The impact of the Internet on public library use: Current status and trends for the future

This paper describes a research project designed to provide baseline data concerning the relationship between the public's use of the public library and use of the Internet. The authors conducted a national survey to estimate the number of people using the library, the Internet, both, or neither; and to describe behaviors of people in each segment related to their use or nonuse of the public library and /or the Internet. The data analysis provides estimates of the size of these segments; describes why people are currently using the public library and the Internet; identifies those areas in which libraries and the Internet are competing and those areas in which they are complementary; and identifies the criteria people use when deciding to use either the public library or the Internet. Longitudinal research is necessary to fully reveal future trends for public library planning and policy development.