Some of the most popular services provided in public libraries across the province these days are the Public Access Internet computers. For example, at the Confederation Centre Public Library there have been over 5,000 bookings since the computers were installed in April.
The Internet service is serving a wide range of needs and being used by more and more Islanders. Many of the users are already very knowledgeable about the Internet, require no instruction and are often able to provide assistance to other users and to library staff. Others are very much novices to computers, needing a great deal of assistance. Last winter the Confederation Centre Public Library provided some Internet training, and the Provincial Library Service hopes to provide Internet training in libraries across the province later this fall.
"With an ever widening network of Internet access, Islanders in communities across the province can begin to take advantage of the opportunities of electronic connections to the world and the associated benefits of information technology," says Chester Gillan, Minister of Education. "Connecting PEI's rural and urban communities to the Information Highway is an important ingredient to help create jobs and growth in a knowledge-based economy," he adds.
Since the demand for Internet access exceeds the number of computers available at Confederation Centre and a number of other libraries, the Provincial Library Service will be installing new equipment and by November there should be a greatly reduced waiting list.
In the meantime, library staff are advising would-be surfers of several other locations in Charlottetown where Public Access Internet service is available. The Government Services Library, located in the basement of the Jones building on Kent Street, has one terminal available. Island Information Service located on the main floor of the same building has two stations available for public use. The service is also available at the Carrefour de l'Îsle-Saint-Jean which has a station in the library and other stations located in the school.
Residents of other communities can access the service at their local public library and Community Access sites. In several Island communities the Community Access Program (CAP) has located workstations inside libraries to better meet public demand.