Cindy Zamora: Blog 3 - Libraries and the Digital Divide

The term “Digital Divide” is used to describe a gap between those who DO have ready access to information and technology and also possess the skills to make use of such technologies, and those who DO NOT because of demographic and socio-economic variables, such as income, education, age, geographic location, etc.

Other terms like “Digital Literacy” and “Digital Inclusion” are often used when discussing why this gap exists and why it’s not improving. Digital inclusion is best explained as an outreach to unserved and underserved populations and policy implementation meant to bridge the divide and promote digital literacy.  Digital literacy is achieved when one has, “...the ability and skill needed for accessing technology, the ability to understand the language used and the hardware and software knowledge required to navigate that technology.” (Paul T. Jaeger, et al.  "Rural Public Libraries And Digital Inclusion: Issues And Challenges." Information Technology & Libraries 33.1 (2014): 6-24. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.)

A study called the Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey (PLFTAS), which can be reviewed at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org, shows that rural libraries, on average, have weaker technological tools, (fewer average number of computers and slower broadband connections) and are able to offer fewer support services, such as training classes. Urban and suburban public libraries offer many more services due to larger budgets.  The study exposed that many rural public libraries are the only providers of free Internet service and computer terminals for their patrons and these communities have the lowest number of households with an independent broadband connection.  With the Internet being essential to those in need of important government services or those wanting to apply for jobs with companies throughout the nation, the services offered by these rural libraries is invaluable.

Common Sense Media (CSM) is a watchdog website used by parents in making media choices for their kids.  They screen various forms of media and rate them in terms of age-appropriate content. CSM surveyed 1,400 parents and reported that 47 percent of families with incomes more than $75,000 had downloaded content for their children, while only 14 percent of families earning less than $30,000 had done so.  This is another example that more underprivileged families do not have the same technological benefits available to them and do not have the skills required to begin to bridge the gap.

For government decision makers to understand the ongoing nature of the digital inclusion problem, rural public librarians and their allies will need to gather better data and provide better advocacy so that government funding is more equitable. The basic public library funding structure needs to be re-examined and modified to close the digital divide between rural areas and more heavily populated communities.