Public Libraries & Digital Inclusion: Connecting Communities

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Learning how to navigate the digital realm and how to productively use digital technologies can significantly impact people’s lives. Those who lack these abilities are more likely to encounter difficulties when trying to effectively participate in everyday life, work and society. During COVID19 and lockdown, activities such as emergency remote education, working from home, and shopping for essential goods have relied heavily on online connections. Those lacking ability to access, or the motivation, capability and trust in the digital, have been significantly impacted.

A recent report by the Citizens Advice Bureau reveals that many New Zealanders have limited or no access to digital technologies, many will not or cannot use digital technologies – they are experiencing ‘digital exclusion’. What is more, the report found that digital exclusion is not limited to the elderly, and includes people across all age groups. The key question for us as a society is then – how can we support those who are experiencing digital exclusion in developing the skills and abilities they need to navigate modern life?

UNESCO (2017) points out that the development of equitable and high-quality digital skills needs to be grounded on holistic approaches, which involve well-crafted policy to guide implementation, allocate funds, and build partnerships. In Aotearoa New Zealand interesting initiatives focusing on ‘digital inclusion’ are currently underway. A recent project developed by the Equity Through Education Centre focused on understanding the role that Aotearoa New Zealand libraries are playing within this scenario. Our research was funded and informed by the InternetNZ digital inclusion framework and developed with the support of LIANZA. We discussed the rationale for this project and presented preliminary findings in two previous blog posts.

The final report – Public Libraries as Spaces for Digital Inclusion: Connecting Communities Through Technology report – summarises the findings from the three surveys with library managers, library staff and library visitors. Some of the core findings indicate that staff at public libraries see themselves as effectively supporting visitors’ digital needs. Staff are interested and engaged in developing their own digital skills to support the needs of their communities, recognising the importance of digital technologies.

The report also suggests key recommendations to address issues associated with technology access, digital skills and competencies, and to encourage digital agency. Some of the core recommendations include prioritising the development of a digital strategy for those public libraries where a strategy does not currently exist and link such strategy to their council digital strategy. It is also important to promote further development of partnerships with external partners (e.g. APNK Network, Skinny Jump, Stepping Up Programme) that support digital inclusion. In addition, investment in professional learning and development may help to address some of the barriers that hinder the digital needs of library visitors, such as lack of staff knowledge, time and capacity, funding, and physical resources (e.g. space, equipment).

The complete report can be accessed here.

 UNESCO. (2017). Digital skills for life and work. Paris: UNESCO Publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv:78025. 


Bio: The Equity Through Education Centre supports research that investigates the powerful role that technology may play in bringing about equitable societies. Several members of the centre have been involved in this project, including Philippa Butler, Lucila Carvalho, Maggie Hartnett, Alison Kearney, and Mandia Mentis