Bridging the Digital Divide: The Impact of Public Libraries on Computer Access and Internet Use

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Bridging the Digital DivideThe Impact of Public
Libraries on Computer Access and Internet Use

• Mee-Aeng Ko
• University of Missouri-Columbia

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I. Need for the Study on the Impact of
Public Libraries and the Digital Divide

• Public libraries as a rescuer for have-nots who
  experience the impact of digital divides on their
  welfare
• The roles and efforts of public libraries to
  close the digital gap are still largely unknown.
• Result from this study can assist public
  libraries in determining and managing their
  public access computing services to bridging the
  digital divide in its community.

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II. Phase I of the Research Survey of
Library Patrons

• Development of the Survey A survey was
  developed to gather the following
  information.
• Patrons use of computers and the Internet in the
  public library
• The viewpoints about the access to computers and
  the Internet in their lives
• Suggestions for improvement for public computing

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II. Phase I of the Research Survey of
Library Patrons (Cont.)

• Method
• The survey was distributed near every computer in
  the library.
• Responses were anonymous and collected in a
  sealed box.
• During a one-month period, 70 reputable surveys
  were completed by library patrons aged 13 to 64.

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II. Phase I of the Research Survey of
Library Patrons (Cont.)

• Findings
• The library patrons uses of the computers/ the
  Internet
• Activities on the Internet
• The primary barrier cited for using library
  computers

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III. Phase II of the Research Interviews
with Library Patrons

• Development of the Survey
• An interview protocol semi-structured interview
• Interview questions invited to people
• To tell stories about their experiences with
  computers and the Internet
• To give meaning to their experiences
• Probes
• Digital divide theme (e.g., educational and
  cultural differences, values, diversity of
  computer use, etc.)

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III. Phase II of the Research Interview
with Library Patrons (Cont.)

• Method
• Nine interviewees were selected from the survey.
• Conditions
• 18 years of age or older
• Used the public library as their primary access
  to computers and the Internet
• Manifested one or more or the digital divide
  characteristics
• Agreed to be interviewed
• Interviews were conducted privately and
  tape-recorded for later theme analysis.

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III. Phase II of the Research Interview
with Library Patrons (Cont.)

• Findings
• Reasons for starting to use/learn computers/ the
  Internet
• Frequently reported uses of computers/ the
  Internet
• Impact of not having access to computers/ the
  Internet
• The importance of public access to computers/ the
  Internet

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IV. Conclusions

• Importance of having public access especially for
  those who do not have alternative access to
  computers/ the Internet
• The primary recommendations for improvement of
  services in public libraries
• Significance of public library in bridging the
  gap of digital divides

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V. Discussion and More

• Discussion with audience
• Questions Answers
• Sharing of research materials