부산대학교 도서관

The digital divide refers to the gap that exists between individuals and groups who have access to modern information and communication technologies - particularly the Internet - and those who do not. The "have-nots" disproportionately belong to low-income households, are members of minority groups, are older, and reside in rural as opposed to urban areas. As we might expect, in an increasingly digital world, disparities in access to vital technologies contribute significantly to poverty and inequality. This essay analyzes the extent and the implications of the digital divide in the United States, and it recounts public and private efforts to address the problem from the 1990s to the present. Significantly, the current administration has placed a major emphasis on upgrading the nation's infrastructure, a policy that includes making high-speed Internet access nearly universal. The essay then shifts its focus to the role that libraries can and must play in combating the digital divide. It concludes with some observations concerning the current dilemma of librarians who must meet rising expectations and expanding social responsibilities with diminishing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]