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                          PUBLIC LIBRARY SURVEY

I'm researching the use of the Internet by Public Libraries for an
article I'm working on, and would greatly appreciate any input you can
provide. Please send all replys to me directly via email. Thank you.
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This survey is being cross-post to the following newsgroups and
lists:  bit.listserv.advanc-l; bit.listserv.autocat;
bit.listserv.axslib-l; bit.listserv.buslib-l; bit.listserv.circplus;
bit.listserv.libref-l; bit.listser.libres; bit.listserv.lis-l;
bit.listserv.medlib-l; bit.listserv.mla-l; k12-library;
soc.libraries.talk; LIBADMIN; LIBREF-L; PACS-L; PUBLIB; PUBLIB-NET;
PUBYAC; and STUMPERS-L
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                        TOTAL 14 QUESTIONS
1.  Briefly describe how the Internet is being used to fulfill the
    mission of your library. What do staff use it for? What do patrons
    use it for?

2.  Is Internet access available only to staff?  If so, do they sometimes
    employ it to solve patron questions or problems? Give an example.

3.  Do patrons have access to terminals with direct access to the
    Internet, or they must use library staff as intermediaries?

4.  Give a brief description of the libraries usage policy as it applies
    to the Internet.

5.  Providing Internet access in public libraries is said to be one means
    of ensuring that there will be no "information-haves and
    information-have-nots."  Do you agree that public libraries therefore
    have a responsibility to provide such access to its patrons?  Why or
    why not?

6.  Do you or your staff make regular use of professional online journals
    and newsletters or subscribe to mail lists? (i.e. LITA Newsletter,
    ALAWON, PACS-L, PUBLIB, etc.)

7.  How does your library gain access to the Internet? Through a local
    freenet? Via a dial-up service provider? A SLIP connection? Other?

8.  Is the Internet accessed through a menu driven program (i.e. Gopher)
    or from a command line prompt?  Does the user have the ability to
    connect (via telnet) to other systems that may not be listed as a menu
    option?

9.  What are your feelings on allowing patrons to access their accounts
    at other locations while doing research in your library?  Do you see
    this as a problem?

10. Do you use the Internet resources to provide career and job search
    information to your patrons (e.g. Online Career Center, ACADEME This
    week, or MARVEL Fed Jobs)?  Do you plan to?

11. What other online commercial services does your library access either
    for staff or patron use (e.g. DIALOG, BRS, ORBIT, DJNR)?

12. Does your staff make use of FTP (file transfer protocol) to move
    files from the Internet to you computer's hard drive or floppy disk?

13. Do you use the FTP feature to create a repository of freeware,
    shareware, and text files for your users (e.g. Library of Congress
    text and graphic online exhibits)?

14. Please share a brief anecdote about using the Internet at your public
    library. It can be one of humor, frustration, amazement, relief...
    you name it.
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Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.  Please send your
response to:
                sewells@access.digex.net