Figure 6. Factors Affecting Library Internet Connectivity by Population of Legal Service Area and Urban/Rural Status for Connected Libraries.

Libraries Connected to the Internet by Population of Legal Service Area
	Hardware Costs	Software Costs	Communi-cations Hardware Costs	Telecom-muni-cations Fees	Training Costs	Content Costs	Facilities Up-grades	Staffing Costs	Internet Connection Maintenance	Access to Reliable Telecom Services	Availability of State/Other Telecom Services	Availability of In-House Computer Expertise	Availability of Staff Time to Develop Internet Expertise	Availability of Federal/ State Money	Digital Copyright Fees	Concerns Over Access to Objectionable Material
Million +	1.63	2.91	1.96	1.32	2.00	2.76	1.96	1.84	2.70	1.63	3.27	1.26	1.27	2.48	2.53	2.01
500,000-999,999	1.75	2.29	1.77	1.34	1.98	2.11	2.23	1.59	2.22	1.86	2.47	1.38	1.47	2.43	2.15	1.90
100,000-499,999	1.80	2.43	1.99	1.62	2.25	2.73	2.37	1.98	2.34	1.93	2.58	1.56	1.56	2.20	2.91	2.41
25,000-99,999	1.83	2.48	2.08	1.76	2.26	2.66	2.49	2.05	2.30	1.97	2.34	1.67	1.62	2.12	2.92	2.46
5,000-24,999	1.77	2.25	1.99	1.59	2.14	2.65	2.44	2.12	2.12	1.97	2.24	1.73	1.65	1.83	2.80	2.42
LT 5,000	1.84	2.17	2.16	1.79	2.39	2.84	2.51	2.74	2.24	2.11	2.56	2.04	1.86	1.64	3.24	2.51
Overall	1.80	2.29	2.06	1.69	2.25	2.71	2.47	2.30	2.21	2.01	2.39	1.81	1.70	1.85	2.97	2.45

Urban/Rural Status
	Hardware Costs	Software Costs	Communi-cations Hardware Costs	Telecom-muni-cations Fees	Training Costs	Content Costs	Facilities Up-grades	Staffing Costs	Internet Connection Maintenance	Access to Reliable Telecom Services	Availability of State/Other Telecom Services	Availability of In-House Computer Expertise	Availability of Staff Time to Develop Internet Expertise	Availability of Federal/ State Money	Digital Copyright Fees	Concerns Over Access to Objectionable Material
CC	1.75	2.34	2.04	1.59	2.23	2.55	2.46	2.01	2.22	1.92	2.54	1.73	1.65	2.24	2.74	2.39
NC	1.86	2.44	2.02	1.57	2.15	2.74	2.48	2.15	2.18	1.97	2.45	1.65	1.62	2.02	3.11	2.37
NO	1.78	2.19	2.09	1.77	2.31	2.72	2.46	2.41	2.23	2.05	2.34	1.90	1.76	1.71	2.92	2.50
Overall	1.80	2.29	2.06	1.69	2.25	2.71	2.47	2.30	2.21	2.01	2.39	1.81	1.70	1.85	2.93	2.45
1= Very Important 5=Very Unimportant

From:

Bertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., and Fletcher, P.D. (1997). The 1997 National Survey of U.S. Public Libraries and the Internet: Final Report Washington, D.C.: American Library Association, Office for Information Technology Policy.