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FYI,<br>
<br>
Suzanne L. Sager<br>
ALA Oregon Chapter Councilor<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>[alacro-l] ALA Highlights Vital Role of Libraries to FCC</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Tue, 8 Dec 2009 10:55:04 -0500</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td>Michael Dowling <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mdowling@ala.org"><mdowling@ala.org></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
<td>ALACRO-L <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:alacro-l@ala.org"><alacro-l@ala.org></a></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">WASHINGTON,
D.C. – In its latest <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Libraries-Economy-FCC.pdf">filing</a>
to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the American Library
Association (ALA) highlights the vital role libraries play in
communities by supporting workforce development, small business
creation, life-long education, and access to government resources
through public access computer terminals and broadband Internet access.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The ALA’s
Friday filing responded to the FCC’s call for comments regarding the
relationship between economic development and broadband – particularly
broadband adoption – and how broadband access spurs businesses’
productivity and growth. Public libraries serve the information needs
of the community by providing access to online resources and services
and directly strengthen the economic stability and quality of life in
communities across the country. Public libraries are also community
anchor institutions, and bringing broadband to the library will result
in greater broadband availability to the entire community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“Over one
hundred years ago, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of over
1,600 public libraries in the United States because he understood the
critical role they played in the education and economic empowerment of
the public,” said Dr. Mary Alice Ball, Chair, Telecommunications
Subcommittee of the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OTIP).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“Today with
ten times that number nationwide, America’s public relies even more
heavily on libraries not only to educate and retrain themselves, but
also to make use of libraries’ no-fee access to the Internet to apply
for jobs, use government services and to create small businesses.
Carnegie knew that physical library buildings were vital to the
continuing growth of the country in the last century; today he would
recognize that broadband connectivity in libraries plays a similar
function for our society and our economy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">ALA
research finds that 91 percent of libraries offer formal training
classes in general computer skills; 71 percent have formal classes in
using software applications; and 93 percent have training in general
Internet use.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Libraries
subscribe to numerous online databases that provide patrons with access
to current research and information on a variety of topics including
economic development, starting a small business, legal information, and
career counseling. Many libraries offer these services to help ensure
their patrons not only have access to valuable information but have the
skills necessary to evaluate and utilize them. In response to the
economic downturn, many libraries are creating additional workshops and
training classes on specific employment related topics. Without high
capacity broadband, libraries would not be able to provide their
patrons with these services – services that are critical to the
vitality of communities nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">ALA
commends the Commission for soliciting input on a wide range of
critical issues as it develops the National Broadband Plan. ALA
recognizes the many challenges faced by the Commission and applauds its
efforts to put into place a comprehensive plan that will bring lasting
social and economic benefit to all areas of the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><br>
Contact: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jterry@alawash.org"
target="_blank">Jenni Terry</a><br>
Press Officer<br>
ALA Washington Office<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<img alt="Portland State University logo"
src="cid:part1.01030706.04060707@pdx.edu" align="left" height="35"
width="165"><br>
<br>
<p
style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Suzanne
L. Sager<br>
Library East, Cataloging<br>
Portland State University<br>
<br>
503-725-8169<br>
503-725-5799<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sagers@pdx.edu">sagers@pdx.edu</a></p>
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