Mobile Technology and Libraries

 

Mobile Technology and Libraries

Smartphones and tablets have opened up a new world. According to the Washington Post (2015), “the digital divide can seem to be a secondary issue to hunger, poverty, homelessness, and long-term unemployment, but at the base of those problems are limited access to computers and a lack of computer skills.” Mobile assistive technology like voice control, live captioning, and text-to-speech apps has offered flexibility and privacy for many users. Libraries can and have tapped into this by:

•   Lending tablets that are pre-loaded with accessible apps
•   Offering tech help sessions to teach users how to customize their devices
•  Using mobile platforms to deliver services like curbside pickups, live chats, or virtual programming in screen reader-friendly ways.

In today’s world, technology is not a luxury but a necessity. The Washington Post article states, “25 million households without internet access may not know they can get online at their local library. Books are important, but computers are necessary”(2015). Libraries are meant to help families that don’t have access to or funds for home internet. This helps close the digital divide in impoverished populations.

Works Cited

Udisha, Omanakuttan, and Ambily P. Illiparambil Gabriel. "Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Rural Women Farmers Through Mobile Technology in Kerala." Sustainability, vol. 16, no. 21, 2024, pp. 9188. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/docview/3126064877/F975C59212B64A4DPQ/3?accountid=35685&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals