Millions of Americans are turning to the Internet to look for new jobs. But in many parts of the United States, public libraries are the only free provider of that crucial combo: a computer plus Internet access. This means that low-income job seekers depend on them when searching for employment.
Oddly, as library development directors look for funds to beef up their networks, they’re not finding the support they expected from the White House’s $7.2 billion broadband stimulus package.
The first round of stimulus grants “in effect de-prioritizes libraries and discourages them from applying for funding,” complains the American Library Association in a letter sent to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. “The ability of our libraries to meet community needs is in jeopardy—especially when library use has heavily increased across the country in these difficult economic times.”
Read the full story at Ars Technica.