WATCH: Why digital inclusion is our responsibility

“Earlier this year, a librarian told me about a patron who had been working in hospitality all of his life, with low pay and long hours. He didn’t have a high school diploma, and in his words it felt impossible to get out of these types of jobs. For years he had been trying to get his GED while working two or three jobs at a time. He used to bike to the library at the end of his shift—sometimes around 1am—to use the library wifi and submit assignments or take tests. He told the librarians he had just about given up, because it felt impossible.

And he’s not alone. Over a third of very low income Utah households don’t have home internet. Even of people making up to the median income of $75,000, 1 in 10 still doesn’t have any type of connection, and many even lack devices. More than 250,000 Utahns rely on cell phones as their only method of reaching the internet.

The information age offers an unprecedented amount of economic mobility. There are thousands of online GED programs or advanced certifications, fully remote jobs, free financial tools. But the economic mobility the internet offers is only available to people who can access it. That gap between opportunity and access is what we call the digital divide. That’s what digital inclusion is trying to answer.

Digital inclusion has three parts. Sometimes we call it a three legged stool, because it won’t happen without all three legs. Libraries have historically provided every one of these legs. For 30 years, we’ve been providing wired internet connections in the building and now wifi. Public computers are one of the best ways for people to use devices when they don’t have their own. And digital literacy programs are a staple for library services, from classes on filing your taxes online to a welcoming reference desk where people know they can ask for help with e-books. So if we’re already doing digital inclusion work, is there even any room for growth?

Yes. Digital inclusion is the work. Digital equity is the goal. Digital equity means everybody has the tools they need to participate fully in our information age. We still have a long way to go before we move that progress bar all the way to digital equity.

Now, libraries are already evolving to get us closer to this goal. I’m seeing things like device lending or even giving away refurbished devices, library wifi in parks or other public spaces, dedicated tech mentors who help people build confidence in the digital world. And every time these programs work, there’s one thing in common: these libraries are defining digital inclusion as a core library service. In fact, this quote came from one of those librarians.

“If the pandemic has proved anything, it’s that access to digital information is so important to democracy, freedom of information, and education. Digital inclusion programs should be at the forefront of every municipality, library, or educational institution.”

In the Grand County Public Library here in Utah, digital inclusion is a priority. The gentleman I mentioned earlier who was trying to get his GED saw this for himself. The library checked out to him a Chromebook and a hotspot. He carried them everywhere. With those devices he could work on schooling whenever it was convenient: in between jobs, on breaks, sometimes in the middle of the night. He eventually came back to the library to return these items, and he had tears in his eyes. He said that thanks to that library technology, he had finished his program and gotten his GED. And, a little while later, the librarians learned that he got his first job outside the hospitality industry, something that had been his goal for years.

That is digital equity: access to the internet, a device that doesn’t hold you back, and the ability to navigate the digital world effectively, productively, and safely. Librarians are the experts on information access, and that positions us to be leaders in the fight against the digital divide. Because digital inclusion isn’t just our work: it’s our responsibility. So let’s work together to make this vision a reality for all of our communities.”