Libraries and access to the Internet

Here's a good question - Is access to the Internet a fundamental right?

Public Libraries have been grappling with this question ever since our first public access computers were connected out to Internet in the 1990s. Libraries are often the only place in a community where you can get free public internet access.

Here in HB, we have made an organizational commitment to providing online access. We have over 60 public computers with high speed connections that allow you to go online and do what you need to do. We have WiFi access, so if you have a laptop, you can login and have access to all the online resources and tools that you need. We have been working on a strategic plan for the library, and our community focus groups identified public internet access as one of the most important things that we do.

Recently, the BBC conducted a Global poll on Internet accesss. In the poll, they asked individuals if they thought Internet access was a "fundamental right".

The results: 4 in 5 people do see Internet access as a fundamental right.

If Internet access is a fundamental right, how do we protect this right and provide access?

This is the challenge - the European union has come out with a strong internet freedom provision, that states that any measures taken that could limit access to the net "must respect the indivdual rights and freedom of citizens."

In most areas, the only source of free internet access is the public library. With recent budget cuts, how do we maintain access for our community? How can we support and protect the rights of our citizens?

So, the question is - Is Internet access a fundamental right in our modern world?

I'd love to hear what you think.