Professional Development Committee

Digital Equity in the 21st Century Public Library: Closing the Digital Divide

By Neil Grimes
Education & Curriculum Materials Librarian, William Paterson University
Email: grimesn@wpunj.edu(link sends e-mail)

In the 21st century, there is a need for digital equity to close the divide that exists in communities across the United States. Libraries and librarians can lead efforts to close this digital divide. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) defines digital equity as “a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy” (Tesfaye & Miller, n.d.). Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.

For decades, libraries have worked to close the digital divide. From providing access to public computers and Wi-Fi to technology classes and resources, they have created lifelines for disconnected communities (Fallows, 2021; NTIA, 2021; PLA, 2020; ULC, n.d.). The digital divide continues to disproportionately impact marginalized communities. In recent years the lack of in-home internet was strongly correlated with COVID-19 deaths. A 2021 survey by Pew Research found that among households earning less than $30,000 per year, 43% did not have a home broadband connection, and 41% did not own a computer (Vogels, 2021). For 27% of adults in those households, their only internet access was through a smartphone. Libraries play a key part in American society in building more equitably connected communities.

Digital equity provides a positive image of what a connected community would look like. It challenges librarians to ask the following questions:

• What would it look like if everyone could participate fully in online life?
• What would it mean if every person could choose to pursue their own goals in the way that worked best for them?
• How do we reach the goal of digital equity for our library and in the community as we work to lessen the digital divide?

In an effort to accomplish digital equity, libraries need to work toward digital inclusion by providing the necessary services, programs, and partnerships in their communities.  Digital inclusion consists of the following five elements: affordable, robust broadband internet service; internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; access to digital literacy training; quality technical support; and applications as well as online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.  According to Barbakoff (2022), libraries can implement four strategies to bring digital inclusion to their communities.  They are: 1) Digital Navigators, 2) Community Networks, 3) Facilitated Access, and 4) Community Organizing and Advocacy.

Digital Navigators are “trusted guides who assist community members in internet adoption and the use of computing devices” (Balboa et al., 2021, p. 4). The Digital Navigators model has been adopted by libraries in communities across America. This model involves a librarian meeting with a patron and conducting a reference interview. Through the interview, the librarian as digital navigator will learn “about the patron’s goal(s) and what types of digital access or skills they might need to accomplish it” (Barbakoff, 2022, p.11).

The librarian then provides information and resources to the patron to meet their specific needs. This model is effective because it addresses broadband access, computer ownership, and digital literacy in the same service. One of the earliest libraries to fully adopt this model was the Salt Lake City Public Library System. This library system, in partnership with the NDIA, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) developed a freely available Digital Navigators Toolkit (Balboa et al., 2021).

Community Networks are “cooperatives owned and managed by neighborhood residents, able to provide high-speed internet at low cost in other neglected communities” (Barbakoff, 2022, p.13). The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) released a briefing in 2020 explaining the important and varied roles that libraries play in community networks, including hosting workshops, raising awareness, and sharing infrastructure.

The city of Detroit provided one of the prominent early successes using this model as the Detroit Community Technology Project (DCTP) brought together neighborhood coalitions, nonprofits, and faith communities as part of the Equitable Internet Initiative (EII). Detroit residents were trained as digital stewards, able to install access points and maintain the network. This project recognized the need for digital literacy education, so they developed a digital skills curriculum as well.

According to Barbakoff (2022), “most libraries would likely not start a community program on their own,” but “they can be invaluable partners in efforts led by others” (p.13). For example, the roof of the library can be an effective location for an antenna or repeater, which makes the library’s commitment as low as allowing roof access and a connection to existing electricity or data lines.

In addition, libraries can support the creation and delivery of digital literacy classes for network users. The freely available Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit may be helpful to libraries and librarians understanding and improving their broadband and IT infrastructure (Internet2, 2021).

Facilitated Access occurs when the library lowers the “the barrier to entry for complex technologies” (Barbakoff, 2022, p.15). An example of this is offering a hybrid program or class, which patrons could attend in person at the library, or connect virtually with a staff member managing the technology. The 2020 PLA Public Library Technology Survey found that approximately half of libraries offered streaming programs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This type of hybrid programming could provide a low-barrier way for libraries to begin offering facilitated access.

Another example of facilitated access in libraries is telehealth (Brooks, 2022; Settles, 2021). A patient may want a virtual appointment with a healthcare provider and may need a single or occasional visit. To engage in a virtual appointment video call, a patient needs a high level of Internet speed, device access, and digital skill. The library can provide that community member (patient) the space and connectivity to facilitate access to the technology needed for telehealth appointments. Telehealth visits at the library can offer benefits beyond simply providing the high-speed internet technology to connect with healthcare professionals.

