Visser, Marijke and Mary Alice Ball. “The Middle Mile: The Role of the Public Library in Ensuring Access to Broadband.” Information Technology and Libraries 29, no. 4 (Dec 2010): 187-195.
This article discusses the role of public libraries in providing access to broadband telecommunications. The authors emphasize the importance of that access and elaborate on the concept of tiers of users. They talk about the "early adopters," those who embrace and adopt new technologies as they become available, the second tier users who "appreciate the availability of online resources and use a mix of devices to access Internet content but vary in the extent to which they try the latest application or device" (187), and the third tier users who "have generally not embraced [the Internet's] full potential, from not seeking out readily available resources to not connecting at all" (187).
The authors, Marijke Visser and Mary Alice Ball, seem to see an unrecognized urgency in making broadband communication universally available. However, they offer little in the way of suggestions to make that happen. On the other hand, they do offer valuable insights into the barriers to broadband access (price, availability, perceived relevance, and technical skills of users. Their main focus seems to be on how libraries can provide the training necessary for users to be able to adopt broadband use.
This article had limited useful material for my purposes, but offers interesting insights and quotable material on the roles that public libraries and play in helping people use the Internet. The authors also offer a strong case for libraries taking a leadership role in discussions about local, state, and federal information policies. The draw heavily on the work of Bertot, McClure, and Jaeger.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Public Libraries and the Internet. http://www.ii.fsu.edu/Solutions/Public-Libraries-The-Internet/Reports.
Public Libraries and the Internet. http://www.ii.fsu.edu/Solutions/Public-Libraries-The-Internet/Reports. (accessed March 13, 2011).
This site contains the reports that Bertot, McClure and Jaeger (among others) have used for the massive volume of material that they have written on the subject of public libraries and the Internet.
Since 1994, there have been eight studies conducted that track various issues connected with public libraries and the Internet. The studies have been funded over the years by the American Library Association's Washington Office, the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The scope of the surveys goes far beyond my topic, but as original source data, they are important and need to be included here.
The material that I’ve used from these reports comes from articles written by those writing on specific topics covered in the surveys. For example, Bertot, McClure, and Jaeger have written numerous articles tracking changes between surveys.
This site contains the reports that Bertot, McClure and Jaeger (among others) have used for the massive volume of material that they have written on the subject of public libraries and the Internet.
Since 1994, there have been eight studies conducted that track various issues connected with public libraries and the Internet. The studies have been funded over the years by the American Library Association's Washington Office, the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The scope of the surveys goes far beyond my topic, but as original source data, they are important and need to be included here.
The material that I’ve used from these reports comes from articles written by those writing on specific topics covered in the surveys. For example, Bertot, McClure, and Jaeger have written numerous articles tracking changes between surveys.
“The Impact of Digital Resource and Service Use on Urban Residents in New England Public Libraries—A Survey Report.”
Liu, Yan Quan and Agnes Wnuk. “The Impact of Digital Resource and Service Use on Urban Residents in New England Public Libraries—A Survey Report.” Public Library Quarterly 28, no.1 (2009): 4-23.
This article discusses the results of a survey to find out users’ perspective on library services in an urban New England setting. It is reporting on the second in a series of surveys seeking to find out who’s using public library digital resources and services, how they’re using them, and why they’re using them.
Researchers were looking at both usability and accessibility, from the patron’s point of view, and were looking to identify trends in user characteristics and patterns of information sought. Not surprisingly, they found that “mere access to information, computers, and the Internet are not enough. The hardware and software must be upgraded when necessary. Moreover, users must have the skills to use both hardware and software to search competently” (6).
The authors report many of the same issues as in other studies, namely true access includes fast enough connection speed, enough workstations for patron demand, updating and maintaining hardware and software, and sufficient time on computers to accomplish tasks.
Although this survey was much broader in scope than my project, the researchers were looking for basically the same information as I was: How do people use public libraries.
It was interesting, but not surprising that they used some of the same questions I used in my questionnaire, and their results provide a point of comparison with my results.
In addition to much useful information, this article serves as a good contrast to Bertot, et al., because the authors were asking patron questions, while the articles by Bertot et al, reported on surveys answered by librarians.
This article discusses the results of a survey to find out users’ perspective on library services in an urban New England setting. It is reporting on the second in a series of surveys seeking to find out who’s using public library digital resources and services, how they’re using them, and why they’re using them.
Researchers were looking at both usability and accessibility, from the patron’s point of view, and were looking to identify trends in user characteristics and patterns of information sought. Not surprisingly, they found that “mere access to information, computers, and the Internet are not enough. The hardware and software must be upgraded when necessary. Moreover, users must have the skills to use both hardware and software to search competently” (6).
The authors report many of the same issues as in other studies, namely true access includes fast enough connection speed, enough workstations for patron demand, updating and maintaining hardware and software, and sufficient time on computers to accomplish tasks.
