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Desiree Benavides – The Complexity of the Digital Divide: An Annotated Bibliography 1

The Complexity of the Digital Divide: An Annotated Bibliography

Desiree Benavides

INFO 522: Information Access & Resources

March 16, 2012


Introduction and Scope

The following bibliography covers the complexity related to the digital divide. Articles

examine the disparities on a global, national, and community level, new divide transitions, as

well as polices and solutions to close the digital divide. Several articles evaluated the same

disparities of the divide, which include social and economic. Only scholarly articles from 2001 to

2011 relating to the digital divide are covered in this bibliography. The articles chosen were

published in different countries in order to gain a global perspective on the impact of the digital

divide. An importance was set on finding articles that covered the entire span of the digital

divide in order to obtain a better grasp on how it has progressed over the last decade. Knowledge

about the digital divide is essential to understanding how it can be closed. The digital divide

changes with technology.

Description

Any person who has limited access to information and communication technology (ICT)

is considered part of the digital divide. This is a very broad definition for the digital divide

because the digital divide means different things to different people. For more than a decade,

policies have been enacted and solutions have been promoted, yet the digital divide still lingers.

As long as disparities among groups of people and within countries exist, the digital divide will

persist. One solution to the digital divide that has positively impacted regions is the access to

computers and internet through libraries. The United States is a perfect example. However, being

able to expand this access via public libraries across the globe would be beneficial. Access

equality may never exist, but availability of ICT is a positive start in the right direction.

Summary of Findings

The rise of the digital divide in the 1990s sparked the debate about solutions on a global

and regional level. The same disparities still persist, but new divides have emerged. Yu (2006)

explained theoretical perspectives and political viewpoints regarding the information divide.

Therefore, this proves that the digital divide is still open to interpretation because each researcher

makes his/her own conclusions about the divide. However, the “literature, for the most part,


supports the digital divide as a valid framework through which to understand the differential use

of ICT” (Hawkins, 2005, p. 172).

The major disparities related to the digital divide on a global scale include social,

economical, and geographical concerns. If narrowed, the disparities related to groups of people

comprise of race, gender, and age issues. Bertot (2003) discusses the complexity of the digital

divide. The divide is more than obtaining access to technology because “one size does not fit all

in the Divide and the policy environment should reflect that” (Bertot, 2003, p. 188). It is essential

for each region to be viewed individually. One nation cannot be lumped together under one

policy because it may not meet the needs of the entire nation. Moreover, the need for regions to

have basic IT literacy is essential for information and communication technology (ICT) to be

successful. “Basic IT literacy is positively associated with internet access,” which is why the

internet cannot function without IT support (Ferro, Helbig, & Gil-Garcia, 2011, p. 5). This

support needs to be expanded globally in order to prevent a negative expansion of the digital

divide.

Campbell (2001) analyzes the digital divide on a global level. He argues that the need for

“information is vital for development” (Campbell, 2001, p. 129). However, development in these

countries cannot progress without access to ICT. Surprisingly, countries with similar economic

status fall on different ends of the spectrum (Corrocher & Ordanini, 2002). If the digital divide

presents issues among the wealthier countries, then the digital divide for developing and

undeveloped countries is in desperate need of assistance. Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara (2010)

examine the digital divide among countries, and the need for improvement is necessary for the

betterment of the society. Economic and political turmoil is the result for those will little to no

access to ICT.

The United States is a great example of what works and does not work when it comes to

the digital divide. Promotion of ICT is vital for the usage of it (Choemprayong, 2006). Despite

the closing of the digital divide in the United States, there are still concerns within specific

regions. Rural areas have limited access in comparison to urban areas within the United States

due to funding limitations (Kinney, 2010). Jaeger, Bertot, McClure, & Rodriguez (2007)

confirmed the findings about regional gaps due to funding restraints in specific areas as a pitfall

for the United States in particular. While access may be available, access inequities will continue

http://ur9ep9bn4s.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Closing+Digital+Divides%3A+The+United+States%27+Policies&rft.jtitle=Libri&rft.au=Choemprayong%2C+Songphan&rft.date=2006-12-01&rft.issn=0024-2667&rft.volume=56&rft.issue=4&rft.spage=201&rft.epage=212&rft_id=info:doi/10.1515%2FLIBR.2006.201&rft.externalDBID=n%2Fa&rft.externalDocID=10_1515_LIBR_2006_201


to exist globally, nationally, and regionally. Each geographical area needs to be evaluated on its

own terms. The digital divide is not the same for every area, yet successful solutions

incorporated across the world can be modified to meet the needs of the lacking regions.

