When we think of the concept of the digital divide we often think of those that have and those that have not. However, this is a far more complex and nuanced issue.
The Oxford Dictionary (2024) defines this concept as: ‘the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not.’ Before thinking and reading about this, I would have summarised this concept in a similar way. However, I know it to be broader. Even though it does capture access to technology in its essence, it also refers to those who have the right skills and training to utilise digital technology, infrastructure, connectivity, inclusive sites for those with a disability and even your location.
The Australian Digital Inclusion Index (2023) tells us that 1 in 4 Australians are digitally excluded and those at the highest risk are: People with low levels of income, education and employment, those living in some regional areas, people aged over 65 and people with a disability (ADII, 2023).
Key data from the ADII (2024) gives us a lot of interesting data: Some key figures that caught my attention:
- Digital exclusion is closely linked with age. Of those who are digitally excluded, 48% of those are aged 75 or older.
- The nation’s digital ability score is only 64.5%
- The affordability of digital technology in Australia is high – 95% affordability score.
- Additionally, those living in public housing, living alone and First nations people are still the most disadvantaged when it comes to digital inclusivity.
It was interesting to compare this to places elsewhere – one being Finland. It is described as a highly digitalised country where being online is necessary for essential services, such as banking, taxation and pensions (Lehtinen et al., 2023). It was interesting to note that because of the need for all citizens to be digitally active, action research had been undertaken to consider the impact that librarians are having in providing this all important education and access to some of Finland’s disadvantaged citizens. (Lehtinen et al., 2023) discusses the services that local libraries provide, such as:
- free bus shuttles to local libraries for those living in isolated communities
- extended opening hours, catering to a wide variety of clientele.
- free access to digital services, especially computers
- their vast network of local libraries mean that it is within a reasonable distance for most people to access
The study outlines that this kind of support is not isolated to Finland, but in many countries around the world, even in America – where the digital support patrons get at their local library is often superior to the service they receive from the actual providers (Giesler, 2017)
This confirmed what I knew all along – librarians and libraries are the answer to society’s problems!!
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Australian Digital Inclusion Index (2023) Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide. https://www.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/
Giesler, M. A. (2017). A place to call home?: A qualitative exploration of public librarians’ response to homelessness. Journal of Access Services, 14(4), 188–214. doi:10.1080/15367967.2017.1395704
Lehtinen, E., Seppo Poutanen, & Kovalainen, A. (2023). Librarians bridging the digital divide: Experiences from Finland. Journal of Access Services, 20(3-4), 120–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/15367967.2023.2292210
Oxford Dictionary. (2023). Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/