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Almost 27,000 people used free internet at the library in the
last financial year and that number is on course to hit
33,000 this financial year.
Compare that with 16,478 people who accessed free wireless
internet in the first full year of 2010/11 and the trend was
clear - ''it is huge actually,'' Dunedin Public Libraries
library services manager Bernie Hawke said.
He said free internet was ''part of a larger picture'' that
has seen libraries adapting to the growth of information
available electronically.
''Libraries have tended to become more than just quiet
'shoosh' places where people come and get books and go
away.''
He said they had changed some areas in the library to provide
more spaces for people to sit and relax, read books and use
their laptops.
The free internet is provided by the Aotearoa People's
Network Kaharoa and is heavily subsidised by the Government
(75%). It is available at all five of the council's libraries
and in other libraries around the country.
The cost to the Dunedin City Council is just $30,000 a year,
including all operating costs, such as maintenance of the 35
computer terminals available to the public.
''Lifelong Learning Sessions'' were proving just as popular
as the free internet, with 35,000 people attending talks by
visiting authors and other speakers in the 2011/12 year.
Mr Hawke said the libraries had a growing collection of
e-books and audio books, which was available online.
More use of electronic research and books had led to a
decrease in the number of books being borrowed, Mr Hawke
said.
He said there was a false perception that people could get
the answers to every question online but that was not the
case and the information was not always reliable.
''People think everything is on the internet and it is not,
by a long shot.''
He said they were just trying to make the libraries
''welcoming and accessible'' and relevant to what people were
doing.
Free internet is available at all five Dunedin City
Libraries: Blueskin Bay, Dunedin City, Mosgiel, Port Chalmers
and Waikouaiti.