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Libraries and the digital divide

Before doing the research on this topic I had no idea what the "digital divide" was. Upon doing my research I can understand the important role Libraries have on that. With technology based learned jumping higher each year it is more important now more than ever to be sure everyone has access to the internet, especially for young children. 

According to a July 2014 article posted to the online New York Times -An astonishing one-third of Americans don't subscribe to internet at home. Why? Because of the cost. Many of these people are on fixed incomes and struggle to provide. Libraries don't have to provide these services, but they see the need and they are struggling to keep up.

With each passing year the curriculum for schools is going more and more digital. At my son's school for instance, the 3rd-5th graders are using Google docs, power point, and chrome books. These things are all done on digital devices that some families can not provide at home. It is disheartening to think that kids will struggle in school because their family couldn't provide these. This reason, to me, is why it is SO important that we try harder and harder each and every year to bridge that "divide"

Here is a great Info-graphic I found online describing how likely people were to use different public library services.

These are all online bases library resources and its obvious people want and will use them at their library showing us that there is a need for libraries and technology!

In the video provided below you see Mr. Microsoft himself, Bill Gates talking about the "digital divide" and how he is hoping to help close it. Keep in mind, this video is from 2003 but the demand for access to these technologies is growing more with each passing year. 

http://highered.nbclearn.com.prozy.palomar.edu/portal/site/HigherEd/browse?cuecard=2066

Reference-

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/27/do-we-still-need-libraries/libraries-struggle-to-close-the-digital-divide

Video:

http://highered.nbclearn.com.prozy.palomar.edu/portal/site/HigherEd/browse?cuecard=2066

Info-graphic: 

http://floatlearning.com/2013/11/bookless-library-bibliotech-aims-to-help-bridge-digital-divide/