Dozens of libraries around the state, including the Haines Borough Public Library, are concerned about recent cuts by the House and Senate finance committees that would eliminate funding used to provide Internet to Alaskans in rural areas.

The two committees have zeroed out funding for the Alaska Online with Libraries Program, or OWL, which provides funding for Internet, videoconferencing services and digital literacy training for library staff.

Library director Patricia Brown said if OWL is cut completely, some libraries around the state will “go dark,” or lose all Internet capabilities because of a lack of local funding. In Haines, access would change drastically.

“It won’t be that we won’t have any Internet service, but we wouldn’t have videoconferencing capabilities and there wouldn’t be Wi-Fi. So the people who have gotten used to coming in and using their own devices, that is something that would be unaffordable for us,” Brown said.

Internet speed on the library’s own devices would also be reduced, she said.

The library currently pays about $1,900 a year for Internet service. OWL funds cover a little over $10,000. So if OWL funds are eliminated, the library would start paying more than $12,000 annually for Internet — and that would still mean no more videoconferencing capabilities.

Videoconferencing has facilitated food safety certification courses, EMT courses, author presentations and a slew of other valuable services.

“In order for me to come up with some funding I would have to cut from someplace else, and that’s kind of what I’ve been doing for the past two years,” Brown said.

Tonya Clark used the Internet this winter to access her online graduate courses, and lately has been job hunting and building her online portfolio.

“The best part of the Internet availability is you are not paying for what you don’t need. Other than continuing education research, I really don’t get on the Internet that often so it was great I didn’t have to pay for that on top of college courses,” Clark said.

In February, 1,300 people used public Internet stations at the library and 1,200 logged on to the Wi-Fi, Brown said.

Brown has testified and written letters to legislators, and urged those who support continued funding of the OWL program to contact their representatives.

A petition to fund the program is circulating online. Go to http://action.everylibrary.org/owlconnectsak to sign it.

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