TECHNOLOGY
Increasingly, libraries are introducing new technologies to ensure the public have access to information. The Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report, 2009-10 compiled by Public Library Services, State Library of Queensland, reports that in 2009-10, there were 9,193 public access Internet terminals provided within Australian Public Libraries. This is a 6% increase from 2008-09 and a 36% increase in the last 5 years. The most populous states had the largest number of public access Internet terminals in public libraries in 2009-10, with 2,735 in New South Wales, 2,023 in Queensland and 1,951 in Victoria. However, Tasmania had the most public access Internet terminals per 10,000 people in 2009-10 (7.7), followed by South Australia (6.7), Northern Territory and Queensland (4.5).
10.7 Public Access Internet Terminals provided in Australian Public Libraries(a) - 2005-06 to 2009-10 |
|
 | | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | NT | Tas.(b) | ACT | Australia |
Number |
|
| 2005-06 | no. | 2 082 | 1 354 | 1 388 | 636 | 676 | 133 | 424 | 72 | 6 765 |
| 2006-07 | no. | 2 216 | 1 476 | 1 781 | 685 | 736 | 96 | 462 | 72 | 7 524 |
| 2007-08 | no. | 2 414 | 1 630 | 1 615 | 746 | 811 | 61 | 484 | 60 | 7 821 |
| 2008-09 | no. | 2 587 | 1 723 | 1 974 | 890 | 809 | 103 | 484 | 82 | 8 652 |
| 2009-10 | no. | 2 735 | 1 951 | 2 023 | 1 093 | 819 | 103 | 391 | 78 | 9 193 |
| Change over 5 year period | % | 31 | 44 | 46 | 72 | 21 | -23 | -8 | 8 | 36 |
| Change to previous year | % | 6 | 13 | 2 | 23 | 1 | - | -19 | -5 | 6 |
Per 10,000 people |
|
| 2005-06 | no. | 3.1 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 8.7 | 2.2 | 3.3 |
| 2006-07 | no. | 3.2 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
| 2007-08 | no. | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 3.7 |
| 2008-09 | no. | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 9.6 | 2.3 | 4.0 |
| 2009-10 | no. | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 4.1 |
| Change over 5 year period | % | 24 | 32 | 31 | 62 | 8 | -30 | -11 | -1 | 25 |
| Change to previous year | % | 4 | 11 | - | 21 | -1 | -2 | -20 | -7 | 4 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Including mobile libraries |
| (b) Tasmania’s figures include co-located online access centres. LINCs (Learning & Information Network Centres) include libraries, online access centres and adult education venues. |
| Source: Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report, 2009-10, Public Library Services, State Library of Queensland, September 2011 |
According to the ABS (2005c)
Public Libraries, Australia, 2003-04 (cat. no. 8561.0), Local libraries had 4,638 Internet workstations in 2003-04, a 64% increase since 1999-2000. National and state libraries had increased their number of Internet workstations from 173 (or 7 workstations per location) in 1999-2000 to 426 (or 25 workstations per location) in 2003-04.
10.8 INTERNET FACILITIES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES - 1999-2000 and 2003-04 |
|
| 1999-2000 | 2003-04 |
| Local libraries | National and State libraries | Local libraries | National and state libraries |
| no. | no. | no. | no. |
|
| Internet workstations | 2 832 | 173 | 4 638 | 426 |
| Internet workstations per location(a) | 2 | 7 | 3 | 25 |
|
| (a) Excludes deposit stations as they do not have Internet facilities. |
| Source: Public Libraries, Australia, 2003-04 (cat. no. 8561.0). |
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