LIBRARIES’ EFFORTS TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE - By Cherilee Olmstead

I want to focus on the impact of the Digital Divide in rural communities. The American Library Association released a Library Technology Report in 2021 where it states that “…the Federal Communications Commission estimates that more than 21 million people in the United States don’t have connection [the internet]. That includes nearly 3 in 10 people – 27 percent – who live in such rural places…as well as 2 percent of those living in cities” (ALA). The report goes on to highlight that affordability is a factor for many, who have access to the internet but not the funds to pay for it. The second concern discussed is coverage, because in some rural areas of the United States even those that can afford the internet, cannot receive connection in the area they live in, or some availability but not a strong enough signal to truly benefit from it. Therefore, a suggested definition of digital divide offered is “any uneven distribution in the access to, use of, or impact of information and communications technologies…which can be defined based on social, geographical, or geopolitical criteria, or otherwise” (ALA). To offer further insight, Mehra, et al. state in their article that not only is the United States ranked #16 in the world for Broadband connectivity, which equates to over 34 million Americans underserved, the lack of high-speed internet in rural America equates to 39% of rural Americans without proper Broadband infrastructure.

Libraries are community hubs for residents, offering a variety of opportunities to try bridging the digital divide. For some, this can be achieved by simply using the free public computers offered at many libraries, including offering hi-speed free internet and access to scanners, printers and fax machines which allow all library users to not be limited by their socio-economic position. In some rural areas many library users are older with less formal education or income than younger generations who have moved to cities for education, more employment opportunities and a change of living standards. Therefore, libraries should be ready to guide tutorials, educate and provide the older generation with the digital tools to connect them to the world. These tools could be in the form of computers, laptops, hot spots and one-on-one tutorials. However, they could also offer applications such as social media presence, searching academic databases and E-books. Libraries very purpose is to provide information, “Bridging these gaps are essential aspects of social inclusion for just, fair, and equitable access to resources and opportunities to achieve a higher quality of life and well-being” (Mehra, Bharat, et al.) If we have any chance of achieving a higher quality of life and well-being for those in rural areas, it is paramount that rural libraries understand and know their library users so they can best serve them with the most needed resources as and when funding becomes available. Otherwise, there is the risk of losing more of the younger generations to city life.

“Unlocking Potential: The Transforming Power of Assistive Technology” is a TEDx Talk by Pascal Bijleveld, a tech corporate man who offers technical advice from the perspective of a library user. He offers great analogies that put this ongoing problem into perspective for library users.

Works Cited

Bijleveld, Pascal. “Unlocking Potential: The Transforming Power of Assistive Technology.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 9 May 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6lREGibolc

 

Mehra, Bharat, et al. “Scenarios of Technology Use to Promote Community Engagement: Overcoming Marginalization and Bridging Digital Divides in the Southern and Central Appalachian Rural Libraries.” Information Processing & Management [Oxford], vol. 57, no. 3, no. 102129, May 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2019.102129.

 

“The Digital Divide.” Library Technology Reports, vol. 57, no. 2, March 2021, p. 24