Libraries Evolve to Bridge Digital Divide

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Income is the largest determinant of whether or not someone has access. Only 67 percent of households with less than $25,000 in income have access to a computer, and only 51.7 percent of them have access to internet. In comparison, households making between $50,000 and $99,999 had 93.9 percent of households with a computer and 86.2 percent with internet access. Income can determine whether a community needs to rely on the library for internet access. Rural communities with more low-income people have less home internet access. Suburban residents with higher median incomes use the library less for that reason.  But why are city patrons using library computers at such a higher rate? It might be because of rising income inequality in cities. Wealthier people don’t need to use many of the digital and traditional services a library provides, because they have the money to access them on their own. Lower-income patrons, however, still rely on the library for both.

[This piece was published November 21, 2018]


Libraries Evolve to Bridge Digital Divide