Libraries and the Digital Divide

Libraries: Linking Seniors in a Digital World 

See this video on how computer training and access to technology are empowering seniors in Houston.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated and installed 40,000 computers in 10,000 public libraries, giving rural and lower-income communities in such places as South Dakota access to e-mail and online resources.

New study shows libraries need support to sustain quality access to free computer services

CHICAGO -- Nearly every U.S. public library offers free access to computers and the Internet, but overall libraries are challenged to provide enough workstations to meet demand, pay for ongoing Internet connectivity costs, and plan for necessary upgrades to the technology, according to a report released today at the opening of the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. The report was conducted by the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University (FSU) and commissioned by the ALA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Millions of Americans use computers in public libraries to access government services, research health information, enroll in distance-learning classes, and start small businesses. Library computers have become so popular that more than 85 percent of libraries say they are not able to meet demand for computers at certain times during the day.

“Libraries are an indispensable resource for Americans seeking information online and in print,” said ALA President Carol Brey Casiano. “Visits to public libraries have more than doubled to 1.2 billion annually in the past 12 years, and many of these people are coming for computer and Internet access. To ensure free and open access for all Americans, we must keep library doors open and fund library technology initiatives.”

Should Internet access for the poor be subsidized?

The Internet is revolutionizing the world economy, but some parts of the global village are being left behind. The growing gap between the information-rich and the information-poor means many rural and low-income areas -- and much of the Third World -- could lose out on jobs and economic development. Many public-private partnerships are trying to bridge the digital gap.

I think that although there has been plenty of advancement in implementing and making technology available in public libraries, there is still a long way to go. There is a very high demand for computers and many libraries are not able to meet this demand. Especially in poor rural areas. According to the video above there are many seniors who are seeking technological training as in the libraries in Houston, Texas. Many patrons that also visit the library for digital purposes are people who have no access to the Internet at home and people looking for continuing education. The demand is there, it's the implementing and costs that need to be analyzed and worked on.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2005/06/Support-Needed-for-Library-Technology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhOZpcqQtgQ&index=6&list=PLCE1B8F42CC5CDC8C

Koch, K. (2000, January 28). The digital divide. CQ Researcher, 10, 41-64. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/