Libraries see high Internet demand

Madison branch library patrons use the Internet stations Sunday afternoon. Computer usage at libraries has skyrocketed. Job searches, research for school projects and connecting with friends on social networking sites are among the most common reasons customers use library computers, patrons and librarians say. GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN

By MATT MEDVED

Tennessee library patrons are waiting longer for computers as libraries struggle to match a steady increase in demand for the Internet.

Nashville Public Library branch administrator Barbara Weedman said overall computer usage increased by more than 10 percent from the last fiscal year to the one that ended June 30. The system tracked a record 890,246 one-hour computer sessions on 478 public Internet terminals over the most recent fiscal year

“We’ve seen this demand just grow and grow,” Weedman said. “It may be associated with people saving money from having an Internet connection. Also, not everyone can afford to own a PC in their home. We’re helping to bridge that digital divide.”

The numbers reflect a national trend charted by the Chicago-based American Library Association, the nation’s largest library membership group. The group released a report Tuesday showing only 17 percent of libraries nationwide say they have enough computers to handle patrons demands at all times.

Job searches, research for school projects and connecting with friends on social networking sites are among the most common reasons customers use library computers, patrons and librarians say.

Nashville resident Phil Chase, 56, said he frequents the Southeast Branch of the Nashville Public Library in Antioch once a week to check his e-mail since his home computer crashed. He usually has to wait an hour and a half to get on a computer. “The library is free, close and convenient to go to,” said Chase.

The demand has grown to the point that nine out of every 10 libraries in the country have been forced to institute Internet session time limits to allow fair Internet use distribution, the report showed. Nashville implemented a reservation system with a maximum one-hour session in 2007.

Gallatin librarian Lin Hagen said her branch of Sumner County’s system hosted 72,079 Internet sessions in 2007, up considerably from the 2006 figure of 38,574. She said enacting a reservation system accounts for some of the increase because patrons could browse the web indefinitely prior to its arrival. “It certainly seems like the demand is up,” Hagen said. “Even since we started the new system, every computer is booked.”

Curtis McMillan, 21, said he visits the Southeast branch in Nashville once every two days to check his e-mail and other sites like MySpace and Facebook. He said he normally has to wait before he can get access to one of the computers and described the current availability as “inadequate.” “I think they should invest in more computers,” said McMillan. “It’s a simple fact that everyone uses the computer these days.”

Library computer use

Tennessee | National
Number of hours that the average public library outlet is open per week :
45.3 | 45
Average number of Public Internet Workstations per public library:
14.3 | 12
Percentage of public libraries with wireless service:
70% | 66%
Percentage of public libraries that don’t have wireless service but plan to make it available within the next year:
7% | 12%
Percentage of public libraries where they are the only provider of free public internet access to the community:
56% | 73%
Percentage of local libraries that plan to add more computer workstations or laptops within the next year:
18% | 16%
Percentage of libraries who say there are always sufficient public Internet-accessible computers available:
24% | 17%
SOURCE: AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Nashville hotel bookings tumble as travelers cut back

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Jennifer Marvin of Rodgersville gets checked into the Ramada Inn hotel by Glenda Con on Saturday afternoon. Nashville's hotel bookings slid sharply lower in May and June. ARMANDO SANCHEZ / THE TENNESSEAN

By MATT MEDVED

Nashville’s hotel bookings slid sharply lower in May and June, suffering from the summer doldrums as vacationers around the country took shorter trips or stayed home because of rising gas prices and economic uncertainty.

“It is a significant decrease, but it’s not too much of a difference from what we’re seeing in larger markets,” said Smith Travel Research vice president Duane Vinson.

The most recent data from Smith Travel, a Hendersonville-based research firm, shows hotel occupancy in Nashville fell 8.4 percent in June compared with a year earlier across all properties, following a 12.5 percent drop in May. Budget hotels were hit the hardest, especially last month.

Vinson said the economy played a role in the declines, as did the fact that Nashville has built more hotel rooms in the past year, adding about 600 rooms to Music City’s summertime supply of almost 34,000 rooms.

“It certainly could be the rising gas prices, but it’s not just them,” Vinson said. “In light of a downturn in the economy, we’re continuing to open new hotel rooms, which is probably not the best thing to happen with the drop in room demand.”

Vinson said cities considered prime leisure destinations are feeling the strain more than business markets. Nashville straddles the line between the two categories, he said. Room rates here are holding steady, though, between $94 and $98 a night on average, Smith Travel data show.

“The leisure markets are highly dependent on flying traffic, and we’re obviously seeing an impact of the airline industry cutting flights,” Vinson said.

Few top markets gain

Among the nation’s top 25 travel markets Dallas, New York and San Francisco are seeing slight improvements in hotel occupancy. New Orleans also posted big gains in travel this summer, but that’s in part because the Crescent City is still recovering from shattered tourism numbers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Vinson said.

Walt Baker, chief executive officer of the Tennessee Hotel and Lodging Association, said Nashville’s marketing partnership with Southwest Airlines has helped insulate the city from some of the airline industry fallout, which is linked to higher fuel prices. Southwest has done better than most airlines in hedging against higher fuel costs with long-term contracts for jet fuel.

“Southwest was terribly smart in buying their fuel futures, and now they’re paying a lot less for jet fuel than other airlines,” Baker said.

Drew Dimond, founder of the Dimond Hospitality Consulting Group, said fewer leisure travelers are on the road this summer, and that hurts many hotels.

“Since this time of the year is heavily weighted towards leisure travel, it gives you an idea of who is not traveling,” Dimond said.

All Nashville hotels are not created equal. The latest Smith Travel Research report shows economy class hotel occupancy down 12 percent in June, and about 10 percent off for the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2007.

“My sense is that the people who would stay in low-budget hotels are the hardest hit by what’s going on,” Baker said, referring to the nation’s economy. “It is severely curtailing their activities. Upper-end customers are probably trading down to your mid-scale (properties), but there’s no place for budget hotel customers to fall out to.”

Ray Waters, the general manager of the Nashville Hilton Downtown, said the Hilton has fared pretty well this summer, with occupancy coming within “four-tenths of a percent” of last year’s figures. Waters attributed the Hilton’s relative success to its focus on business conventions.

Conventions are stable

“We try and fill up with group business because they tend not to cancel and are much more stable than transit customers,” he said, adding that travelers are more cost-conscious. “I think the hotels sitting back and waiting for phones to ring are going to be the ones suffering,” Waters said.

Nevertheless, some Nashville-area residents are continuing to make travel plans, even if they are more subdued than in years past.

In previous years, 65-year-old Brentwood resident J. Michael Patterson took overseas trips to England, Scotland and Ireland. But this year he plans on visiting his children in Knoxville, Charlotte and Atlanta, while checking out local attractions and staying in budget hotels along the way.

“I’m going to be making a number of day and weekend trips this year, not only because of the gas prices, but because of foreign exchange rates, too,” Patterson said.

Baker said the hotel association adjusted its summer marketing to more of a local approach within a 300- to 400-mile radius. “Locals are probably less likely to pack a bag and stay at the neighborhood hotel, but the real magic will be somewhere outside of 100 miles where it takes less than a tank of gas to get there,” Baker said.

Dimond said a local focus makes sense, but there’s not a lot to be done to cure the weak occupancy numbers. “The hotel industry usually lags six months behind the economy,” he said. “The best strategy is an improved economy.

“We’ll start seeing improvement when the Dow Jones average hits 12,500 points. But the key is: Will hotel operators be able to maintain their rates? If they maintain (room rates), then I think they will be OK. The big fear is that they’ll have to start discounting. It’s a matter of weathering the storm.”