US/ND-1: Public Libraries, the Internet and ISPs

Public Libraries, the Internet and ISPs

Rushton Brandis (Rushton.G.BRANDIS@state.or.us)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 12:21:11 +0100 

As I administer public access Internet grants to small, rural public
libraries, I have several observations.

1)  It is not as hard for rural libraries to get connected these days. 
Yes, I do have to arrange for 800 number surcharge access in 5 of 25
grants being given out in September. But, in the other cases, it is a
local call.  And, as Steve Harmon, Senior Investment Analyst for iWorld
pointed out in his column (http://netday.iworld.com/stocks/column.shtml)
on August 16:

"In short, like local newspapers and trade magazines, the presence of
same-town businesspersons offering net access and services has been
largely ignored by most analysts covering this industry.  Anecdotal
evidence:  More than 7,000 ISPs in the US this year compared to about
6,000 in 1995.  Clearly, Ma Bell and her offspring haven't--yet--made
the dent most thought they would."

One of the vendors, Teleport (http://www.teleport.com) in Portland, OR,
offers a 50% discount to libraries with a letter to their Nonprofit
Coordinator (nonprofit@teleport.com).  Other local Internet providers
have said they would not charge the library if it went over the regular
number of hours per month for an account.  

2)  There was a concern expressed earlier about libraries selling
Internet services.  Seattle Public Library has been very successful
selling Internet services and helping to foster an active community
network.  Salem Public Library in Oregon received a grant from NTIA to
offer Internet to the public (http://www.open.org).  There was some
concern expressed by a local commercial Salem Internet provider, and the
library adjusted its business rate. 

3)  Oregon has established a statewide Telecommunications Forum under
the auspices of the Governor (http://www.das.state.or.us/otf/).  Several
guiding elements for that forum state:

...Include all telecommunications stakeholders, including providers,
consumers*, and
regulators (*such as: urban, rural, business, residential, health care,
education, libraries, law enforcement, etc.)

...Actively encourage partnerships among public, private, and non-profit
entities.

...Provide the basis for linking state strategy with federal policy.

4)  As an aside, public libraries offer videotapes in their circulating
collections.  Local video stores continue to do business, the Discovery
Channel is successful on cable and Sesame Street does well on television
and videocassette. Story hours and children's reading programs are
offered by public libraries. Blockbuster and Hollywood Video continue to
"circulate" videos.

5)  Oregon EdNet provides Internet on a self-sustaining basis through
the state Department of Administrative Services to libraries and other
government entities throughout Oregon. It puts local dialup POPs in some
libraries in exchange for service to the library. From the library's
perspective, EdNet was the only way to get local dial and 56K service in
Pendleton, OR through December, 1995.  In January, 1996, two commercial
providers came to town. 

Summary:  We have to be careful to include various existing Internet
public library efforts with consideration of discounted library service.
In my experience, cooperation already exists.  Libraries can contribute
to local economic development as well as provide public access to
members of their community. 

Rushton Brandis, Network Development Consultant
Library Development Services,  Oregon State Library
State Library Bldg, Salem, OR 97310-0640
503 378 2112 x 224 voice; 503 588 7119 fax
rushton.g.brandis@state.or.us
<http://www.osl.state.or.us/oslhome.html>