The prediction, in brief:

As more information services become available over the Internet, pricing mechanisms will vary. Based on library experience with current commercial electronic information services, it is likely that at least some of these services will be priced for the institutional or corporate subscriber, and not for individuals who may have only occasional need for access to only a small portion of an information source. In this environment, the public library would provide the electronic equivalent of one of its traditional functions – it would provide access to a wide variety of information sources and viewpoints regardless of a user’s economic status or research skills.

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:”As more information services become available over the Internet, pricing mechanisms will vary. Based on library experience with current commercial electronic information services, it is likely that at least some of these services will be priced for the institutional or corporate subscriber, and not for individuals who may have only occasional need for access to only a small portion of an information source. In this environment, the public library would provide the electronic equivalent of one of its traditional functions – it would provide access to a wide variety of information sources and viewpoints regardless of a user’s economic status or research skills.”

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:
Page 157

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