[VanDeKoik]

Well, yes PCs aren’t really out of the reach of lots of people.

I’ve seen homeless guys with them!

But if a household is this hard up, maybe using a library would be a better alternative?

[OnlyTurkeysHaveLeftWings]

It would be, sure, except that libraries are facing record budget cuts.

Here in Florida, the state legislature just barely managed to get a budget in place that would keep public library funding at the current-year level.

Plan B? $0.00. Statewide.

LEGISLATURE COULD END LIBRARY FUNDING - "Public library funding may get shelved under budget proposals being considered by the Legislature, potentially leading to reduced hours and the shuttering of some library branches across the state. Florida's libraries, which rely on a mix of state and local funds to keep their doors open, would get no state money under a budget approved by the Senate last week. The House approved $17.7 million, which is $3.5 million less than this year's budget. With the state facing a $3.8 billion shortfall, both chambers have approved deep spending cuts to education, health care and other programs to balance the budget. The library cut could mean anything from reduced library hours to facility closures, said Florida Library Association executive director Faye Roberts. 'We have had reports that reductions in state aid will translate into reduced hours and the possibilities of some branch closings,' she said. 'And the sad part of that is the loss of access for people who depend on libraries for Internet access to government services, or to apply for jobs, and all those services that people depend on now that the economy is down." South Florida Sun-Sentinel: http://bit.ly/hKrIpH