Bridging the Digital Divide: the Role of Librarians and Information Professionals in the Third Millenium

Narrowing the Digital Divide

     The digital divide is an obvious fact especially in a developing country like ours--where those who have and have not live side by side. S. V. Aqili and A. I. Moghaddam pointed out that a digital divide “separates those who can access and use ICT to gain these benefits, and those who either do not have access to such technology or who are unable to use it for one reason or another.” Citing sources, the authors narrowed down the factors contributing to the divide as politically, economically and technologically induced and is manifested in three stages--information accessibility, information utilization and information receptiveness. The role of the librarians and information professionals, specifically in the information services, is vital in reducing information inequality. They can be technology experts, guides, scouts, research librarians, analysts and information providers.

Three Points

     1. It exists.
     2. Just because they don’t have does not mean that they can not.
     3. Calling ALL librarians!

     It exists. There is no point denying the fact that a big chunk of our population do not have or can not use ICTs simply because they are economically-challenged. Access and use are separate concerns. Although public net cafe rates have gone down and public libraries have started to acquire computer terminals, rural communities are hampered by the lack of local ICT infrastructure. Aside from this, computer know-how and information literacy are concerns that need to be addressed.

     Just because they don’t have does not mean that they can not. It might take some time for each household to have their own computer terminal and reliable internet access, but teaching communities simple computing skills and effective information-seeking skills are boost up for these disempowered communities.

     Calling ALL librarians! We, who have the skills and the know-how, can contribute to the betterment of the Filipino society. By collaborating and networking and learning to see beyond the walls of our own libraries, we can help reduce information inequality. S. V. Aqili and A. I. Moghaddam calls for librarians and information specialists to bridge the gap.

Implications

     For a librarian within the walls of an academic community, it is a boon to have the internet. I can advocate for change virtually as well as network with people who feel and believe the same way. It is important that I see that there is a world out there who can benefit from my skills and capabilities. I can point them to resources that are free for the public to use. I can advocate for other librarians to support public libraries who have computer terminals for public access. I can serve by sharing my how-to computer skills. Because those who do not have access need not feel that they are disabled and disempowered because they cannot.

Reference

Aqili, S. V., & Moghaddam, A. I. (2008). Bridging the digital divide: the role of librarians and
     information professionals in the third millenium. The Electronic Library, 26 (2), 226-237.
     doi: 10.1108/02640470810864118


p.s.
What follows are interesting read-ups on the topic. You may want to look at them, too.

1. Here is an interesting blog post by D. Salemson (Sept. 2011)--Bridging the Digital Divide in New York City. This blog "explores the issues and challenges facing New York City's young people who are neither working or in school."

2. A Pew Internet Project Survey published its result on a survey done to measure digital differences in the American public. Digital Differences was published online in April 2012 by K. Zickuhr and A. Smith.

3. For a more local slant, an interesting material appears in the Digital Divide Institute with the page Digital Divide: Philippines. The page will invite you to examine "'the five domains of innovation' in the Philippines which could converge to bring a meaningful broadband ecosystem of products and services to 80% of the populous by 2017.”

Gorman's Retake of Ranganathan's Laws

The Five Laws of Library Science   

    In the book "Our singular strengths: meditations for librarians" (ALA, 1998), Michael Gorman, one of the leading voices in contemporary librarianship, speaks and encourages librarians through 144 meditations/reflections. Included in the books is "The five laws of library science: then & now," which is a very interesting material to reflect on for a librarian astride two different schools of librarianship--the traditional and the hi-tech. In it Gorman succinctly explains each of S. R. Ranganathan's laws of library science and caps each with a single-statement resolution for the practicing librarian. He does the same with the new laws that he has formulated. Briefly, Ranganathan's five laws are:  

1. Books are for use. 
2. Every book its reader.
3. Every reader his book. 
4. Save the time of the reader.
5. The library is a growing organism.

     In order to respond to the changing world and the growing emphasis on technology and information in the field of librarianship, Gorman formulated this five new laws, which is a retake of Ranganathan's laws. Gorman's five new laws are:

1. Libraries serve humanity.
2. Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated.
3. Use technology intelligently to enhance service.
4. Protect free access to knowledge.
5. Honor the past and create the future .

     Gorman's new laws anchors the contemporary librarian to age-old wisdom in order to address library needs today and in the future.

Three Take-out Points

     If I must take out just three points from Gorman's material, I would encapsulate them to these three phrases:
     1. A world gone smaller, a library gone wild.
     2. A balance of the old and the new.
     3. A relationship redefined.

     A world gone smaller, a library gone wild. Not in the negative sense, "wild" here is meant to be taken in a positive light. I mean to say here that the library (and its users) are in a celebratory mode because technology has made it possible to reach out to as many library users as technologically-possible as well as making library materials more accessible and more plentiful.
     A balance of the old and the new. The library must not be a museum, but, it must learn to see the value in old materials and keep them. However, it must take care not to accept all new things because they are new. As Gorman would say, "Wise people will understand the past of libraries, know why they are what they are today, and build a future based on tradition and innovation."
     A relationship redefined. The librarian-library user relationship has been redefined with the presence of social networking sites and other web technologies. These developments have made it possible to cross checkout counters and  static library hours. And the librarian can use these to enhance service and serve humanity in a better way.

Implications

     Choosing to launch this blog with M. Gorman's retake of S. R. Ranganathan's laws of library science has been a conscious choice. I wanted to find a material that would help me think and articulate my take on the the print vs digital debate. A librarian astride two schools of librarianship ought not to feel the tension of two opposing forces as this can be experienced as two forces that can work together.
     Whether in academic libraries or in other library types, I believe that the driving agenda must be access and use. That the library user, potential or active, have access to and are able to use library materials are important considerations. Thus, I ought to learn how to value materials for their inherent and potential use, regardless of format, and must also learn to harness the power of today's technologies to benefit the community that I am in.
     With growing demands for electronic access to library resources and other information, the library is pressed and poised to respond to the needs of the academic community, and the society. It is but prudent that I anchor my actions to the stability and wisdom of the past.


Reference

Gorman, M. (1998). The five laws of library science: then & now. In Our singular strengths: meditations     
       for librarians. Chicago, IL: ALA. (Excerpted from Book excerpt. School Library Journal, 1998 July).