California Public Library Public Access Computing Survey - "Staying Connected"

If you have any questions about the survey please contact Lori Ayre (ayre@infopeople.org).

The California State Library Foundation, in collaboration with California State Library, recently received a Staying Connected grant from the Gates Foundation. The purpose of Staying Connected grants is to help libraries sustain public access computing programs. State Librarian of California, Susan Hildreth, says that Staying Connected "will help California libraries and library staff continue to offer their users, particularly those in California's neediest communities, sustainable access to the wealth of information and services on the Internet."

Survey Results

Have you integrated the support of public access computers into your basic library operations and budget?
1) Support is integrated with library operations and is part of the general budget.: 99
2) Support and budgeting for public access computers is covered with a combination of special funds and regular funding.: 23
3) Support and budgeting for public access computers is covered with special funds as it becomes available.: 4
4) Support is handled by the county or city.: 24
5) We have a contract with an outside vendor who supports all of our computers.: 5
6) Other, please explain:: 40
graph 1

Are your computers part of an ongoing replacement cycle?
1) Other, please explain:: 62
2) None of our computers are on a scheduled replacement cycle.: 47
3) Only public access computers are on a scheduled replacement cycle.: 1
4) Only staff computers are on a scheduled replacement cycle.: 10
5) All library computers are on a scheduled replacement cycle.: 88
graph 2

Do you have the ability to "clone" the software on your library desktops?
1) Other, please explain:: 52
2) I don't understand this question.: 12
3) No, we configure each new PC individually.: 42
4) We clone all of our public access computers but not the staff computers.: 18
5) We clone all of our staff desktops but not the public access computers.: 3
6) Yes, we clone all of our desktops using Ghost, standard user profiles, or some other process.: 75
graph 3

How does your ability to support your public access computers affect service?
1) Other, please explain:: 26
2) We have very few public access computers and when they go [which is often], we have to wait a long time to get technical support.: 3
3) Our public access computers are often down and this has been problematic for us.: 11
4) Our public access computers do have problems that take some time to get resolved but we have enough of them that it doesn't usually affect service to our patrons.: 18
5) We are able to solve most problems with the public access computers and any down time is fairly minimal.: 80
6) We are able to keep our computers up and running 99% of the time so it does not affect service to our patrons.: 51
graph 4

What technology-related projects are planned for the next 2 years which you believe will improve public access computing? Choose all that apply.
1) Implement software that will measure use of electronic resources.: 38
2) Introduce a metasearch capability for searching multiple library resources with one search.: 42
3) Replace our library cards with "smart cards.": 15
4) Add self-check capabilities to our circulation system.: 48
5) Implement some kind of public access computer reservation system.: 70
6) Implement a print management system for cost recovery and/or better printer sharing.: 55
7) Add wireless capabilities [wireless Internet access for patrons, wireless staff workstations, wireless hand-held computers, building to building wireless, wireless to bookmobile, etc].: 88
8) Upgrade our staff computers and/or public access computers.: 114
9) Upgrade our integrated library system.: 64
10) Other, please describe:: 109
graph 5