Public Libraries and the Digital Divide

Public Libraries and the Digital Divide

by Jenaliza Mendoza

    “Digital divide” mainly refers to the gap between people with easy access to the internet and people who do not have much or any access to it. If someone has less exposure to computers or other similar devices, then the more likely they are to struggle with learning how to use them for tasks that many of us now regard as very rudimentary. A few common factors that contribute to this gap are geographic location, age, race, income level, and education level. Income has the largest impact on the ability of a person to gain internet access (Webber, 2019), and the fact that public libraries are free to enter and utilize makes them an essential setting for addressing this issue.

 

Image retrieved via https://morgridgeonline.du.edu/blog/libraries-bridge-digital-divide/. 

Isiaka et al. (2024) outlines the services that public libraries already provide to help curb several of the issues that arise from the digital divide:

• In most public libraries, the public-use computers are available as long as the patron has a library card for that particular branch. Staff and/or volunteers may also be available to assist people with learning how to navigate a computer.
• More formal workshops, classes, or one-on-one training may be available for patrons to learn about the internet and the relevant technology.
• Free public Wi-Fi is available for patrons to connect to via their own personal devices.

    While it is still possible to live without the internet, at the same time it is becoming more and more common for schools and workplaces to implement it into their facilities for various uses. This extends to submitting applications, communicating via emails, downloading necessary files, accessing cloud services, and so much more. In a time where both technology and the internet is rapidly advancing and being integrated into so many different areas of our lives, not having access to the internet leaves many demographics at risk of missing out on major opportunities. It is important for all in the library field to be aware of this, and to extend additional assistance to the patrons who may need it.

 Sources

Isiaka, A. O., Soliu, A., Aremu, B. A., Bamidele, B. A., Saba-Jibril, S., & Ibitoye, A. R. (2024). The Evolving Role Of Libraries In The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Navigating Digital Transformation. Library Philosophy and Practice, , 1-26. Retrieved from https://login.palomar.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/evolving-role-libraries-fourth-industrial/docview/3094503990/se-2 

Libraries Evolve to Bridge Digital Divide. The MLIS from University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education. (2020, September 8). https://morgridgeonline.du.edu/blog/libraries-bridge-digital-divide

Webber, S. C. (2019, March 28). The Library’s Role in Bridging the Digital Divide. Urban Libraries Council. https://www.urbanlibraries.org/blog/the-librarys-role-in-bridging-the-digital-divide