Nearly every U.S. public library offers free access to computers and the Internet, but overall, libraries are challenged to provide enough workstations to meet demand, pay for ongoing Internet connectivity costs, and plan for necessary upgrades to the technology, a report conducted by the Information Use Management & Policy Institute at Florida State University finds.

According to the report, which was commissioned by the American Library Association and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 98.9 percent of all public libraries offer free public access to computers and the Internet — a growth of more than 400 percent since 1996, when just one in four libraries did. Millions of Americans use computers in public libraries to access government services, research health information, enroll in distance-learning classes, and start small businesses. Library computers have become so popular that more than 85 percent of institutions say they are not able to meet the demand at certain times during the day.

In addition, the report reveals that, in the past year, technology budgets for most public library systems have stayed level, with no increase for inflation or expansion of service (50.6 percent). More than one-third of public library systems reported an increase in their technology budget (36.1 percent), while more than one in ten systems reported a decrease (13.3 percent).

"Libraries connect communities with information and knowledge, but we must work together to ensure they stay connected for generations to come," said Martha Choe, director of the Gates Foundation's Global Libraries program. "Libraries need ongoing support from government, businesses, foundations, and citizens to pay for ongoing costs such as Internet access fees, technology upgrades, and technical assistance."