The Digital Divide

The Pew Internet & American Life Project recently released a report entitled "Digital Divisions." This report discusses the current state of internet usage among different age groups and people of different racial backgrounds. The research was conducted in May-June 2005, and some of the most important findings from the study are:

• 22% of Americans say they never use the internet


• 70% of white Americans say they go online, compared to 57% of black Americans


• English-speaking Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites are equally likely to use the internet


• While 53% of Americans between 60-69 have internet access, only 22% of those age 70 or older use the internet

The report also mentioned a 2002 study conducted by Pew which found that only 38% of Americans with disabilities have access to the internet. I think the findings of these two studies prove why it's so important for libraries to not only have internet access available to their patrons, but also why libraries need to have programs available for training people on how to use the internet. For example, when the Pew researchers asked people who don't use the internet the reasons that they don't use it, many said that they either do not have access, or that getting access is either too frustrating or too expensive. Likewise, some people reported that they didn't use the internet because they never learned how to use a computer or because they felt they were too old to use it.

The study also found that household income directly correlates to not only internet access, but also to broadband access, and that those who had a broadband connection to use were more likely than dial-up users to use the internet for a variety of tasks, such as shopping, banking, and even blogging. I think that libraries need to make more of an effort to promote their computer and internet availability to patrons and try harder to reach out to groups -- such as minorities and the elderly -- who don't have as many internet resources as others.