Furthermore, over the last decade, the aspects of the digital divide have changed with

technology. The digital divide consists of multiple layers that need to be broken into sections. At

first glance, the digital divide is often foreseen as one big problem that can be lumped together,

but, in reality, “communities are at different levels of development” (Bertot, 2003, p. 189).

Within these communities, the advancement in technology brings new divides to communities,

and “access does not ensure effective use” of ICT (Kinney, 2010, p. 148). Therefore, a new

divide emerges involving the lack of understanding of ICT, which in turn, forces a new solution

to be needed.

According to Ferro, Helbig, & Gil-Garcia (2011), a new IT divide has emerged. The lack

of knowledge about IT causes areas to not have ICT access. Those geographical areas that do

obtain access via public libraries still run a risk of privacy issues regarding public transactions.

As a result, the e-commerce divide surfaces. Rensel, Abbas, & Rao (2006) discuss the e-

commerce divide as something that cannot be contained as easily as the digital divide can. Even

if the digital divide can be closed, the rise of new divides lingers on. If one problem is resolved, a

new one appears. This perspective of the digital divide is essential to closing all divides that may

be created by the original divide of ICT access.

One positive solution is the rise of public libraries offering access to ICT despite the risks

of privacy like Rensel, Abbas, & Rao (2006) argues. Public libraries can be viewed as a starting

point for individuals seeking access to ICT. With the betterment of oneself through education

due to this access, private access can eventually be obtained. Therefore, public libraries enable

people to grow socially, economically, and politically. Bertot (2009) evaluates the necessary

funding for public access technologies (PAT), which is essential for continual growth and

development of the community.

Cullen (2003) analyzes the need to have access to ICT in a variety of settings including

schools and libraries. The extension of ICT access from libraries to schools, churches,

community centers is a great way for the public to have different opportunities to obtain ICT. A

survey that was evaluated in D’Elia, Jorgensen, Woelfel, & Rodger (2002) discussed the benefits


for usage of the internet in libraries. This survey will enable future research about the impact on

internet and ICT access overall in conjunction with libraries. Nevertheless, access to ICT across

the United States has improved dramatically over the last decade. If this same access can be

transitioned across the globe, then all countries can start to move in a positive direction and the

digital divide will shrink.

Simple access to ICT will not fix the other issues concerning specific areas, but it can

allow for better economies to form. Stakeholders have more to lose than the actual users in

specific areas according to Houston & Erdelez (2004). However, one could argue that the need

for ICT access is crucial to the future success of the user. “The interdisciplinary area of

information inequality research, however, is still largely divided along traditional dichotomies”

(Yu, 2011). Overall, the closing of the digital divide has moved forward in a positive way.

Despite the spark of new divides, the knowledge available about the digital divide is abundant,

but new literature is still needed.

The digital divide is continually changing with new technologies being developed, so

new research is essential to the eventual closing of the gap if even possible. The public needs to

be aware of the lack of ICT access and the impact on the user and the geographical area as a

whole. Research on specific areas is still needed to better those areas, and a comparison needs to

be done in relation to success stories like the United States. Lastly, starting with some sort of

public access to ICT is crucial in order to positively impact one area at a time.

Bibliography

Entry 1:

Ayanso, A., Cho, D. I., & Lertwachara, K. (2010). The digital divide: Global and regional ICT

leaders and followers. Information Technology for Development, 16(4), 304-319.

Abstract: “The “digital divide” has sparked serious debates along the lines of economic

disparity among world nations. Many in academics and policy circles believe that the digital gap

could further widen the economic gap between developed versus developing nations. Among the

components that are taken into consideration for measuring and analyzing the digital divide

between countries, the information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the key

component. This paper adds to the existing body of knowledge on the issue of regional and


global digital divide by profiling 192 member countries of the United Nations based on their ICT

indicators. Using clustering and statistical analysis, our results identify “leaders” and “followers”

in ICT infrastructure and utilization at both regional and global settings.”

Annotation: Information and communication technology (ICT) impact countries on a daily basis.

