FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:          Denise Garofalo, Director for Communication Resources

                        Mid-Hudson Library System

                        845.471.6060 x34

December 8, 2000

High-Speed Cable Internet Access Now Available at Five Public Libraries in Columbia & Greene Counties
Faster access to information now possible at the Library

POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK – The Mid-Hudson Library System announced today that

Mid-Hudson Cablevision will be providing high-speed cable modem access to the Internet for

five  libraries in Columbia and Greene County.  The service will be provided, free of cost to

the libraries, until December of 2002.

“We are excited about this new partnership with a member of the business

community,” said Josh Cohen, Executive Director of the Mid-Hudson Library System,

“This initiative will enable the public to gain enhanced access to resources within their

library. It will also let the public see what a fine service Mid-Hudson Cablevision

provides.”

The libraries identified by Mid-Hudson Cablevision to receive the high-speed access in

Columbia County are the Claverack Library and the Philmont Library. In Greene County the

D.R. Evarts Library in Athens, the Heermance Memorial Library in Coxsackie and the Catskill

Public Library will benefit from this public service provided for by Mid-Hudson Cablevision.

“I’m sure my patrons will love it!” Said Sally Alderdice, director of the Claverack

Library, “It will provide better access, and less time will be spent waiting for a dial-up

connection. Plus it makes our Gates Library Computers that much more valuable.”

Mid-Hudson Cablevision has high-speed cable modem access to the Internet available

throughout their service area. For more information about Mid-Hudson Cablevision visit the

Mid-Hudson Telecommunications Group web site at http://www.mid-hudson.com/