to libraries increased 61% during that time, to more than 1.2 billion by 2004.
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