[Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

[James Casey]

Based upon what I heard at the ALA Washington Office Briefing at ALA Mid
Winter Meeting in Philadelphia, Walt's comments about the insufficiency
of the U.S. infrastructure to support high-def downloads on a mass basis
are probably right on target.   And the problem has been getting worse
in recent years.  The United States has gone from 3rd in the World in
1999 to 20th in 2006 in the percentage of our population on broadband
internet connections.  Despite their own large expanse of rural areas,
Norway, Sweden and Canada already rank ahead of the United States.  The
United States was said to be among the slowest in the industrialized
world with 52.3% of public libraries operating with insufficient band
width.   However, if political tides turn during the months ahead, more
investment of our resources may go to strengthening the nation's
infrastructure and less to the financing of wars and tax cuts.  

 

James B. Casey - My own views

Director of Oak Lawn Public Library

ALA Council Member

 

 

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Walt Crawford
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:52 AM
To: ssullivan at burlmass.org
Cc: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Changing Formats in the AV section

 

I'd disagree with Susanne on the likelihood that "we'll all be
downloading DVDs before long," partly because "we all" rarely do much of
anything and lots of us like to own DVDs (and be able to give them away,
lend them, circulate them...none of those likely with downloads), partly
because the U.S. infrastructure really can't support high-def downloads
on a mass basis yet--but that's another issue.




 

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