Bridging the Digital DivideSharing from tetakere.org.nz - Published November 15th, 2024 Last weekend, while I was getting errands done and enjoying the beautiful weather, I stumbled upon a sign advertising a large ticket item. Interestingly, this sign didn’t really tell me much at all about the grand thing that had piqued my interest. While it did have contact details, nice font, layout, and pretty colours, it lacked the vital details I really wanted to know, information that would help me understand if this item was for me, how much, how big, what features it had etc. Standing in front of it, I was none the wiser. What the sign did have was a QR code, and I knew enough to deduce that the expectation was I would utilise this QR Code to get the information I sought, and by using my smartphone and my digital knowledge, I was able to investigate further. This rather innocuous encounter got me thinking, because I knew while I had the means and the skills to access the information from that sign by scanning the QR code, not everyone in our community would have, and they would have missed out on gaining that information. This sign was an example of unintentional digital exclusion, a common occurrence but one that can be hard to spot, or understand, if it doesn’t affect you. Digital exclusion refers to the barriers that prevent people and communities from accessing and utilising digital technology and online services, limiting their access to essential information, services, learning and opportunities. In a rapidly digitising world, this is a very real concern that people face, it’s a social equity issue, which affects many. The solutions lie in the digital inclusion work we do, the mahi we undertake to work towards digital equity. According to DECA, digital equity is the goal, and it exists when everyone can access and effectively use digital technologies, enabling them to participate in our society, democracy and economy fully, and enhance their lives by doing so. Digital equity is a very important and necessary goal. As a Librarian, I work as part of the digital equity and inclusion community. Librarians have always done this mahi, it’s part of what libraries are all about, ensuring our communities can enrich themselves through equitable access to information in all of its forms. There’s a vast national network of individuals, organisations and groups working hard to bridge the digital divide, by helping people access and improve the 5 pillars of digital inclusion; motivation, access, skills, trust and safety. Here at Libraries Horowhenua, some of our initiatives include our free digital learning programme, Book a Librarian and Digital Drop-in sessions and providing low-cost internet through Skinny JUMP. Considering things with a digital equity lens will ensure no-one is left behind, and no-one is left out. Leala Faleseuga, Digital Inclusion Coordinator
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