from home with remote card

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library might be a small town library but there is nothing small town about its services.

The library first ventured onto the information highway when it offered its patrons Internet access at its downtown Brundidge location. Now, the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) has come to town bringing the world to library patrons at the touch of their fingertips.

Rosalyn Holmes, head librarian, said anyone with a home computer with Internet capabilities and an access card can access a wealth of information from their own homes at no charge via the AVL.

The AVL provides a world of quality library information licensed for Alabama users. The AVL is the equivalent of having subscriptions to more than 3,000 magazines and journals and to encyclopedias and other reference materials.

"The AVL was funded primarily to support education and for those who cannot easily reach a library but have a home computer," Holmes said. "One of the features of the AVL is that users do not have to worry about returning materials to their library. The AVL also supplies Internet access to minors outside the library but the material will be screened so parents won’t have to worry about what their children are accessing.

"But, surely, the best advantage of the AVL for those who have computers with Internet capabilities at home is they can access this service without having to leave their house. Just think how beneficial this will be to students who are doing research. They can sit at home and pull up almost any information they need. The AVL is the world at your fingertips."

The AVL was made available May 1, 2000, and 18,357 access cards were issued in the first month.

Access to the AVL is granted to all Alabama citizens at Alabama public libraries and at libraries of public education facilities.

Library patrons must register for an access card at the library and meet local library registration policies.

Holmes said brochures detailing the AVL are available at the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library.

"We invite anyone who is interested in obtaining an AVL access card to come by the library and make the necessary arrangements," she said. "We will be happy to answer questions about the AVL and discuss our services. The AVL will be available to homes, offices and other remote locations. This is an outstanding service and we hope our patrons will take advantage of it. The AVL is the best bargain in Alabama for educational materials."

AVL resources are provided to all Alabama citizens through funding from the Alabama Legislature and Gov. Don Siegelman.