The Role of Public Libraries, the Internet, and Economic Uncertainty
Librarianship in Times of Crisis
ISBN: 978-1-78052-390-3, eISBN: 978-1-78052-391-0
Publication date: 24 November 2011
Abstract
Historically, library usage has increased during economic downturns. In the pre-Internet era, this meant increased usage of print materials and reference services. In the Internet era, however, the number of roles that public libraries can play in serving their communities has expanded greatly. This chapter provides insights into the ways in which American public libraries are using the Internet to meet patron, community, and government needs in this time of economic crisis. Drawing from the data and findings from the 2010–2011 Public Library Funding and Technology Access national survey, this chapter examines key issues at the intersection of public libraries, the Internet, and economic uncertainty and library/e-government partnerships that have resulted from the economic situation. In these difficult economic circumstances, US public libraries have been able to use the Internet to meet many vital patron and community needs, but they still face numerous economic difficulties in responding to these requests.
Keywords
Citation
Sigler, K., Jaeger, P.T., Carlo Bertot, J., McDermott, A.J., DeCoster, E.J. and Langa, L.A. (2011), "The Role of Public Libraries, the Internet, and Economic Uncertainty", Woodsworth, A. (Ed.) Librarianship in Times of Crisis (Advances in Librarianship, Vol. 34), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0065-2830(2011)0000034005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited