Internet access in Public Libraries: Who needs it?

I had heard on an NPR radio broadcast a couple of months ago how much American relied on services from their local public libraries. With the economy in such an uncertain state and federal and state governments cutting funding to everything including public libraries I was interested in reading more about the situation. I found this article below

Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries.


The article is based on the first, large-scale study of who uses public computers and Internet access in public libraries, the ways library patrons use this free technology service, why they use it, and how it affects their lives. It was conducted by the University of Washington Information School and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.