Compared to other articles, these authors examined the digital divide on a global and regional scale

through a cluster analysis that sets the foundation work for future research. Because the data

created profiles for the nations and regions, the implementation of new policies to close the gap of

the digital divide can be commenced with further studies. However, one significant drawback was

the failure to discuss possible policies that could ease the gap in the follower nations.

Search Strategy: After I found the article written by Campbell (2001), I looked

through the articles that cited it. I thought this article would be

useful. Campbell (2001) was found in the Web of Science

database, so I browsed the results in this database. I was able to

access the full text of the article through ScienceDirect.

Database: Web of Science

Method of Searching: Citation search & Browsing search

Search String: Cited below article:

Campbell, D. (2001). Can the digital divide be contained?

International Labour Review, 140(2), 119-141.

Scholarly/Refereed Status: After locating the article, I verified that the article was listed as a

scholarly journal that was peer-reviewed in Ulrich. According to the

journal’s website, the journal articles are peer-reviewed.

Entry 2:

Bertot, J. C. (2009). Public access technologies in public libraries: Effects and implications.

Information Technology and Libraries, 28(2), 81-92.


Abstract: “Public libraries were early adopters of Internet-based technologies and have

provided public access to the Internet and computers since the early 1990s. … This article

explores the implications for public libraries of the provision of PAT and seeks to look further to

review issues and practices associated with PAT provision resources. While much research

focuses on the amount of public access that public libraries provide, little offers a view of the

effect of public access on libraries. This article provides insights into some of the costs, issues,

and challenges associated with public access and concludes with recommendations that require

continued exploration.”

Annotation: Public libraries face challenges by utilizing public access technology (PAT) because

patrons expect more then what is currently being offered. PAT allows the public to have access to

information and communication technology that would otherwise be limited. While the author

failed to mention the words digital divide, it is apparent that the access of technology in public

libraries helps alleviate the gap in the geographical area that was examined. One shortcoming was

the assessment of PAT in public libraries in five specific regions; it was not on a national scale.

Bertot is a well-regarded author in the field of information studies.

Search Strategy: I read the article written by Kinney (2010), and I looked through

the references listed. I thought this article would be helpful. I

searched for this article in the Web of Science database in the title

search field. I was able to access the full text of the article through

Academic OneFile.


Method of Searching: Footnote chasing

Search String: Referenced in:

Kinney, B. (2010). The internet, public libraries, and the digital

divide. Public Library Quarterly, 29(2), 104-161.





Entry 3:

Bertot, J. C. (2003). The multiple dimensions of the digital divide: More than the technology

‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Government Information Quarterly, 20(2), 185-191.

Abstract: “When we hear about the Digital Divide, it is most often in the context of information

technology “haves” and “have nots.” This symposium issue of Government Information

Quarterly, however, clearly indicates that such a definition of the Digital Divide is too narrow at

best and quite problematic at worst. …”

Annotation: The complexity of the digital divide is the reason why it still persists. Policy

makers want to lump the digital divide into one group, but it cannot be contained to one group

because several factors need to be accounted for. The policies need to vary depending on the

circumstances in specific communities. Knowing the problems within a specific community will

allow policy makers to resolve the issues at hand. Access and understanding of the technology

are both needed to close the gap. Bertot is cited in several articles, and he is known for his

expertise in the field of information studies.

Search Strategy: I read the article written by Yu (2006), and I looked through the

references listed. I thought this article would have valuable

information. I searched for this article in the Web of Science

database in the title search field. I was able to access the full text of

the article through ScienceDirect.




Yu, L. (2006). Understanding information inequality: Making

sense of the literature of the information and digital divides.

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 38(4), 229-252.





Entry 4:

Campbell, D. (2001). Can the digital divide be contained? International Labour Review, 140(2),

119-141.

Abstract: “Use of new information and communication technologies (ICT) is advancing

rapidly, but diffusion patterns are less clear, and change fast. There is grave concern that such

rapid, uneven change is further widening the "digital divide" between industrialized and

developing countries, and may exacerbate the existing socio-economic divide between them.

This article summarizes the extent of the digital divide, analyzes the economic effects of ICT

use, and describes fundamental policies underlying successful entry into the information

economy of certain developing countries. Finally, some international initiatives promoting "ICTs

for development" are considered.”

