EXPANDING LIBRARY SERVICE

TO SPANISH-SPEAKING POPULATIONS

IN ADAMS AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, WASHINGTON STATE

     The information contained in this project document is designed to partially fulfill the requirements outlined in the 2002 application for a Serving Cultural Diversity Grant offered through the Washington State Library, funded by the Library Services and Technology Act and through the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.  The application is available at: http://wlo.statelib.wa.gov/services/grants/Diversity_App_2002.doc

PROJECT OVERVIEW

     The mission of this project is to improve the delivery of library materials and services, specifically Internet access and training, to the Spanish-speaking rural populations of Adams and Franklin Counties in Washington State, by reducing barriers in the areas of culture, language, economics, time, and distance.  This will be accomplished through the implementation of a new mobile technology unit that will offer Internet training to rural residents and provide ongoing delivery of library materials and services, and continued Internet access, through regularly scheduled visits to locations in which the population already congregates.  As noted by Moller (2001), if libraries take their service to places that the targeted population already feels at ease, the outreach is more likely to be effective.

    I developed this proposal in answer to the challenge posed within the Washington State Library Commission Plan, asking for the development of Internet training models and enhanced outreach services to culturally diverse communities, particularly those in rural areas.  It is intended that this project be funded by grants, and implemented in cooperation with the Mid-Columbia Library System and other social agencies and community groups in the target counties.  Also in line with the Commission’s plan, a goal of the project will be to involve the Spanish-speaking population in the design of future services.  Service evaluation data and other input will be collected for use in the development of more accurate needs assessments and future project design.

     I have designed the project to align with the Statewide Plan for Washington Libraries 2002-2007, which lists the overall goals as follows:

·        Increase the ability of the people of Washington to learn how to use and access integrated online resources and services on a 24-hour basis.

·        Increase the appreciation, support, awareness, and use of library resources and services.

·        Increase the ability of the people of Washington to have access to library resources and services in all areas of the state.

·        Ensure that libraries of Washington have resources and services that meet the needs of all segments of their communities.

(Washington State Library Commission, 2001)

     The aforementioned document also states that the goals will be implemented as “all types of libraries coordinate, collaborate and partner with each other and other groups.” It also proposes that Washington Libraries Online be enhanced to become “a statewide portal for universal access to library catalogs and services.”  Suggested strategies and activities in support of this proposal are outlined as follows:

·        Use the development of the Statewide Database Licensing project as a model for cooperative efforts.

·        Expand consortia and cooperative purchasing among libraries.

·        Develop cooperative collections, including practices for the acquisitions and lending of specialized collections, such as foreign language materials.

·        Increase the ability of libraries to share resources across geographic and legal boundaries.

·        Increase the effectiveness of resource sharing and the speed of delivery.

·        Explore the potential for using common searching tools to enhance access across library web sites.

(Washington State Library Commission, 2001)

     It is therefore an assumption of the current project, that such a cooperative statewide system will be developed and become available to the people of Adams and Franklin Counties along with all other citizens of the State.  “Many states have or are building statewide library networks to better the delivery of library materials and services.” (http://montanalibraries.org/MLNoverview.htm)

Cooperatives of academic institutions have been in existence for quite awhile, and public libraries are now beginning to be included.  As a current example, a New Jersey multi-hub network has just made the Spanish-language Informe database available to all libraries within their state. (Minkel, 2001)  The International Coalition of Library Consortia has published strategies for organizing, and for negotiating with vendors of electronic materials as a group. (1998)  It is my opinion that without such a statewide system, equitable service to rural populations in poorer counties will never be possible.

     It is also assumed that access to such a system will be primarily Internet-based.  This project is designed to provide the Internet training and ongoing computer access necessary to prepare the target populations for the advent of a statewide cooperative library system. .  Self- improvement and community improvement can be facilitated with access to the Internet as well. For example, access to information about grant sources and proposal formats can provide means to fund visions that form within the community.  This project is designed to specifically target the Spanish-speaking populations of these counties, which has long be underserved.  Here too, it is my opinion that equitable access will not ultimately be achieved without the statewide system and cooperative efforts as outlined in the strategies and activities above.

