The Digital Divide

I remember when I was a kid and we got our first computer.  It was great we were now able to type our school reports and play computer games by inserting the square-like floppy disks into the disk drive.  Obviously by this description this was way before the internet, but even when the internet became available, our home computer was only functional to type…and even that was for a limited time, eventually our home computer “died” and we didn’t have enough money to buy a new modern computer.  To bridge the gap, my sister and I would have to use the school library computers to do research for reports and projects and to type them before their due dates, along with taking computer classes.  Aah, memories.  Fast forward to today and now I’m the Library Media Technician at a middle school.  We have a computer lab and the school library has 8 computers available for students to for mostly the same reasons I did—no computer at home and/or no internet access.  Providing computers in the libraries, public or school, is just one more important role the library plays in letting people have access to information and resources.  However, in Philadelphia this “digital divide” is even more apparent.  According to the video, Digital Divide in Philadelphia, 25% of the residents live in poverty and can’t afford computer technology.  While there are several computer centers available, the city attempted to provide city-wide low-cost wi-fi connection to attempt to close the “digital divide” but this plan was met with difficulties, including cost.  Unfortunately, their attempt failed.  Thank goodness for computer centers…and, of course, libraries once again meeting the needs of the community. 

Want more information?  Here's another video explaining the digitial divide that I came across.