Annotation: Campbell is cited in several articles due to his knowledge on the international digital

divide. His assessment of the digital divide between countries correlates with the economic status

for each country. The more developed a country is the better the economy of the country. The lack

of information and communication technology in a country causes it to sink lower into despair, so

the need to assist the undeveloped countries is crucial. The information on policies that individual

countries and the United Nations adapted was beneficial because it showed the actions that had

once be taken to close the digital divide. This article was written over 10 years ago, but the

material enables the reader to understand the global rise of the digital divide.


references listed. I thought this article would have essential

information. I searched for this article in the Web of Science

database in the title search field. I was able to access the full text of

the article through Business Source Premier.










journal’s website, the journal articles are reviewed for scholar and

refereed.

Entry 5:

Choemprayong, S. (2006). Closing digital divides: The United States' policies. Libri, 56(4), 201-

212.

Abstract: “Since the emergence of information technology, the gap between information 'haves'

and 'have-nots' has been broadening: the information rich become richer, while the information

poor are poorer. This situation contributes to various issues related to individuals and society.

Interestingly enough, although the United States is one of the leading countries in the

information and communication technology (ICT) field, according to many studies, the digital

divide still exists in many layers and from different perspectives. This paper critically discusses

how the US anticipates these issues as well as how national information policy is emerging to

close the digital divide.”

Annotation: The United States’ policies allowed the public to obtain information and

communication technology (ICT) through schools and libraries. Several groups benefit from the

public having ICT access, so it is in the government’s best interest to give public access to ICT in

some form. Choemprayong mentioned and other articles confirmed that the Bush administration

(43rd) thought the digital divide was closed, so funding for programs were terminated. As

technology progresses, the digital divide widens, so it needs to be scrutinized. Furthermore, the

http://ur9ep9bn4s.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Closing+Digital+Divides%3A+The+United+States%27+Policies&rft.jtitle=Libri&rft.au=Choemprayong%2C+Songphan&rft.date=2006-12-01&rft.issn=0024-2667&rft.volume=56&rft.issue=4&rft.spage=201&rft.epage=212&rft_id=info:doi/10.1515%2FLIBR.2006.201&rft.externalDBID=n%2Fa&rft.externalDocID=10_1515_LIBR_2006_201


aspects of the digital divide create separate issues that need to be constantly monitored.

Choemprayong’s analysis of the United States’ polices was informative and essential for future

research.

Search Strategy: I read the article written by Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara (2010),

and I looked through the references listed. Initially, I did a title

search in the Social Science Citation Index database for “Closing

the Digital Divide: The Roles of Community-Based Non-Profit

Organization.” I received zero results, so I tried “Closing the

Digital Divide” in the title search field. I browsed the results, and I

thought this article would have crucial information. I was able to

access the full text of the article through Freely Accessible Arts &

Humanities Journals Open Access.

Database: Social Science Citation Index

Method of Searching: Footnote chasing & Browsing Search


Ayanso, A., Cho, D. I., & Lertwachara, K. (2010). The digital

divide: Global and regional ICT leaders and followers.

Information Technology for Development, 16(4), 304-319.



journal’s website, the journal articles are considered academic

pieces of work.

Entry 6:

Corrocher, N., & Ordanini, A. (2002). Measuring the digital divide: A framework for the

analysis of cross-country differences. Journal of Information Technology, 17(1), 9-19.


Abstract: “This article proposes a new model for measuring the digital divide within a set of

countries or geographical areas. Starting from a series of elementary indicators the methodology

groups these indicators into six factors of digitalization and, subsequently, aggregates the factors

in a synthetic index called the synthetic index of digitalization. The dispersion in the distribution

of the synthetic indexes of digitalization constitutes the measure of the digital divide. … The

measurement framework for the digital divide presented here reveals new policy implications for

public institutions and highlights opportunities and risks for managers working in the ‘digital

economy’ environment.”

Annotation: Corrocher and Ordanini discuss the layers of the digital divide like other articles

except a different approach is taken. The authors evaluate a model that covers several geographical

areas. However, the countries examined were all of similar economic status, which is a significant

drawback. On a positive note, the model can be modified based on the countries being examined,

and the complexity of the digital divide needs a model that can be adjusted to specific countries.

Several articles have cited this article because of the analysis of the unique framework presented.

The outcomes of this model require further research to confirm the findings due to the limited

countries investigated.


references listed. I thought this article would have important

information. I searched for this article in the Library & Information

Science Abstracts database. I was able to access the full text of the

article through Business Source Premier.

Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts









journal’s website, the journal articles are reviewed and academic

works.

Entry 7:

Cullen, R. (2003). The digital divide: A global and national call to action. The Electronic

Library, 21(3), 247-257.

Abstract: “The phrase “digital divide” has been applied to the gap that exists in most countries

between those with ready access to the tools of information and communication technologies

(ICTs), and those without such access or skills. This may be because of socio-economic or

geographical factors, educational, attitudinal and generational factors, or because of physical

disabilities. … The paper examines strategies used in the USA and the UK at national and

regional levels to address similar issues, including the use of libraries to reduce the digital divide,

and compares these with New Zealand initiatives, to identify positive means of increasing

participation in the knowledge economy.”

Annotation: Despite the need for information and technology communication (ICT) in

developing countries, ICT will not fix the other issues such as access to food and good hygiene for

those countries. Several solutions examined are valuable, but Cullen acknowledges that the

solutions are not easy fixes for these undeveloped countries. Solutions listed for developed

countries are crucial for other areas to process since they can be modeled and aid in closing the

digital divide. Lastly, libraries help people who are socially and economically disadvantaged have

access to ICT along with training, which is a move in the right direction.

Search Strategy: I selected the databases in INFOSCI found on Dialog to help

narrow down my search on the digital divide. This was an initial

search using the databases, so I chose a keyword approach. I was

able to access the full text of the article through ProQuest Research

Library.


Database: Library Literature & Information Science Full-Text [Dialog]

Method of Searching: Keyword Searching

Search String: B infosci

s digital()divide/de,ti OR lack(2n)access/de,ti OR

knowledge()divide/de,ti

s Public()librar?/de,ti

set detail on

s s1 and s2

rd

t s4/9/36

Scholarly/Refereed Status: After locating the article through the above steps, I verified that the

article was listed as a scholarly journal that was peer-reviewed in

Ulrich. According to the journal’s website, the journal articles are

scholarly in nature.

Entry 8:

D’Elia, G., Jörgensen, C., Woelfel, J., & Rodger, E. J. (2002). The impact of the internet on

public library use: An analysis of the current consumer market for library and internet

services. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology,

53(10), 802-820.

Abstract: “The potential impact of the Internet on the public’s demand for the services and

resources of public libraries is an issue of critical importance. The research reported in this

article provides baseline data concerning the evolving relationship between the public’s use of

the library and its use of the Internet. The authors developed a consumer model of the American

adult market for information services and resources, segmented by use (or


nonuse) of the public library and by access (or lack of access) to, and use (or nonuse) of, the

Internet. … Longitudinal research is necessary to fully reveal trends in these usage choices,

which have implications for all types of libraries in planning and policy development.”

Annotation: Public libraries are essential for the public to have access to the internet because

these individuals might not otherwise be able to access this technology for a variety of reasons.

While the article did not focus on the digital divide, it covered the limitations of access to the

internet by the public based on education, race, and income. The importance of this article lies in

the results of the survey since it proves that public libraries are vital in every community.

Information and communication technology (ICT) in public libraries is essential for communities

to help close the digital divide.

Search Strategy: I selected the SciSearch – a Cited Reference Science Database-

1990 in Dialog because my topic is related to the articles in this

database. This was an initial search using this database, so I chose

a keyword approach. I was able to access the full text of the article

through ProQuest Research Library.

Database: SciSearch - a Cited Reference Science Database-1990 [Dialog]


Search String: B 34

s digital()divide OR lack(2n)access OR knowledge()divide

s Public()librar?

s s1 and s2

t s3/9/6




peer-reviewed.


Entry 9:

Ferro, E., Helbig, N.C., & Gil-Garcia, J. R. (2011). The role of IT literacy in defining digital

divide policy needs. Government Information Quarterly, 28(1), 3-10.

Abstract: “This article expands our current understanding of the digital divide by examining

differences in individuals' IT skills acquisition. … Digital divide views tend to focus on groups

of users and user characteristics and focus less on different processes of use. … While IT literacy

is an important factor in digital divide research, and studies examine user characteristics with

respect to IT literacy, few studies make the process of basic IT literacy acquisition their main

focal point (Selwyn, 2005). This perspective furthers our thinking by expanding the notion of

user characteristics beyond demographic and socioeconomic differences to differences in the

processes leading to internet use. … Our analysis shows the key role of self-learning and the

presence of three distinct approaches in IT skills acquisition leading to different needs in terms

of policy. We argue that these preliminary results are a useful starting point for the design of

more effective and sophisticated digital inclusion policies.”

