FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
February 21, 2007
Press Contacts
202-653-4628
Kevin O'Connell, koconnell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
IMLS Requests Proposals to Study Impact of Free Access
to Computers and the Internet in Public Libraries
Deadline: March
26, 2007
Washington, DC--The Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites proposals
to study the impact of free access to computers, the Internet,
and related services at public libraries. IMLS will conduct
this study with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation.
“I am very pleased to partner with
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on this important
study,” noted Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of
the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “The
federal government, the foundation, and many others have
invested significant resources in providing free access
to computers in public libraries. The study will examine
the social, economic and educational impact of computers
in public libraries.”
Previous studies about computers and public
libraries in the United States have focused on how many
computers are available, what kind of Internet access
they provide, and how often they are used. To date very
few studies have examined the benefits that computers
in public libraries provide to individuals, families,
and communities, or how the lack of these service impacts
the public. Free access to computers and the Internet
in public libraries is nearly ubiquitous, yet maintaining
and improving access requires that policymakers have data
about public impact so that they can make appropriate
decisions about whether to invest dollars to renew technology
and information resources and provide training for public
library staff and library users. Decision makers at all
levels require information about public impact to analyze
funding priorities. This study will provide much needed
data on public impact to guide future public and private
investments in these services and public policy decisions.
The Request for Proposals can be found
at:
www.fbo.gov/spg/IMLS/IMLS/IMLS/RFP-07-1/Attachments.html.
The deadline for submissions is March 26, 2007.
|