EXISTING POPULATIONS

      According to Census 2000 data, the combined Hispanic or Latino population of Adams and Franklin Counties numbers 30,783.   The total population of the two counties is 65,776, and as such, Spanish speakers comprise approximately 47%.  A more complete look at ethnicity figures reported in the 2000 Census is provided in the table below.  Figures were taken from those reported at the United States Census website at http://quickfacts.census.gov.

     On the map below, the dark green color denotes the Washington State counties having the highest percentage of Spanish-speaking residents.  Adams County is the one extending farthest east, and Franklin County is its southern neighbor. The project described here limits itself to these two counties in order to maintain a reasonable scope, and because they have the advantage of already being served by a single entity, the Mid-Columbia Library System.

     Map Legend:

          Light yellow counties-- 1.8-3.4% of population is Hispanic or Latino

          Darker yellow counties – 4.0-7.8% of population is Hispanic or Latino

          Lighter green counties – 11.2-19.7% of population is Hispanic or Latino

          Darker green counties – 30.1-47.1% of population is Hispanic or Latino

Map from http://factfinder.census.gov at the following page http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/StaticMapFramesetServlet?_lang=en&_tm_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_M00085&_SLSelected=040&_tab_gsl=050&_geo_id=04000US53&_caller=main

     Adams and Franklin counties together encompass an area of 3,167 square miles.  The only urban concentration is at the southern tip of the combined area.  The rest of the population is dispersed throughout the counties, so that for many residents, library service is only available at great distance.  Current services have only minimally addressed the language, education, and distance issues.

     The Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Data Administration Office reports that Hispanic students comprise 60.91% of students in Adams County, and 64.44% of those in Franklin County.  It should be noted that these figures indicate that the Spanish-speaking population percentages in the area are, in fact, rising.  This would be in line with predictions of an increasing Latino population throughout the United States. (Minkel, 2001)  School enrollment figures also show that these students are most prevalent in rural districts. These same districts are the ones with the lowest high school graduation rates.  The worst rate is in Pasco district where only 65% of students graduate.  This indicates that educational opportunities, of which library services have traditionally been considered a part, are not meeting the needs of the population.  Moller (2001) reports that Latino youth, both those born here and those who have immigrated from other countries, are more likely to be undereducated than any other ethnic group in this country.

     Median annual household income of the total population in the two counties is just over $32,000.  It is likely that figures for Spanish-speaking households would follow the national trend, and average considerably less.  Many in the target population do not have phone service, and most do not have Internet access. 

EXISTING LIBRARY SERVICE:

     Many of the residents of Adams and Franklin counties have limited access to public library services.  The only libraries of any size are in the urban area far to the south.  In Adams County there are only two towns that have libraries, and both the towns and the libraries are very small.  In Franklin County, outside of the metropolitan area in the south, there are only four tiny storefront library operations.  These are open only certain days of the week for three to five hours at a time.  Photographs of the libraries and their hours of operation can be found at http://www.mcl-lib.org/mcl_branches.htm.  Most Spanish-speaking adults of the counties work, so this means they really have very little access to the libraries themselves.  When they do venture into them, usually in connection with their children’s schoolwork, they unfortunately find that, even in the urban libraries, bilingual or Spanish materials and services are extremely limited.

     There is already a bookmobile utilized in the district.  However, much of its focus is elementary schools, which will not be the focus of the mobile library proposed here.  The current bookmobile has scheduled runs three days one week, and four days the alternating week.  Most of these end at 2:30 or 3:30, so again, except for the lone Saturday run, the bookmobile is not accessible to working parents.  These runs are also limited to the metropolitan areas and approximately 40 miles to the north, leaving much of the geographic area unserved.  It is not the intent of the current project to replace the existent mobile program, which is successfully providing service to some users, but to supplement it.  As part of the Spanish focus of the project, the existing service could partner by providing bilingual service on its own runs.  They could also promote the new services proposed here.

