Here’s an update from the “Does your PAC have Impact?” group and the research team led by Mike Crandall and Karen E. Fisher of The University of Washington Information School. With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the team is examining the impact of free access to computers and the Internet on the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
The research methods include a web survey hosted on the web sites of 636 randomly selected library systems, over 1100 telephone surveys, and four case study visits conducted at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland; the Blair Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas; the Oakland Public Library in California; and the Marshalltown Public Library in Iowa. The research overview posted to the group this week notes:

Through our replicable, transportable, and triangulated methodology, we will identify measurable indicators of the social, economic, personal, and/or professional impact of free access to computers, the Internet, and related services at public libraries, and of negative impact where service is weak or absent.

The project will begin sharing the results and initial analysis this summer and in this current economic climate, libraries and policy makers will certainly leverage this valuable research to demonstrate the impact of libraries and the access they provide to today’s technology.

Mike Crandall posted this exciting update in the group’s discussions:

So far we’ve completed field visits to Baltimore and Fayetteville, Arkansas, with Oakland and Marshalltown, Iowa to come in the next month. The web survey has been rolled out to 20 libraries for the first two week period (starting this week) and will be in several hundred more libraries in subsequent two week periods through June. The national telephone survey should start hitting patrons sometime in the next week. Thanks to all of you for your tremendous support for this work!!!