Survey reports 1/3 of Americans use library computers
A national survery funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reports that one-third of Americans (77 million) used public library computers to access the Internet in the last year. 40% received help with employment needs, 37% with health issues, and 42% with educational needs . The stats are born-out in Endicott, where computer use increased 28% (to 33,866 sessions) from 2008 to 2009, with additional use of the library’s free Wi-Fi network increasing 87%.