FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008

Press Contacts:
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
202-653-4632

University of Washington to Examine the Benefits of Free Access
to Computers in Public Libraries

WASHINGTON, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the University of Washington to conduct a national study on the social, economic, personal, and professional value of free access to computers at public libraries.

The University of Washington Information School, working with the Urban Institute, a non-partisan economic and social policy research organization, will examine the impact of free access to computers and the Internet on the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The IMLS project will be carried out with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Public libraries, with support from the government and private foundations, have provided free access to the Internet and computers since the 1990s. Libraries have also provided access to digital resources, databases, networked and virtual services, training, technical assistance, and technology-trained staff. However, little research has been done on the relationship between free access to computers and the benefits to individuals, families and communities. Working with libraries, users, and communities, and an expert committee of library leaders, researchers, and public policy organizations, the research team will develop methods of measuring the benefits of free computer access. These indicators may help guide decision-making and be used to generate public support for public access computing.

“I am so pleased to work with the University of Washington, the Urban Institute, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on this important study,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, Institute Director. “This research will advance our shared mission of connecting people with information and ideas. Access to information is the touchstone of democracy.”

“The University of Washington is proud to be part of this effort, which builds on and extends research already underway at the Information School on the impacts of public access computing at the local and international level,” said Mike Crandall, senior lecturer and chair of the Master’s of Science in Information Management program. Crandall and Karen Fisher, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of the Master's of Library and Information Science Program, are co-directors of the University of Washington project.

“People use free technologies in public libraries to transform their lives. This research will help capture the value of that access which, in turn, can help libraries raise awareness and support,” said Jill Nishi, Director of the U.S. Libraries program at the Gates Foundation.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

About the University of Washington Information School
Founded in 1911, The University of Washington Information School (iSchool) focuses on meeting individual, organizational, and societal needs through more effective use of information. All programs embrace human-centered approaches to knowledge organization. Faculty has backgrounds in fields as diverse as library science, computer science, business, education, philosophy, and law, creating a strong interdisciplinary environment. The iSchool believes that connecting people with knowledge is of fundamental importance and that access to information is a basic human right. The iSchool sustains this vision through research, service, and community outreach in the information field. To learn more about the iSchool, please visit www.ischool.washington.edu.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to reduce inequities and improve lives around the world. In developing countries, it focuses on improving health, reducing extreme poverty, and increasing access to technology in public libraries. In the United States, the foundation seeks to ensure that all people have access to a great education and to technology in public libraries. In its local region, it focuses on improving the lives of low-income families. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and Co-chairs William H. Gates Sr., Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates. More information is available at www.gatesfoundation.org.

About the Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research and educational organization established in Washington, D.C., in 1968. Its staff investigates the social, economic, and governance problems confronting the nation and evaluates the public and private means to alleviate them. Through work that ranges from broad conceptual studies to administrative and technical assistance, Institute researchers contribute to the stock of knowledge available to guide decision-making in the public interest. To learn more about the Urban Institute, please visit www.urban.org.