Free high-speed Internet access may be on offer to all Clutha district libraries, but not everyone around the Clutha District Council table believes it is a good deal for the community.
The council's corporate services committee declined a recommendation to sign up to the Government's Aotearoa People's Network, which plans to offer free access to the Internet, and to digital tools and services.
Library-service centre manager Vicki Darling said the scheme had already been introduced in libraries around the country resulting in large numbers coming in who did not normally visit a library.
They included elderly people and teenagers.
Ms Darling said the main benefit was to offer free, fast and reliable access to the Internet.
But some councillors said the deal could leave the council with large ongoing running costs.
There were also concerns some smaller libraries, already short of space, could be affected.
Others were worried the council would face ongoing maintenance and upgrade costs.
Ms Darling said the experience of libraries already involved in the programme was that computer terminals were busy at all times of the day and users were not traditional library users.
Booking sheets of 30-minute periods had become standard.
If the Clutha application succeeded, Ms Darling said, Clutha libraries could receive at least 12 computers in the first half of next year.
The Clutha bid would be part of a larger regional application from Otago-Southland libraries.