Although this survey was much broader in scope than my project, the researchers were looking for basically the same information as I was: How do people use public libraries.
It was interesting, but not surprising that they used some of the same questions I used in my questionnaire, and their results provide a point of comparison with my results.
In addition to much useful information, this article serves as a good contrast to Bertot, et al., because the authors were asking patron questions, while the articles by Bertot et al, reported on surveys answered by librarians.
“Closing the Digital Divide: Building a Public Computing Center.”
Krebeck, Aaron. “Closing the Digital Divide: Building a Public Computing Center.” www.infotoday.com. October 2010 (accessed March 3, 2011).
This article describes a Public Computing Center (PCC) set up in Charles County, Maryland. The author is the IT manager for Charles County and writes from fist-hand experience setting up the PCC.
He offers the PCC as a low-cost way to expand computer and Internet access to the public at a time when many libraries are caught between not being able to meet the demand for computer and Internet services and not being able to expand access in current facilities. The PCC eases the strain on full-service libraries by re-locating a portion of the self-service activities offered by libraries.
Although I’m not looking at PCCs, this article stands as an excellent example of a “best practice,” that can be shared with other libraries as recommended by Jaeger, et al, in their 2007 article, “Public Libraries and Internet Access Across the United States: A Comparison by State 2004-2006.”
This article describes a Public Computing Center (PCC) set up in Charles County, Maryland. The author is the IT manager for Charles County and writes from fist-hand experience setting up the PCC.
He offers the PCC as a low-cost way to expand computer and Internet access to the public at a time when many libraries are caught between not being able to meet the demand for computer and Internet services and not being able to expand access in current facilities. The PCC eases the strain on full-service libraries by re-locating a portion of the self-service activities offered by libraries.
Although I’m not looking at PCCs, this article stands as an excellent example of a “best practice,” that can be shared with other libraries as recommended by Jaeger, et al, in their 2007 article, “Public Libraries and Internet Access Across the United States: A Comparison by State 2004-2006.”
“Libraries Bridge the Digital Divide.”
Kranich, Nancy. “Libraries Bridge the Digital Divide.” Spectra 37, no. 7 (July 2001): 4-12.
This short article addresses the importance of the role of libraries in their communities, especially in the efforts to narrow the Digital Divide. The author re-states the fact that for many people, the public library provides their only access to the Internet. Written in 2001, it shows that the importance of public libraries in providing Internet access has been long-recognized.
Interestingly, the author also emphasizes the importance of libraries for “content, training, and expertise crucial to ensuring widespread public participation in our information society” (12) at a time when the nation’s main emphasis seemed to be getting workstations into libraries.
This short article addresses the importance of the role of libraries in their communities, especially in the efforts to narrow the Digital Divide. The author re-states the fact that for many people, the public library provides their only access to the Internet. Written in 2001, it shows that the importance of public libraries in providing Internet access has been long-recognized.
Interestingly, the author also emphasizes the importance of libraries for “content, training, and expertise crucial to ensuring widespread public participation in our information society” (12) at a time when the nation’s main emphasis seemed to be getting workstations into libraries.
“The Internet, Public Libraries, and the Digital Divide.”
Kinney, Bo. “The Internet, Public Libraries, and the Digital Divide.” Public Library Quarterly 29 (2010): 104-161.
In this article, Kinney looks at why the Internet matters for public libraries, both in terms of the Internet’s impact on the public, especially those with no access, and in terms of the impact of the Internet on libraries. He includes excellent literature reviews for each part, covering changes in public library Internet access t from the mid-1990s through 2009.
In the first part of his analysis, Kinney found “no disparity in the number of public computers available in areas with high and how incomes,” but found “significant—and widening—disparity in the number of computers available in areas with a higher versus lower percentage of non-white and non-English-speaking households” (104).
In the second part of his analysis, the author found that “Having Internet terminals (versus having no Internet terminals) has a significant positive effect on a library’s visits and reference transactions, but not on a library’s circulation” (105).
This article goes way beyond the scope of my project, however, the excellent literature reviews and extensive list of references made it extremely useful to me.
In this article, Kinney looks at why the Internet matters for public libraries, both in terms of the Internet’s impact on the public, especially those with no access, and in terms of the impact of the Internet on libraries. He includes excellent literature reviews for each part, covering changes in public library Internet access t from the mid-1990s through 2009.
In the first part of his analysis, Kinney found “no disparity in the number of public computers available in areas with high and how incomes,” but found “significant—and widening—disparity in the number of computers available in areas with a higher versus lower percentage of non-white and non-English-speaking households” (104).
In the second part of his analysis, the author found that “Having Internet terminals (versus having no Internet terminals) has a significant positive effect on a library’s visits and reference transactions, but not on a library’s circulation” (105).
This article goes way beyond the scope of my project, however, the excellent literature reviews and extensive list of references made it extremely useful to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)