Sari Feldman spoke about the new model of library outreach using broadband technology at a Broadband event at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland Ohio on October 7, 2011. The event was titled Mid-Course Workshop for Broadband Awardees: Accelerating Deployments & Driving Towards Sustainability Conference and sponsored by OneCommunity.
Ms. Feldman has heard about the supposed demise of the public library for much of her 35 year career. Instead she has seen libraries embracing new technologies to make them even more vital components of a community.
She sees broadband technology as one of the reasons for the vitality. She quoted a report that said 77 million people used a library PC in 2009 and they used it whether or not they had a PC at home. She attributes this to the high-speed connectivity at the library. She quoted her colleague who says, "You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much broadband."
The opportunity is where broadband intersects with the library's mission of reading, lifelong learning and civic engagement.
Feldman credits the new model of library outreach made possible by technology such as Overdrive's digital content management tools and the growth of devices like the Amazon Kindle.
