From today’s NY Times: “Almost All Libraries Offer Free Web Access”:

The study, which was conducted by researchers at Florida State University, found that 98.9 percent of libraries offer free public Internet access, up from 21 percent in 1994 and 95 percent in 2002. It also found that 18 percent of libraries have wireless Internet access and 21 percent plan to get it within the next year.

Even in an age of online reading, the library still has tremendous significance as a physical commons. When wi-fi coverage in cities becomes comprehensive, we should still be able to get free access at our local library. Another way that public libraries can stay relevant is to offer free on-site access to pay services: things like Lexis-Nexis, subscription-only web periodicals, and even web-delivered movies and television.