      There is an online catalog for the Mid-Columbia library system, which serves Franklin and Adams County, as well as Benton County.  It is available through its homepage at: http://www.mcl-lib.org/index.asp.  This homepage allows access to “Informacion y Servicios en espanol”.  However this information is limited to two pages.  One page lists the locations and hours of operation for existing branches, and provides information about the identification necessary for obtaining a library card, about circulation periods for various materials, and about fines.  The other page provides links to 25 Spanish-language online information sources, focusing on those that children could use for entertainment or school report writing.  No help is provided to assist Spanish speakers in using the library catalog, and the periodical and newspaper lists include no Spanish language titles.  The online database page does not indicate any Spanish language availability, although one database provided is OCLC FirstSearch which is available with a Spanish interface. (Minkel, 2001)

      For English speakers, the library homepage additionally provides access to individual Patron Accounts, FAQs, Homework Helps, a Kid Page, a Teen Zone, and links to Other Library Websites and Free Email Websites.  None of these links provide help for Spanish-speaking populations, and any information that does not have something equivalent on the two Spanish pages already discussed is not available to them. 

     The Mid-Columbia Library District webpage lists only a few ongoing programs.  The programs themselves and the descriptive materials are only in English.  A visiting theater troupe was performing in area libraries when I accessed the homepage in March 2002, and this information was also not available in Spanish. Many of the programs that exist are geared to children, and even though these users, if indeed they gain access to the information via the web or other means, can perhaps read and understand English, it is essential that their parents be able to verify the information for themselves in Spanish, or it is likely the children will not be allowed to attend. 

     The above description of the existing online catalog makes it clear that it does not currently serve the needs of the Spanish-speaking populations of the county, even if they can access it, which is far from likely.  As noted, most of the families do not have Internet access in their homes, and problems of time and distance makes the access available in library branches inconvenient at best, and impossible at worst.  Spanish-speaking students may have access to the public library catalog through school computers, but if they are able to overcome language barriers in access, and locate materials they can use and reserve them, current branch or bookmobile service does not offer adequate delivery options for most of them. 

NEEDS ASSESSMENT:

     As noted in Rubin (1998), public library service in the United States only arose after centralization, economic growth, and political stabilization.  The first two points are important here.  Without the centralization provided by cities, rural service has continued to be far from adequate.  The populations targeted here have also not really experienced the economic growth necessary to turn their attention to libraries or Internet access.  They are more concerned with subsistence issues.  This is one reason that Internet access would not be high on a list of expressed needs of this population. Another reason is that, as has been found in other areas, Spanish-speaking populations do not seek out libraries on their own because in their countries of origin, existent libraries are not for general public use, but intended for specific populations, usually academic ones. (Moller, 2001)

     In a Forsyth County, Virginia, survey undertaken in 1996 (Sundell, in Guerena, 2000), Spanish-speaking populations expressed a desire for English classes and Spanish television and radio services.  They said they needed information about those services, and also about immigration, health, employment, and their children’s education.  To obtain this kind of information in its most current form, one must be able to access the Internet.  Recent immigrants are most interested in newspapers and other sources of news from their country of origin. (McMorran and Schlein, 1997)  Multilingual online sources can provide access to news from every country in the world.  In regards to print materials, Spanish speakers are most interested in popular fiction and in practical non-fiction.  Mid-Columbia Library System will be encouraged to use a large portion of its acquisition budget to expand these materials.  However, since that budget is not particularly large, it is my opinion that only the development of statewide collections will provide comprehensive materials.

     One long-standing mission of public libraries in the United States is to serve all residents, regardless of background or economic status and to make sure they have equal access to information. (Rubin, 2000)   In all areas of the country, those with Internet access can utilize the vast amount of information found there, including numerous library catalogs and their services, 24 hours a day.  The fact that not everyone has the means to obtain such access in itself creates inequities in library service.  Urban locations can at least provide in-library access during open hours, but in rural areas, like the ones in focus here, the problem is compounded by distance.  Mid-Columbia Library System effectively provides no training or Internet access to many of the residents of Adams and Franklin Counties.

     Library service has also long been connected with providing materials and information to support self-improvement and educational success.  In these counties, library service is one thing that needs to be improved in the overall need to better serve students, many of whom are failing to graduate from high school.  Recent studies have shown that a strong foundation in one’s first language is necessary to succeed in a second. (Moller, 2001)  The libraries of these counties therefore need to support the Spanish-speaking students with first language materials, to ensure that this will happen. Seventy percent of Hispanic families speak Spanish at home. (Alire and Archibeque, 1998)

     The collections housed in the tiny libraries in the rural areas of Adams and Washington Counties do not serve any of the population very well. Given the previously described lack of Spanish and bilingual services, it would be hard to maintain that even the urban libraries are providing adequate service to the 47% of the population that is Spanish-speaking. 

