The prediction, in brief:

While steady progress is under way to address barriers of access and training, a more coordinated effort will be needed if the majority of the nation’s public libraries, especially those serving small towns and rural areas, are to provide public access to the Internet. Other issues – such as ease of use, intellectual property, and how the Internet fits into the development of a universal information superhighway – may be even more difficult to resolve, and will require coordination by a larger number of players.

Predictor: Henderson, Carol C.

Prediction, in context:

The 1995 book “Public Access to the Internet,” edited by Brian Kahin and James Keller carries the chapter, “The Role of Public Libraries in Providing Public Access to the Internet” by Carol C. Henderson and Frederick D. King. Henderson is the executive director of the Washington office of the American Library Association and King is the electronic services librarian at the University of Maryland. They write:”While steady progress is under way to address barriers of access and training, a more coordinated effort will be needed if the majority of the nation’s public libraries, especially those serving small towns and rural areas, are to provide public access to the Internet. Other issues – such as ease of use, intellectual property, and how the Internet fits into the development of a universal information superhighway – may be even more difficult to resolve, and will require coordination by a larger number of players. These players must include federal, state, and local governments; state library agencies; library cooperatives, networks, and associations; libraries themselves; and the private sector. Public libraries have the potential to serve many roles in providing public access to the Internet.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information

Subtopic: Libraries/Databases

Name of publication: Public Access to the Internet (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: The Role of Public Libraries in Providing Public Access to the Internet

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 168, 169

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne