In digitalized democratic communities, demands for literacy are a prerequisite for engagement and inclusion, at the same time different forms of divides are omnipresent. By providing access and qualified support to all citizens, public libraries play a central function in the building of democratic and inclusive local communities. Based on a case study of community library services in Sweden, Östergötland, this paper aims to study digital inclusion as reflected in daily practices through the perspective of librarians. This paper also argues different challenges of exclusion for those who cannot use, choose not to use or have other needs.
Impact / Outcome
The overall impression was that at the time of the study the librarians lacked sustained competence development and resources to manage the new and changing demands coming from evermore diverse group of users to guide and support digital inclusion activities. Now, users turned to the library for support on services far beyond the libraries’ responsibilities, like managing different Internet accounts, banking services, and use of e-services for health services like digital prescriptions for medicines.
Funding sources
Public
Key Metrics
Enhance digital inclusion competence in Sweden through municipal librarians
Operating model
Fully publicYear published
01 December 2021