     It can be said that the primary mission of libraries is moving from collection to connection. (Rubin, 1998)  As De Gennaro (1989) says: “The question is no longer how many volumes a library has, but how effectively the library can deliver needed resources from a wide variety of sources to users via the new technology.”  Therefore, though the goals of this project include some increase in acquisition and delivery of materials, the primary focus of the current project is to provide introduction and training in electronic information in rural areas.  Scheduled access will be provided in the current project, and future projects will address the need to provide more continuous access.  It is also not the intent of this project to exclude anyone from the increased rural service proposed, but the current project, as proposed, will focus specifically on increasing service to the long-underserved rural Spanish-speaking populations.  An attempt will also be made to make sure that equivalent training, both in English and Spanish, is available in the existent branches to address the needs of the urban populations.

MISSION STATEMENT

     The mission of this project is to improve the delivery of library materials and services, specifically Internet access and training, to the Spanish-speaking rural populations of Adams and Franklin counties, by reducing barriers in the areas of culture, language, economics, time, and distance. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES         

     The specific means for addressing the primary goal of this project is to:

·        Create a mobile library complete with wireless Internet technologies with which to teach and provide scheduled information access to rural citizens of the two counties, offering sessions both in English and Spanish. This unit will also provide for delivery and circulation of materials requested by the users, promote electronic and in-person use of existing libraries, and gather information from the population for use in future projects.

o       This service will train adult and older children to access Internet information sources, and provide pathfinders to Spanish language ones, using natural family interaction to support training efforts.

o       This service will illustrate to the same users an enhanced online Mid-Columbia Library System catalogue with new Spanish language services and materials.  All will be offered library card applications in English and Spanish and cards will be immediately available for those who fill them out.  Users will be trained in catalog use and encouraged to request materials.

o       Outside the van, storytelling and crafts will be provided to occupy younger children while the training goes on.  Spanish language and bilingual picture books and easy fiction will be available to check out.  Parents will be presented with materials informing them that they can help their children succeed by reading to them often in Spanish and/or English as often as possible.

o       The mobile service will offer information about grant sources and proposal formatting to facilitate funding of community projects.

o       This service will be heavily promoted in the target communities using “enrolled” authority members of the community itself, and Spanish language radio.

o       The service will be focused on the entire family as the best means of reaching this population.

o       The service will be offered in locations the community members already congregate.

o       The service will be offered at times convenient to the target population.

o       The mobile delivery and training will occur on a regular schedule.

     In support of the primary goal, other changes will have to take place as well.  Existing service must be

made more bilingual to show Spanish-speaking populations that the library is committed to providing

them with services that they can use.  In this regard, this project will also undertake the following:

·        Using input from native Spanish speakers if possible, reconstruct all library webpages either in a bilingual format, or create a separate Spanish catalog accessible from a bilingual homepage. All features available to English users should be duplicated in Spanish.  The library catalog should  provide subject headings in Spanish, and at least Spanish and bilingual titles should be completely accessible in Spanish.  Minkel (2001) discusses several public library websites successful in such efforts that could serve as models for this effort.

·        Institute Spanish language story times within existing branches and in connection with mobile library service.

·        Provide new bilingual signage within Branches.

·        Include library card sign-up as a part of all programs and visits.

·        Acquire additional bilingual and Spanish Language materials for the Mid-Columbia Library Branches that can be delivered to rural residents via the mobile library, emphasizing periodicals, databases, and software.

·        Promote the existing and new services available by addressing the target population through Spanish language radio, and personal visits to schools and churches, and library booths at events and festivals.

POPULATION BENEFITED BY PROJECT

     The target population for this outreach would be the entire Spanish-speaking population of the two counties, or a population of 30,783.  As many as could be convinced to avail themselves of library services would be the beneficiaries of these programs.  The Spanish-speaking residents of Benton County, another 17,809 people, which is also a part of Mid-Columbia Library System, would also benefit through increased Spanish language focus within Branches.  It is our opinion that all residents of the three counties would benefit from increasingly multilingual library service and mobile Internet access and training.