Annotation: IT literacy is necessary for internet access, so educated people make the process

easier. Other articles noted the need for basic IT literacy because it is essential for technology to

progress in any given community. The authors discuss IT in relation to the digital divide since the

research is limited. If polices ensured IT literacy, then the community would be closer to having

information and communication technology (ICT). The use of different models reveals the

complexity of the digital divide and why it still exists today.

Search Strategy: I selected ERIC because it has educational articles that could be

related to the digital divide. I decided to use a control vocabulary

search found in the thesaurus. I thought this article would be

valuable. I was able to access the full text of the article through

ScienceDirect.

Database: ERIC

Method of Searching: Controlled Vocabulary

Search String: I searched the thesaurus in Eric for digital divide, and I clicked


on digital divide that was listed in the results and on start an ERIC

search. In the search field, "Access to Computers" AND

"Disadvantaged" was inputted in the descriptors (from Thesaurus)

field. I narrowed my search to articles published in 2008-2012,

peer-reviewed, and journal articles.

Scholarly/Refereed Status: ERIC listed this article as peer-reviewed, and I verified that the



peer-reviewed.

Entry 10:

Hawkins, S. (2005). Beyond the digital divide: Issues of access and economics. Canadian

Journal of Information and Library Science, 29(2), 171-189.

Abstract: “Although information-communication technology is increasingly being woven into

the fabric of human social and economic life, it is only a small minority of the world's population

who are using it. The expression "the digital divide" has developed to represent this disparity in

our sophisticated information society. This paper is a review of recent literature that explores

the development of a digital divide. In reviewing the literature, two questions arise: How do

administrators and academics define the digital divide."" and How useful is the expression in

framing a universal socio-economic condition?”

Annotation: Hawkins reviews the literature of the digital divide based on the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reports. The author examines almost

all angels related to the digital divide in relation to NTIA. The same social and economic issues are

raised, but the summarization of the literature is essential for research about the digital divide.

Policy makers and academics think information and communication technology (ICT) will fix the

issues related to the digital divide, but Hawkins knows the complications of the digital divide is not

as easily rectified.


Search Strategy: After I found the article written by Campbell (2001), I looked

through the articles that cited it. I thought this article would be

useful. Campbell (2001) was found in the Web of Science

database, so I browsed the results in this database. I was able to

access the full text of the article through Education Research

Complete.


Method of Searching: Citation search & Browsing search

Search String: Cited below article:

Campbell, D. (2001). Can the digital divide be contained?

International Labour Review, 140(2), 119-141.



journal’s website, the journal articles are scholarly works.

Entry 11:

Houston, R. D. & Erdelez, S. (2004). The digital divide: Who really benefits from the proposed

solutions for closing the gap. Journal of Information Ethics, 13(1), 19-33.

Abstract: “Scholarship since at least Leete (1919) has studied the socioeconomic gap as a

function of access to information. In the mid-1970s, Childers (1975) deemed economic poverty

the leading indicator of information poverty. Since the late 1990s, the "digital divide," the gap

between "users" who have access to the Internet and "potential users" who do not, has gained

ever-increasing prominence. This paper reviews the current literature on the digital divide,

analyzes the motives of the authors proposing solutions for closing the divide, and uses the

analysis as a perspective from which to examine the benefits of proposed solutions.”

Annotation: The authors examined 269 articles that covered the digital divide, but they failed to

propose a solution to the digital divide. Instead, the article is merely informative about the


literature and breaks it down based on article coverage. Stakeholders have more to lose than the

actual users, and the effectiveness of the stakeholders is irrelevant according to the authors. The

gap is either ignored by the stakeholders or blamed on others, which will not lead to the closure of

the digital divide gap.

Search Strategy: I read the article written by Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara (2010),

and I looked through the references listed. Initially, I did a title

search in the Social Science Citation Index database for “Closing

the Digital Divide: The Roles of Community-Based Non-Profit

Organization.” I received zero results, so I tried “Closing the

Digital Divide” in the title search field. I browsed the results, and I

thought this article would have critical information. I was able to

access the full text of the article through Library Literature &

Information Science Full-Text.

