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.”