PROJECT SPECIFICS

Building a Mobile Service

     The aim of this project is to purchase a specially equipped mobile unit.  The shell will be much like the current recreational vehicle style bookmobile the district currently uses.  The interior, however, will not focus on housing portions of the library collection, but will be equipped with ten wireless computers and Internet access.  The “Infobus” described by King and Shanks (2000) and the Cybermobile described by Drumm and Groom (1997, 2000) will serve as models.  The more recent article provides the following equipment list: 

·        NEC Versa LX233 MHz Pentium II laptop computers with 13.3” color display, 64 Meg of Ram, 2.1 GB Hard Drive, 24X CD-ROM, lithium-ION Battery

·        Hewlett Packard HP-895cse Color Printer with extra length cables

·        NEC Versa-Dock Lockable docking station with two expansion slots, external ports for multimedia, and external, serial printer, keyboard, mouse ports

·        Full-sized keyboard and mouse

·        Sierra Wireless MP200 mobile mounted three-watt CDPD modem with Watched Wireless Express software

·        20’ shielded cable for use with the MP200 series modem (required for mounting of the modem in the vehicle)

·        Motorola 800 MHz antenna rod with chrome ring and cabling kit

Suggestions for Electronic Information and Databases

     I will not attempt to list all linked Spanish language sites, research pathfinders, and electronic databases that should be included in an enhanced Mid-Columbia Library System website. Final selection will necessarily be a cooperative effort, but the choices and selection will be important in that the project proposes to use and promote the site as the intial access point when training new users.  I will instead direct you to the extensive lists of such resources that have been created by the American Library Association (1993), Alire and Archibeque (1998), Guerena (2000), and Moller (2001).  These sources, and perhaps others, should be fully consulted in the final selection process.  Vendor contact information is also available there.  It will also be advisable for Spanish-speakers, preferable native ones, to review existing public library online catalogs that have enhanced Spanish Language features.  Examples are websites of the Austin Public Library at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us, the Hall County Georgia Library at http://www.hall.public.lib.ga.us, the Los Angeles Public Library at http://www.lapl.org, Multnomah County Oregon Library’s Libros program at http://www.multcolib.org/ , the Queens Borough New York Public Library at  http://www.queenslibrary.org/ .  What they include should be carefully examined for good ideas, and the libraries should be contacted for statistics concerning use of various features, if available.

Suggestions for Enhanced Print Collections

     It is important to the success of this program to expand the Mid-Columbia Library System’s collection of picture books and easy fiction in Spanish or bilingual formats.  Packages containing two books, one in English, one in Spanish, might also prove popular items.  An annotated bibliography of some of the items available can be found in an article by Agosto (1997).  As noted, news sources are popular with adults, and although most of this access will be online, it would be nice to have some print newspapers as well.  Popular periodicals, both those that originate in Spanish, and U.S. publications in translation should also be available.  The sources cited in the section above provide many suggestions.  Distributors of Spanish language periodicals are sometimes willing to sell outdated copies to libraries at minimal cost. (Moller, 2001)  This potential source should be vigorously pursued.  

     Popular fiction and practical non-fiction should be the focus of any additional funds. Below are listed non-fiction areas that have proved popular with Spanish-speaking adults. (Moller, 2001)

Alcoholism

Astrology and the occult

Auto repair

Beauty advice

Biographies: U.S. Presidents, Latino role models

Business and careers

Citizenship

Computer basics, Internet

Consumer issues: time payments, avoiding debt

Cooking

Dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs

English as a second language

Exercise and fitness

Fotonovelas (adult comic books)

Government publications in Spanish

Green card, how to secure

Health information

History and government of the U.S. and Mexico

Home repair

How-to

Legal rights and responsibilities

Literacy materials

Motivation, self-esteem

New age

Parenting and childcare

Pop culture

Pregnancy and childbirth

Sewing

Sex education

Survival Skills

I know that it will not be possible to create a comprehensive collection with current system budgets.  Additional grants could be written to strengthen purchasing power.  It is important to provide some materials to the Spanish-speaking population currently, and interlibrary loan can be utilized.  I look to long-term cooperative efforts statewide to further the range of materials available.  In addressing the interest list above, Internet pathfinders should also be utilized, especially where print materials are weak or non-existent in the collection.

Personnel

     Teams of at least three will man the mobile unit.  One of the team will be a librarian.  Expertise in Spanish, training, technology troubleshooting, circulation, and programming for young children must be represented in the team members.  If all skills required cannot be found in current library employees, then new recruits must be hired.  The project would benefit greatly from having Latino members of the community in paid positions. If all skills cannot be covered within three team members, then the team should include enough members to make certain that all required skills are covered.

