Report of the Kansas Task Force on Internet Access for Schools and Public Libraries

Abstract

Broad Internet access for schools and libraries is important for economic competitivity and educational quality. At present in Kansas and the US, availability of Internet access is widespread, but of limited effectiveness. The most important limitation on Internet access is the restricted amount of access time presently available per user. The cost-effective provision of adequate access time per user depends on the use of direct connections rather than dialup modem connections, and it requires the use of area networks and many computers. At high levels of service, computers are the limiting cost. Effective use of the Internet depends on technical support, planning of changes in curriculum and library operations, training of teachers and librarians, and shifting of staff time towards use of the Internet. Kansas generally lags behind Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and the US as a whole, in areas of: (i) statewide planning and provision of Internet-related services (ii) provision of direct dedicated connections to the Internet (iii) provision of area networks, and (iv) numbers of Internet connections per user.