The Internet and computer technology have radically changed the way people live around the world. Public libraries have been at the forefront of championing digital inclusion through partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, other international and national organizations, government, and their own communities. As a result, virtually every library in the United States, as well as many libraries in other countries, provides access (often free) to computers and the Internet. Similar to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and sometimes called public access computing (PAC), this access essentially encompasses access to digital resources, databases, networked and virtual services, training, technical assistance, and technology-trained staff. Little research has been conducted, especially from a social policy perspective, on the broad impacts of these services on individuals, families, communities and nations. Discussion is also needed regarding how to study public access to computers and the Internet in libraries, highlighting the challenges of using mixed methods and team research.
This technical panel comprises researchers from The Information & Society Center of the University of Washington Information School and Oslo University College, who are conducting several synergistic investigations of the impacts of access to computers and the Internet at libraries around the world. Upon introducing their respective studies (abstracts below), the panelists will engage the audience in an open discussion of the following questions. Note: The audience will “sign-in” at the ASIST AM09 session and the ensuing discussion will be posted on the UW iSchool ISC website to document/promote future dialog with the global ICT-PAC community.
Session Discussion Questions
- What does “public access computing in libraries” mean in different geo contexts?
- What other terms are used for it?
- What impact does PAC have on individuals, families and society, over the short and long term?
- What difference does it make when libraries (as opposed to other venues) provide PAC?
- What are the challenges to studying PAC?
- What are the policy implications of PAC?
This project focuses exclusively on the impact of free access to computers and the Internet at public libraries in the U.S. Working with libraries, users, and communities, and an advisory committee of library leaders, researchers, and representatives from public policy organizations, we are (1) developing robust and broadly applicable indicators for the impact of free access to computers, the Internet and related services in public libraries, (2) validating their robustness, and (3) documenting the positive and/or negative results from the presence or absence of public access computing resources and services in public libraries. The ultimate aim is for these indicators to guide decision-making and generate public support for free access to computing and the Internet in public libraries. The team is focusing specifically on outcomes in the domains of (1) civic engagement, (2) eCommerce, (3) education, (4) eGovernment, (5) health, (6) employment, and (7) social inclusion, with regard to how they affect individuals, families, and communities in the short, mid, and long-term. To identify key areas of public access computing impact, we employed a mixed method approach involving both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The study involves two stages. The first, jointly funded by the IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, comprised two phases of data collection: (1) a national telephone survey (n=1130) that included persons ages 14 and up, and drew 50% from households living at 200% below the poverty line; and (2) case studies of 5 public libraries involving 315 users, library staff and trustees, staff at community agencies, politicians, non-library PAC providers, and people-on-the-street. Survey data are being used to produce statistically generalizable findings, principally in the form of tabular analyses for the overall sample as well as for specific substantively important domains such as age groups, race/ethnicity groups, sex, household income groups and geographic areas. The site visit interview and focus group data are being used to understand analytic findings and stimulate policy insights. Building on these results, a second stage study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation involved a national web survey with 60,000 users at 300 libraries. The intent is to extend the Stage 1 results by providing a linkage to library services to provide more insight into how local conditions affect the results obtained in the first stage. The results will also enable libraries to gain deeper insight into how their populations compare with others across the nation, and put data and tools in their hands to use for advocacy purposes.
What are the information needs of underserved communities in 25 countries around the world, and what is the role that public access venues such as public libraries, cybercafés, and telecentres play in fulfilling these information needs? In this study, supported by a 2M grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are focusing on information needs, barriers, opportunities & success factors for public access ICTs. Research was conducted in collaboration with expert local researchers in 25 countries (Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazahstan, Kyrgystan, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Peru, Phillipines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda). The study is based on a common methodological approach and analytical framework, to ensure comparability of results, but with flexibility to adapt to local context and circumstances, to increase local relevance. Analysis to-date shows the importance of physical access to ICT venues and the technology, the training of staff and users in any venue, available services and technology, socio-cultural factors and the political and popular environment that supports public access venues. Some of the most important information needs of people identified to-date are: local content, content in local languages, training for users, trained knowledge workers, mobile venues, infomediaries who help navigate information for the whole community, and social appropriation of ICT - i.e. adapting ICT to local needs.
This five-year, $7 million project is sponsored by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the last decade, governments, international development agencies, foundations, and corporations have made significant investments to increase public access to ICT, particularly in developing countries. As these investments continue to grow, questions are being raised about their social and economic impact, particularly:
• What are the observable social and economic impacts of public access to ICT?
• What is the magnitude of these impacts and how can we measure them?
• What is the relationship between costs and benefits of providing public access to ICT?
The project is answering these questions using longitudinal and comparative research approaches. It is examining the impact of a range of shared, public access to ICT models, such as the provision of ICT in libraries and telecentres, as well as other models and innovations that will emerge over the next five years. The research is examining both positive and negative impacts on populations’ well-being in the areas of employment and income, education, civic engagement, democracy and governmental transparency, culture and language preservation, and health, among others. Researchers are from existing and new research networks, and teams are formulated at both the global/regional and country-specific level where the field research is being carried out (pilot countries are Bangladesh, Chile, and Lithuania). This is generating evidence to support policy and investment decisions and is providing insights into how to develop better initiatives. It is also building research capacity in developing and emerging economies and advancing methodological approaches for assessing impact.
We gratefully acknowledge the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS), and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for their generous support of these research initiatives.