Locations 

     The literature seems to indicate that the most frequented places other than home and work for Spanish-speaking families are churches.  With prior approval of pastors, who could be trained in the mobile service and then be involved in its promotion, the mobile service could schedule stops in church parking lots coinciding with the end of services.  Schools also have potential as site locations and promotional partners because it has been shown libraries can best connect with the very family-oriented Hispanic cultures through activities important to their children. (Moller, 1998)  A third possibility for stops are parking lots of highly frequented shopping locations, like grocery stores.  Laundromats and childcare centers might be other possibilities.  These locations would provide convenience for the target population, and some assurance that the services would be used.  They should also be chosen in all populated areas of the two counties with the intent of providing service to all.

Schedules

     Once the locations are chosen and pre-approved by owners, government officials, and/or other interested parties, a set visiting schedule should be maintained.  In this way, users who have already been through the training programs can have the opportunity to practice their new skills and access information that they need.  Also they will hopefully recommend the training to their friends, who will then have an opportunity to utilize the future scheduled visits.  It is the intent of the project that users be able to request library materials that will be delivered to them on the next mobile service visit.

Signage and Forms

     All signage in branches should immediately be converted to bilingual formats.  All forms for library cards and services should be either bilingual or available in both languages.  The mobile service itself should have large exterior signage in both languages listing the name of the service that could perhaps be chosen in a contest promoted to the target communities.  Information about the training and access services provided should also be on the exterior of the van.  In all signage and promotion it will be helpful to emphasize that the service is free.  This is not an expectation of Spanish-speaking users, and will be very important to the mostly low-income families.

Promotion

     The service will be continually be promoted within the branches, with flyers, and with public service announcements on English and Spanish radio stations.  It will be effective to sell this service to community leaders as mentioned above to assist in its promotion.  An expert in promotion should be used fulltime at the outset, with at least 4 hours a week-specified for this purpose as the program continues.

Evaluation

Training participants will be asked to evaluate the training after taking it, preferably by someone of their community and outside of the mobile unit itself to ensure something more than polite answers. (Moller, 2001)  The program can be adjusted to better serve the users as the results of this feedback are analyzed. These responders should also be asked what other services they would like to see in the community, what information they would like to have access to, and if they could have access to the Internet in their communities on a more continuing basis, where they would suggest that a limited number of computers be located.  It would also be important to gather statistics on how many Spanish-speaking people newly sign up for library cards, and to use circulation statistics to see to what extent the new service actually increases library use by this population.

POSSIBILITIES THAT THE PROJECT WILL FAIL

THOUGHTS ON FUTURE PROJECTS     

     The overall vision for this community includes provision of services to all residents, not just Spanish-speaking ones, and envisions ongoing mobile service to provide the important Internet access on a scheduled basis until more constant access points can be established.  We would see computers, hopefully donated by The Gates Foundation and others, eventually being placed in access points chosen by the community.  These might be schools, churches, stores, or private homes.  Commings (1996) provides information on two library outlets, one in Pennsylvania, and the other in Kansas City, Missouri, that already very successfully use grocery store locations.  At least in Hispanic communities, members have a highly developed sense of cooperation that could go a long way to providing universal access, if there was an access point within each community.  When these new access points are in place, the training portion of this service can move to those locations on an as-needed basis.

     What these computers will eventually access is the statewide cooperative library system.  Users will be able to use the extensive online databases and catalog that such a system can provide.  Also there would be an online ask-a-librarian service accessible in multiple languages.  Telephone access to such a service could also be a component.  Materials would be shared throughout the system, with each library developing specialities, and a speedy means of delivering reserved materials in place. 

     To conclude, it is the opinion of the project builders that introducing minority populations and low-income users, to electronic information, training them in its use, and providing them with access should be a primary focus of libraries today.  This is the only way that these populations won’t be left behind in an increasingly digital world.  It is hoped that the current project will be an on-going success and provide example and impetus for similar projects elsewhere, especially in rural areas.

Drumm, J. and Groom, F. (2000). On the road again: presenting the cybermobile to the world. Computer in Libraries, January 2000, 20(1), p. 30.