This is the story / blog of a trip of more than 960 miles, to visit eight libraries in three days, from the flat lands of Texas' northwest panhandle, to isolated mountains of the west, back to the hill country of its central corridor - all to capture the need for more broadband Internet service at Texas libraries. By Derick Hackett, TSLAC Communications Officer
This journey started as a charge by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to travel around the state of Texas to show what broadband Internet connections in public libraries mean for communities. We found what we in the library field already know, that the Internet did not destroy or make the role of the library obsolete, but instead transformed libraries into centers that connect citizens with vital information and services, and are used for diverse purposes such as to run businesses, access government services, find jobs, research health issues, and receive an education.
Physically most libraries look like a collection of books and documents, but there is more to libraries than the stereotypes. There is a technology usage that is not included in the stereotype. What we found on this journey was that Texans living in diverse locations have Internet and broadband access needs. Texans mirror the Internet desires of all citizens of this country.
Especially in times of economic need, libraries are vital to their communities.
In a 2009 report
Public Libraries and Broadband Connectivity in Texas, 74 percent of the libraries stated that they are the only free public access to the Internet in their communities, and 54 percent of the 878 library outlets serve communities with fewer than 10,000 people. Only 42 percent of libraries said that their connection speed is sufficient to meet user needs at all times.
After living in Austin, Texas for just a little more than a year, this is the story of a Texas library communications officer originally from Atlanta, along with a videographer from Nashville, Tenn. and a producer from Bowling Green, Ky., about our trip of more than 960 miles to visit eight libraries in three days, from the flat lands of Texas’ northwest panhandle, to the mountains of West Texas, back to the hill country of its central corridor – all to capture the need for more broadband Internet service at Texas public libraries.
September 7The journey began on Labor Day, after meeting Roy the producer and Jason the videographer at the Dallas airport. We knew that this was going to be a different trip when we got to our gate and discovered twin-turboprops attached to each wing of a AT7 (ART72) aircraft that we could only board and deplane from the rear exit.
On the approach to Lubbock, Texas where our journey would begin, we saw vast miles of farmland. The plane experienced a series of bumps followed by the sound of a “thump” that rattled the plane before it dropped for a few feet, probably from a slight wind shear which a seasoned pilot would write off as strong turbulence, but for the passengers it felt like the first two seconds of going down hill at the featured ride at a major amusement park. The flight attendant got her hands up just in time to keep her head from hitting the top of the cabin. We were now shaken and slightly stirred.
After landing and picking up the rental car, we drove to in Levelland, Texas to prepare for our first appointment the next morning in Morton, Texas and the Cochran County Love Memorial Library.
Check back tomorrow for more.