Libraries and the Digital Divide

Socorro Sue Palomares

In the article “Library’s Role in Bridging the Digital Divide", Sarah Chase Webber describes the digital divide as “the gap between those with internet access and those without”. Not everyone has access to the internet, and not everyone has a computer.  These people have to depend on using one at their job or at school. The article also says that income plays a large role in having access to the internet.  For example, people that live in lower income communities that have no personal Wi-Fi need to rely on using it at the public library. 

We live in a world  we are dependent on the internet for work, school and for our healthcare.  This has become our lifeline.  In March of 2020, a stay at home order policy was in place because of the Coronavirus pandemic.  Businesses, schools and public libraries were trying to find solutions to the digital divide that was made more obvious because of  the pandemic. 

With millions of Americans staying at home trying to work, do schoolwork or filing for unemployment, the internet became unreliable.  People had to find creative ways to expand their Wi-Fi.

Webber, S. C. (2019, March 28). The Library's Role in Bridging the Digital Divide. Urban Libraries Council. https://www.urbanlibraries.org/blog/the-librarys-role-in-bridging-the-digital-divide. 


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