A council alderman is calling for a wifi overhaul at the public library following complaints the one hour internet window is insufficient.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The appeal comes as the library struggles to draw numbers and borrowers turn to alternatives in droves.
"I've been told the one hour wifi time-out is making it very difficult to study," alderman Toni Tapp Coutts said.
"I sent in a complaint a couple of months ago, but I haven't got a response.
"We want people to use that space, we know there are so many benefits to libraries and reading, we can't afford to have numbers decline further."
The internet at the library is supplied by Katherine's street wifi, which was switched on at the end of 2014.
But as anyone who has tapped into the free internet would know, speed is not its best selling point.
Alderman Tapp Coutts has requested Katherine Town Council look into the matter and potentially source a library specific internet.
Internet use has surged across the Northern Territory and particularly in remote communities, Minister for Information Services, Lauren Moss said.
Access to online services has increased nearly 2000 per cent across 46 remote communities as part of the Territory Government's Community Internet Service initiative.
Free access to the internet as an information resource is a core public library service across Australia, providing free internet access to millions of Australians.
However, many remote communities do not have a library facility, so residents miss out.
Increased connectivity has had positive benefits, with regional councils using the services to build digital skills programs, Ms Moss said.
"Connecting Territory communities is a key direction in the Territory Labor Government's first ever Digital Territory Strategy, to ensure reliable and sustainable internet access to remote communities across the Territory," she said.
"Improved availability of digital technology in the bush helps community residents to access digital services, use social media and transact online.
She said access to digital technology is important in staying connected in the Northern Territory where great distances between towns and communities can cause feelings of isolation.
"While most Australians take internet access for granted, in remote areas in particular issues of connectivity and affordability remain critical," she said.
"The importance of accessible internet services for full social, economic and political participation cannot be overstated, as the massive increase in usage shows.
"Internet access is vital in today's world. With many government and commercial services now primarily provided through online channels, internet access is about much more than staying in touch with others - it's about accessing essential services many of us in more urban areas take for granted."
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