Database: Social Science Citation Index

Method of Searching: Footnote chasing & Browsing Search


Ayanso, A., Cho, D. I., & Lertwachara, K. (2010). The digital

divide: Global and regional ICT leaders and followers.

Information Technology for Development, 16(4), 304-319.



journal’s website, the journal articles are scholarly works.

Entry 12:

Jaeger, P. T., Bertot, J.C., McClure, C. R., & Rodriguez, M. (2007). Public libraries and internet

access across the United States: A comparison by state 2004-2006. Information

Technology and Libraries, 26(2), 4-14.


Abstract: “Drawing upon findings from a national survey of U.S. public libraries, this paper

examines trends in Internet and public computing access in public libraries across states from

2004 to 2006. Based on library-supplied information about levels and types of Internet and

public computing access, the authors offer insights into the network-based content and services

that public libraries provide. Examining data from 2004 to 2006 reveals trends and

accomplishments in certain states and geographic regions. This paper details and discusses the

data, identifies and analyzes issues related to Internet access, and suggests areas for future

research.”

Annotation: Almost 100 percent of public libraries provide internet access throughout the United

States, but there is still no uniformity across public libraries. Access can vary from state to state as

well as communities within a state. The digital divide in the United States has shrunk since the rise

of the internet in public libraries. The understanding of this technology is vital for these users to

truly benefit from information and communication technology (ICT) in order to close the gap. The

authors are well-known in the field of Information Studies, and this article has been cited several

times.

Search Strategy: I read the article written by Kinney (2010), and I looked through

the references listed. I thought this article would have

indispensable information. I searched for this article in the Web of

Science database in the title search field. I was able to access the

full text of the article through ProQuest.




Kinney, B. (2010). The internet, public libraries, and the digital

divide. Public Library Quarterly, 29(2), 104-161.





Entry 13:

Kinney, B. (2010). The internet, public libraries, and the digital divide. Public Library Quarterly,

29(2), 104-161.

Abstract: “Virtually every public library in the United States provides public access Internet

computers as a role central to its mission. This article addresses the issue of why the Internet

matters for public libraries, both in terms of impacts on the general public, particularly the

digitally disadvantaged (part one of the article) and impacts on libraries themselves (part two of

the article). … The analysis finds no disparity in the number of public computers available in

areas with high and low incomes but finds a significant—and widening—disparity in the number

of computers available in areas with a higher versus lower percentage of non-white and non-

English-speaking households. … This analysis finds that having Internet terminals (versus

having no Internet terminals) has a significant positive effect on a library’s visits and reference

transactions, but not on a library’s circulation. An increase in the number of Internet terminals

has no significant effect, positive or negative, on visits, reference transactions, or circulation.”

Annotation: Internet access in public libraries allows the socioeconomic disadvantaged access to

information and communication technology (ICT). Public libraries have helped close the digital

divide, but new divides emerge with new technologies. Kinney explains that the digital divide

changes with time, so the divide that occurred years ago is different from the divide today. This

rationalization is an advantage mentioned in this article. Other articles examined the policies or the

digital divide, but they did not view the divide as a variable that changes with technologies.

Disparities still exist among regions and states, and these issues will continue to persist if funding

is not equal.

Search Strategy: I selected the databases in INFOSCI in Dialog to help narrow

down my search on the digital divide. This was an initial search


using the databases, so I chose a keyword approach. I was able to

access the full text of the article through Informaworld Journals.

Database: Library Literature & Information Science Full-Text [Dialog]


Search String: B infosci

s digital()divide/de,ti OR lack(2n)access/de,ti OR

knowledge()divide/de,ti

s Public()librar?/de,ti

set detail on

s s1 and s2

rd

t s4/9/37




peer-reviewed.

Entry 14:

Rensel, A. D., Abbas, J. M., & Rao, H. R. (2006). Private transactions in public places: An

exploration of the impact of the computer environment on public transactional web site

use. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 7(1), 19-51.

