By: Joy DuPont and Group

I. What is the digital divide? II. Who is affected by the digital divide? III. How are they affected by the digital divide? IV. Who takes responsibility for the digital divide? V. What does the digital divide mean for information professionals? VI. What is being done about the digital divide? VII. What can be done about the digital divide? VIII. Bibliography

Those who cannot afford computers, those who are computer illiterate and need to use computers, and those who need assistance with computers. The issues are with access and availability. Global vs. local Factors- location, money, or education

The poor The elderly Those who have lower education Members of ethnic and racial minorities Those who live in rural areas Those who live in economically disadvantaged countries

Koch, K. (2000). The Digital Divide: Should Internet access for the poor be subsidized?. The CQ Researcher, 10(3), Retrieved November 15, 2012, from PudtEifleWhtG0MT7pQrcj782EBibY.&URL=http%3a%2f%2flibrary.cqpress.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu%3a90%2fcqresearcher%2fdocument.php%3 fid%3dcqresrre

Main Reasons for No High-Speed Internet Use at Home Telecommunications and Information Administration. (2004, September 30). A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Age | NTIA. Home Page | NTIA. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from

The rural poor are lowest in terms of computer penetration – (4.5%); those with computers and modems are 23.6% as opposed to 8.1% and 44.1% in urban areas, respectively. Rural senior citizens (55+) posses lowest computer penetration (11.9%), followed by seniors in central cities (12%) NTIA. (1995, July). Falling through the net: A Survey of the “have nots” in rural and urban America. Retrieved from

Limited or no access to important information resources Increasingly limited access to government forms Examples: Tax forms Social Security Driver’s License forms Limited or no access to furthering education Limited or no access to job listings and applications

If it’s an access problem… This “may imply that those who can provide or help subsidize the technology, particularly government and/or corporations, are responsible for function infrastructure and increasing access” (Epstein, Nisbet, & Gillespie, 2011) But… This may “suggest that responsibility lies in the hands of individuals and educational institutions, those who could help pursue the necessary ‘digital literacy’” (Epstein, Nisbet, & Gillespie, 2011) But… If it’s a skills problem…

From Wei & Hindman (2011), there is an “ongoing consensus that simply being connected will not necessarily solve potential sources of inequality” Providing access isn’t enough What’s the next step for info professionals? Wei, L., & Hindman, D.B. (2011). Does the digital divide matter more? Comparing the effects of new media and old media use on education-based knowledge gap. Communications and Society, 14, Doi: /

Staff members of libraries are helping their patrons to become more computer literate, whether it is by holding workshops or working one-on-one with patrons.

The Idaho Commission for Libraries created a program to train 12 “new Americans” how to use library tools and how to train others to use them as well. The library has workshops and coaching sessions as well. Helped with finding jobs, education, family and health information, access to e-government services, and computer and internet literacy New Americans and the Digital Literacy Gap. American Libraries [serial online]. November 2012;43(11/12): Available from: Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson), Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 20, 2012.

Grants Volunteers to teach workshops and work in community Patient, helpful librarians

Benton Foundation. (2001). Digital divide network. Retrieved from Epstein, D., Nisbet, E., & Gillespie, T. (2011). Who’s responsible for the digital divide? Public perceptions and policy implications. The Information Society, 27, Doi: / Howard, P.N., Rainie, L., & Jones, S. (2001). Days and nights on the Internet: The impact of a diffusing technology. American Behavior Scientist, 45, Koch, K. (2000). The Digital Divide: Should Internet access for the poor be subsidized?. The CQ Researcher, 10(3), Retrieved November 15, 2012, from OYRu-satUiE938Dmogm88Iwt9PQP5vO88B- PudtEifleWhtG0MT7pQrcj782EBibY.&URL=http%3a%2f%2flibr ary.cqpress.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu%3a90%2fcqresearcher%2fdoc ument.php%3fid%3dcqresrre OYRu-satUiE938Dmogm88Iwt9PQP5vO88B- PudtEifleWhtG0MT7pQrcj782EBibY.&URL=http%3a%2f%2flibr ary.cqpress.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu%3a90%2fcqresearcher%2fdoc ument.php%3fid%3dcqresrre

Korupp, S. E., & Szydlik, M. (2005). Causes and Trends of the Digital Divde. European Sociological Review, 21(4), Retrieved November 15, 2012, from Marshall, S., Taylor, W. J., & Yu, X. (2003). Preface. Closing the digital divide transforming regional economies and communities with information technology (pp. iv-xvii). Westport, Conn.: Praeger. New Americans and the Digital Literacy Gap. American Libraries [serial online]. November 2012;43(11/12): Available from: Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson), Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 20, NTIA. (1995, July). Falling through the net: A Survey of the “have nots” in rural and urban America. Retrieved from

Telecommunications and Information Administration. (2004, September 30). A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Age | NTIA. Home Page | NTIA. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from broadband-age. broadband-age Wei, L., & Hindman, D.B. (2011). Does the digital divide matter more? Comparing the effects of new media and old media use on education-based knowledge gap. Mass Communication and Society, 14, Doi: / Zickuhr, K. (02 F). Pew internet. Retrieved from and-gadgets/Report/Desktop-and-Laptop-Computers.aspx