2008 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access Background

Reports

Most of the final reports available on this page are in Adobe pdf format. You will need Adobe Reader to view them. If you have any question about information on this page please contact Dr. John Carlo Bertot, at jcbertot@bertotinfo.com.

2006

The 2006 national study presents findings from both a national survey andcase sites. The national survey provides provides longitudinal data regarding public library Internet connectivity and public access computing services and resources, but also explores the impacts and benefits that communities derive from public library connectivity. The case sites focused primarily on successfully networked public libraries and the issues, solutions, and approaches that these libraries faced and resolved in order to develop sustainable and high quality public access computing and Internet services.

Public Libraries and the Internet 2006: Study Results and Findings (1.16 MB) By John Carlo Bertot, Charles R. McClure, Paul T. Jaeger, & Ryan J. (Sep 2006) For: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The American Library Association

The 2006 report is also available in sections.

Table of Contents (205 KB)
Title Page, Executive Summary, and Acknowledgements (288 KB)
Introduction and Methodology (288 KB)
Relating Survey Findings to Case Study Findings (288 KB)
Study Conclusions: Impacts, Issues, and Possible Future Steps for Public Access Computing (288 KB)
Data Analysis and Major findings (288 KB)
National Branch Level Findings / Figures 2 - 15 ( 229 KB)
National System Level Findings / Figures 16 - 23 (216 KB)
State Branch Level Findings / Figures 24 - 35 (320 KB)
State System Level Findings / Figures 36 - 41 (281 KB)
Qualitative Survey Data Findings (212 KB)
Successfully Networked Public Libraries (300 KB)

Appendices

Table of Contents (584 KB)
Appendix 1: Survey Instrument (591 KB)
Appendix 2: Successfully Networked Public Libraries Visited (584 KB)
Appendix 3: Case Study Approach and Method (584 KB)
Appendix 3-A: State Library One Page Project Briefing (584 KB)
Appendix 3-B: Sample E-mail Note to Site Visit Participants (584 KB)
Appendix 3-C: Basic Public Library Interview Script and Brief Survey (161 KB)
Appendix 4: Introduction to SNPL Checklist, Catalog & Summary (484 KB)
Appendix 4-A: 2006 SNPL Checklist (484 KB)
Appendix 4-B: 2006 Successfully Networked Public Libraries Catalog (483 KB)
Appendix 4-C: 2006 Summary of Public Library IT & Network Services (484 KB)
Appendix 5: Types of Within Library Use of Network Services (484 KB)
Appendix 6: State Library Supported Electronic Libraries (484 KB)
Appendix 7: State Library Supported Virtual Reference Services (484 KB)
Appendix 8: State Library & System Role in SNPL Development (484 KB)
Appendix 8-A: Examples of State Library Discounted Technology Procurement Initiatives (484 KB)
Appendix 8-B: Examples of State Library Union Catalogs (484 KB)
Appendix 8-C: Examples of State Library Statewide Interlibrary Loan (484 KB)
Appendix 8-D: Examples of State Library Federated Search Sites (484 KB)
Appendix 8-E: Examples of State Library Digital Collections (484 KB)
Appendix 8-F: Examples of State Library State Government Information Sites (484 KB)
Appendix 9: State Library Roles (484 KB)
Appendix 10: Alternative Measures for Assessing SNPL Value (484 KB)

There are also two specialized reports thus far regarding the 2006 Public Libraries and the Internet study. These reflect developments in wireless Internet access provided by public libraries as well as the significant roles and contributions public libraries played during the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons in the Gulf States.

Public Libraries and the Internet 2006: A Special Report on Wireless Access (67 KB)
By John C. Bertot, Charles R. McClure, Paul T. Jaeger, & Lesley Langa. (May 2006)
For: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The American Library Association

Public Libraries and the Internet 2006: A Special Report on Public Libraries and the 2006 Hurricanes (84 KB)
By John C. Bertot, Paul T. Jaeger, Charles R. McClure, & Lesley Langa. (May 2006)
For: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The American Library Association

2004

This report presents national and state data from the 2004 Public Libraries and Networked Information Services survey funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Library Association. A primary goal of the study was to provide the library community with current information that describes public library activities in the networked environment. The report summarizes findings at the library outlet and system level for all questions on the survey.

Public Libraries and the Internet 2004: Survey Results and Findings (642 KB)
By John C. Bertot, Charles R. McClure, & Paul T. Jaeger. (May 2005)
For: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The American Library Association

The 2004 report is also available broken into sections.

Title Page, Executive Summary, and Acknowledgements (174 KB)
Final Report Narrative (136 KB)
National Outlet Level Findings / Figures 1 - 11 (127 KB)
National System Level Findings / Figures 12 - 30 (164 KB)
State Outlet Level Findings / Figures 31 - 36 (159 KB)
State System Level Findings / Figures 37 - 53 (368 KB)
Appendix A: 2004 National Public Libraries and Networked Information Services Survey (122 KB)
Appendix B: Survey Response Rate by State -- Analyzed Data (96 KB)

2002

Public Libraries and the Internet 2002: Internet Connectivity and Networked Services
By John C. Bertot & Charles R. McClure, with the assistance of Kim M. Thompson. (2002)

2000

Public Libraries and the Internet 2000: Summary Findings and Data Tables
By John C. Bertot & Charles R. McClure (2000)

1998

Moving toward more effective public Internet access: the 1998 national survey of public library outlet Internet connectivity
By John Carlo Bertot & Charles R. McClure (1998)
For: The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the American Library Association

1997

The 1997 National Survey of U.S. Public Libraries and the Internet: Final Report
By John C. Bertot & Charles R. McClure (1997)
For: Office for Information Technology Policy and U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science