Abstract: “Organizations and governments continue to advance toward using electronic means

to interact with their customers. However, the use of this medium presents an access-to service

issue for people across the digital divide who do not have private Internet access

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview.lateralsearchlink:lateralsearch/sng/author/Rensel,+Ann+D/$N?t:ac=198858940&t:cp=maintain/resultcitationblocks

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview.lateralsearchlink:lateralsearch/sng/author/Abbas,+June+M/$N?t:ac=198858940&t:cp=maintain/resultcitationblocks

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview.lateralsearchlinkbypubid:lateralsearch/sng/pubtitle/Journal+of+the+Association+for+Information+Systems/$N/26427?t:ac=198858940&t:cp=maintain/resultcitationblocks


from their homes. … We expand the Facilitating Conditions construct of Triandis’ (1980)

modified theory of reasoned action to develop a model of transactional Web site use in public

environments that incorporates the physical and virtual computer environments associated with

publicly accessible computers, moderated by the individual’s need for privacy. The model was

tested in public libraries, and the results indicate that the virtual and physical facilitating

conditions of a public computer are determinants of e-commerce use in a public environment,

and the user’s need for privacy moderates these relationships.”

Annotation: The digital divide extends to an e-commerce divide because public transactions can

hinder an individual’s privacy. Moreover, the authors argue that the digital divide can be

contained, but the e-commerce divide cannot. The socioeconomically disadvantaged are the people

who would continue to be affected. A divide still exists, but the transition from one inequality

leads to another. This article sets a new issue created by the digital divide that will need to be

addressed in future research.





through ProQuest.



Search String: B 34


s Public()librar?

s s1 and s2

t s3/9/3





reviewed and of superior quality.

Entry 15:

Yu, L. (2011). The divided views of the information and digital divides: A call for integrative

theories of information inequality. Journal of Information Science, 37(6), 660-679.

Abstract: “This article defines information inequality as multifaceted disparity between

individuals, communities or nations in mobilizing society’s information resources for the benefit

of their lives and development. It then examines related research from a wide range of disciplines

that focuses either on information inequality in general or on its specific forms, e.g. information

poverty, information divide, knowledge gap and digital divide. It shows that it is possible to

identify a number of clusters of information inequality research according to their theoretical

perspectives, and that these perspectives have inherited to a great extent the traditional divisions

of social sciences between structure vs agency, society vs individuals and objectivism vs

subjectivism. Following earlier calls for greater dialogue between divisions of related research,

this article goes further to call for integrative theorizing of information inequality in the way

exemplified by Bourdieu’s research on social inequality.”

Annotation: Yu discussed theories related to the digital divide in order to present a new approach

to viewing the digital divide. As mentioned in other articles, the same disparities are examined.

This recent publication is an informative piece that covers the beginning of the digital divide to

today. This is essential because it allows the reader to reflect on the positives and negative aspects

of the digital divide since the beginning. Nonetheless, this article proves that the digital divide still

exists and different perspectives of the digital divide still persist.





through SAGE.




Search String: B 34


s Public()librar?

s s1 and s2

t s3/9/1




peer-reviewed.

Entry 16:

Yu, L. (2006). Understanding information inequality: Making sense of the literature of the

information and digital divides. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 38(4),

229-252.

Abstract: “This paper reviews related research since the early 1990s on the information

and digital divides. It shows that, despite their shared concerns with illustrating social inequality

through the lens of information resource distribution, the two areas in effect represent two

overlapping research communities. The research focus and discourse of the former were

primarily shaped by three different theoretical perspectives and were inspired by a fairly strong

sense of ethical principles; those of the latter, on the other hand, were shaped primarily by four

different political standpoints and were imbued with a fairly strong concern for political and

economical interests. The co-existence of multifarious perspectives and standpoints has produced

divergent, and sometimes contradictory, research findings and policy recommendations, which

inevitably perplex researchers and policy makers. The paper concludes with some suggestions

for future research and policy making.”

Annotation: Yu has published similar articles on the digital divide and has been cited in other

articles. Information inequality exists and defining the digital divide is complex in nature. The


author examines the literature regarding the digital divide by comparing the perspectives about the

divide. Different interpretations about the divide linger, but the same theoretical views remain

intact. The article is informative, yet objectively critical of the information divide.

Search Strategy: I selected this Library & Information Science Abstracts database

because I knew it would cover articles related to my topic. I

decided to perform an author search for Yu, Liangzhi since I had

another useful article written by this author. I was able to access

the full text of the article through SAGE.

Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts

Method of Searching: Author search

Search String: I performed a basic search for au(yu, Liangzhi) and limited my

results to peer-reviewed. I browsed the results, and I chose this

article because it was very informative about my topic. It was the

fourth result listed on the first result page.


scholarly journal that was peer-reviewed in Ulrich. According to

the journal’s website, the journal articles are peer-reviewed.

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