Gates foundation survey shows libraries key to getting low-income populations online

One-third of all Americans over the age of 14 have used a public library to access the Internet during the past year, according to a study released Thursday by the University of Washington and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Of the 77 million people who visit libraries to get on the Web, a large portion are low-income individuals looking for jobs and doing homework at computer centers and using wireless network connections. The survey comes amid a growing recognition by the federal government that libraries and other community centers represent a potential solution to getting more people connected to high-speed Internet services.

(March 25)