US:PA-1: Assign #1
Assign #1
Barbara Doll (bcdli1@STULAB.SFCPA.EDU)
Fri, 19 Sep 1997 10:48:55 +1100
Rural areas need access to the same services provided to the urban
areas. Local phone companies will continually use "the customer
base is too small to justify providing that service" excuse until
consumers not only make their needs known but use every available
means to demonstrate the importance of the need. Just as citizens of
some areas of the state had to join together to assure that the power
company provided consistent, reliable service, the areas which are
underserved by phone companies need to band together to promote the
need for better telecommunications service. The Public Utilities
Commission needs to stress to the telecommunications companies that
public means all the public, not just those who live in easy to serve
and highly profitable areas.
Our rural library needs to attract more computer literate volunteers
to serve on the Board, provide basic computer training, and just make
the public aware of the benefits that we can gain.
Our local library is open fewer hours than the school, but at
different times (evenings and Saturdays). We complement the
resources available during the day, but must be able to provide them
when the internet is busier. Schools are able to assure that
those utilizing the technology have a minimum amount of
training. Public libraries are often understaffed to provide this
additional training.
Dialogs like this are an excellent beginning to increase the
understanding between the libraries and the schools, and between
rural and urban needs also. It is interesting to review comments to
date on this list. Some feel rural areas are years behind urban
areas, some feel schools serve more patrons, others feel libraries
serve more patrons. Representatives from each area would make an
interesting panel discussion at a conference.
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=A6 1847---"Touching Three Centuries"---1997 =A6
=A6 Barbara C. Doll =A6
=A6 Special Collections/Records Manager Voice: 814.472.3163 =A6
=A6 Pasquerilla Library Fax: 814.472.3154 =A6
=A6 Saint Francis College Email: bdoll@sfcpa.edu =A6
=A6 Loretto, PA 15940-0600 WebSite: www://sfcpa.edu =A6
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"I dream of a library with no boundaries other than the world itself."
Erasmus, 13th century humanist