By JONATHON HOWARD
THE days of forking out a few dollars to access the internet at one of three Southern Downs libraries are numbered.
Southern Downs Regional Councillors were asked to vote on whether to abolish the fee for WiFi and internet access during council’s general meeting on Wednesday, 26 June.
Under the current model, SDRC libraries including Allora, Warwick and Stanthorpe, charge an access fee of $1.50 per 15 minutes for internet use on computers or for wireless access.
As part of the annual service level agreement between the State Library of Queensland and Southern Downs Regional Council, the local government’s obligations include the management and operational practices which strive to be consistent with Queensland Public Library standards and guidelines.
The guidelines state that libraries should provide free and equitable public access to the internet for library clients in each library.
“Internet access should be facilitated by the fastest broadband speed available to the local government, preferably similar to speeds available in metropolitan areas,” it read.
Library internet revenue has also been in decline across the three sites as residents favour internet devices such as smartphones and tablets.
According to council figures more than $21,000 was raised during 2008-’09 from internet bookings, but this figure has since halved to around $10,200 during the 2012-’13 financial year.