Those benefits include: access to a semi-private meeting room space, access to public transportation if immediate follow-up care is recommended, and access to library resources to learn about health care and medical topics. Another key element to supporting telehealth for community patrons at your library is partnering with local health organizations to have appropriate practices in place to avoid unnecessary access to private health information, ensure user health and safety, and make appropriate choices about what software and hardware to adopt. The Pottsboro Library in Texas created a large telehealth initiative for its community and has shared its success story through a LibGuide.

Community Organizing and Advocacy happen when the library is included in community-based efforts for better broadband infrastructure. The library can actively participate in these efforts by “sharing information, offering space, providing project management expertise, making connections between community groups, and more (Barbakoff, 2022, p.17).

A source of likely collaboration is the Digital Equity Act (DEA), a $2.75 billion component of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Frisque, 2021). Over the course of five years, the DEA will provide grants to states to create and implement digital equity plans. Libraries are good partners in this work. As individual states create committees and solicit input to develop their plans, librarians can help legislators understand the value that libraries bring to their communities.

BroadbandUSA, an arm of the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA), has even created documentation to help states understand why they should include libraries in digital equity planning. Designed to help local organizations supporting digital inclusion, BroadbandUSA’s website is helpful in demystifying government policies and funding.

When libraries become an integrated part of DEA planning, they can share knowledge about the communities they serve and potentially receive significant funding to serve them. Libraries need to be a part of community organizing and advocacy in order to bring digital equity to their communities, especially people from poor and marginalized groups. In the 21st century, libraries and librarians are essential partners for a more equitably connected world.

The author also recommends reading two more articles to learn more about digital equity, both from the March 1, 2022, issue of American Libraries magazine:

1. Moving the Needle: 8 tips to advance digital inclusion right now — regardless of your library’s size or situation by Sallyann Price.
2. The 411 on Funding: Making sense of policy and funding options to fill digital equity gaps by Lara Ewen.

Libraries and librarians hold the key to bringing digital equity to all members of their communities. They need to collaborate with state and community organizations to help make that happen in the years ahead to create a more equitable future for all.

REFERENCES

Balboa, P., Edson, S., Strange, J., & Zappie-Ferradino, K. (2021). Toolkit - Urban Libraries Council. Digital Navigators ToolKit. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/Digital-Navigators-Toolkit.pdf

Barbakoff, A. (2022). Digital equity in the public library: White paper. Infobase. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.infobase.com/resources/digital-equity-in-the-public-library-white-paper/

Brooks, K. (2022, January 10). Making telehealth more accessible. The Huddle. University of Washington Medicine. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://huddle.uwmedicine.org/telehealth-library-partnership/.

Fallows, D. (2022, March 22). How libraries are leading the way to digital equity. The Atlantic. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/how-libraries-are-leading-way-digital-equity/621440/

Frisque, M. (2021, December 28). What libraries need to know about the Digital Equity Act: Tips to maximize support and funding for your library’s digital inclusion goals. American Libraries. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/what-libraries-need-to-know-about-the-digital-equity-act/

Internet2. (2021, November 23). Toward gigabit libraries. Internet2. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://internet2.edu/community/community-anchor-program/cap-library-resources/toward-gigabit-libraries/

Public Library Association (PLA). (2022, August 22). PLA surveys and data. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.ala.org/pla/data/plasurveys

Settles, C. (2021). Libraries & telehealth: Tackling the healthcare gap! Presented by Craig Settles for the EveryLibrary Institute. September 2021. Webinar, 30:24. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/telehealth_2021

Tesfaye, T., & Miller, M. (n.d.). Definitions - The Words behind our work: The source for definitions of digital inclusion terms. National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.digitalinclusion.org/definitions/#:~:text=Digital%20equity%20is%20a%20condition,and%20access%20to%20essential%20services.

Urban Libraries Council (ULC). (n.d.). Leadership brief: Digital equity in the age of covid-19. Digital Equity. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/Leadership-Brief_Digital-Equity.pdf

Vogels, E. A. (2021, June 22). Digital divide persists even as Americans with lower incomes make gains in tech adoption. Pew Research Center. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/22/digital-divide-persists-even-as-americans-with-lower-incomes-make-gains-in-tech-adoption/

Published September 2022. Updated May 11, 2023.