December, 2006

Librarian in Black mentions Robin Hastings’ pointer to Craythur.com , an apparent web-based OS. There are others, such as eyeOS As Robin says “I can see this being REALLY helpful for the library’s non-computer owning patrons. Right now, everything that the OS promises to do (calendaring functions, notes, etc.) is available on widely scattered services around the ‘net. This would let them continue to use those services, but keep them all in one place. I can’t see - as it is right now - most computer owning folks finding it really useful, but I can see the patrons at public libraries snapping up the opportunity to have all their online tools in one, easy interface.”

Keeping up with the material and technical demands of your Public Access Computing stations can be difficult, particularly for “accidental techie” librarians and those on a tight budget. In our interviews, we’ve found a number of ways librarians have used to handle this – an interesting variation being contracting for machines, software and support in one bundled package which is meant to ease all of their problems.

The 2006 Public Library and the Internet Survey http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_reports.cfm, explores the impacts and benefits that communities derive from public library connectivity. One of the most significant findings is the vital role that public libraries serve in providing access to government services such as Medicare Part D, and federal insurance following disasters such as Hurrican Katrina.