When first beginning to look into what exactly the "digital divide" is, I had no idea that it was a problem that we've been aware of and wrestling with for so long. I found a video published in 2000. Doesn't seem like that long ago, but it's actually been 16 years. Most often, one would think of the digital divide in socio-economic terms. However, I would encourage you to also look at this from the standpoint of those with disabilities. Are they not also limited in their access to technology and information? It seems that every Joe and his horse is claiming to be "bridging" that divide themselves, but not truly for everyone, it seems. As Stevie Wonder recently put at the 2016 Grammy Awards, "We need to make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability." We are still a long way from doing that.
Consider this: Aren't those with disabilities the ones who would be most likely to need fast access to information about health? While briefly mentioning the digital divide in terms of the disabled, at least ALA President Nancy Kranich DID mention it in her 2001 address in American Libraries. Again, that was so long ago though. You would think that as buildings were starting to become more accessible for those with disabilities (including libraries) that the information housed inside would become more accessible as well. So far, though, I'm not seeing it as much as I would hope. The San Diego Library is setting a wonderful example (as mentioned in a previous post) of where to start. As someone who loves books, it makes me sad that people who might want that escapist function of literature more than anyone would have the least access to it. Let's do our part in libraries to provide that access that Mr. Wonder called for.
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