Case study: Broadband & the digital divide: The new role of public libraries « Knight Center Community Connection

In Northeast Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Public Library System (CCPL) has established a new beachhead for bridging the digital divide. After five years of experimenting with ultra-broadband and integrating it into the library’s menu of services, CCPL is now known across the country as a pace-setting library system and an early innovator in ultra- broadband applications for servicing the public.

For communities all over the country, the public library – often the only agency offering free access to Internet-based services – is playing an increasingly relevant role in helping to bridge the digital divide. The opportunities for impact are profound, however the challenges are numerous: Access to funding and bandwidth are critical ingredients for responding to rising public need and demand, and the ability to effectively track impact remains elusive. Yet for populations across the country, having digital access, or not, may also mean: Acquiring new skills or not. Learning English or not. Applying for a job … or not. In these times of national economic stress, the role of public libraries in the digital-divide equation may be more critical than ever...