Answers from Review Sheet

Jaeger, P. T., Bertot, J. C., McClure, C. R., & Langa, L. A. (2006). The policy
implications of Internet connectivity in public libraries Government Information
Quarterly 23(1): 123-141.

Jaeger et al. (2006) found that 99.6% of all public libraries provided Internet access on their
public terminals. However, there were still things related to that access that continued the
digital divide. What were the issues?
-Just having high connectivity is not the same as having sufficient connectivity (having high enough bandwidth) to adequately use the Internet services that are available and that meet patron needs.
-Libraries are having problems with the number of public access workstations available for use and that these workstations are not enough to meet demands.
-High-speed connectivity (bandwidth) is not evenly distributed across libraries.
-Patrons served by rural libraries have less access to workstations, non-filtered workstations, high-speed connectivity, and wireless Internet services for patron-owned computer use.
-Government has shifted its attention from digital divide to a focus on "digital inclusion". This focus has moved the policy in a direction from working to increase Internet usage among entire populations to viewing the current levels of access as an accomplishment. This is dangerous because it is accompanied by a reduction in the funds available for many programs.


Hsieh, J. J. Po-An; Rai, Arun; Keil, Mark. (2008). Understanding digital inequality:
Comparing continued use behavioral models of the socio-economically advantaged and
disadvantaged. MIS Quarterly, 32(1): 97-126.

How did computer use differ between disadvantaged (low-income) and advantaged (high-
income) groups in this study?
-pleasure and satisfaction derived from using a technology is more important for the disadvantaged
-utility obtained from using a technology is more critical for the advantaged
-advantaged are better educated and tend to have more access to and experience with ICT, and are therefore in a better position to appreciate it
-disadvantaged use ICT to escape into a virtual world and escape reality (to avoid life difficulties, gambling and substance abuse)
-governments devise initiatives to address digital inequality to help the disadvantaged gain access, use ICT, develop digital skills for work opportunities, and improve their quality of life
-advantaged use computers as personal network exposure


Week Fourteen: April 28 & 30 - Where do we go from here?
Servon, L. J. (2002). Chapter. 8 – Building the Bridge: Learning from Seattle. Bridging
the digital divide: Technology, community and public policy. Wiley, John & Sons,
Incorporated.

Which Seattle residents were less likely to have access to computers (page 201)? Compare
these statistics with the Collins family. How many of these characteristics did the Collins
family share?
-Residents less likely to have access tend to be older, low-income, low-education, and African American or Latino.
-The Collins share several of these characteristics. They are low-income, low-educated and are African American. They have inadequate housing, and seek for better education opportunities. They live in the part of the city that is considered the "inner-city" and the people who live there are very poor and predominatly black or brown. Also, the "inner-city" has a lack of material resources for the citizens.