Digital Divide

Abstract

This paper discussed digital divide, issues and strategies for intervention in Nigerian libraries. It defined digital divide as the gap that exist between countries, within countries, individuals, families and so on in their access and usage of Information Technology facilities such as the internet, computers, laptops, various handheld devices, application software etc. The paper also discussed the causes of digital divide comprising finance, level of education, location of the individual and language as well as discussing the effects of digital divide to encompass inequality in access to information; ineffective services to users, libraries being unable to satisfy their clientele. The paper went further to discuss the present state of ICT facilities adoption and use by Libraries in Nigeria, compared to their equals in developed countries. The paper pointed out that most Nigerian libraries are far from full automation and Internet connectivity; the staff lack technical skills to build and maintain ICT for enhanced service delivery; libraries in rural areas of these developing countries are more neglected as available ICT facilities and internet connections are mostly available and accessible in the urban areas thus, those leaving in the rural areas are cut off from the numerous benefits of ICT. The paper concluded that Digital divide is a menace that affects information availability and access; growth and development in between countries and within countries and has led to inequality in access and use of ICT facilities as such, Nigerian libraries should wake up to their responsibilities by providing the required infrastructure needed to bridge the gap to prevent the escalation of digital divide. The paper finally recommended the formulation and implementation of ICT policy, adequate funding of libraries by those concerned, education and training of human resources to build and maintain ICT facilities, curriculum innovation by library schools so as to inculcate ICT courses for skills acquisitions of the professionals, improvement of maintenance culture and eradication of corruption in the entire system to enable developing countries take advantage of ICT facilities, make progress and move along with modernity and global sophistication.

A comparative analysis review of digital transformation stage in developing countries

“…Several researches showed the use of technology in developing countries has converged on several activities such as online banking (Ogbo et al, 2020) and other digital automation like email (Inshakova et al, 2020;Snowball et al, 2021). Digital Culture has emerged in developing countries, despite not all (Bakon et al, 2020) as an effort to avoid being left behind by allowing more access to information through education (Ogbo et al, 2020;Idiegbeyan-Ose et al, 2016;Allen et al, 2012;Snowball et al, 2021). In the end, the gap in the digital realm is influenced by socio-economic status -how the use and benefits of internet affect people's life opportunities, behaving, starting, and being tied to technology.…”

“…Socio-Economic (Ramazanov, Panasenko, Cheglov, Krasil'nikova & Nikishin, 2021;Wang et al, 2021;Joshi & Sharma, 2021;Gravili et al, 2018;Allen, Natarajan & Price, 2012;Minghetti & Buhalis, 2010;Calderón-Gomez, 2019;Ogbo, Brown, Gant & Sicker, 2020;Alenizi, 2020;Wilson & Wilson 2009;Alekseev et al, 2021;Finkelstein, Shapiro & Mandelman, 2021;Idiegbeyan-Ose et al, 2016) Age (Ogbo et a,l. 2020;Hong et al, 2017;Mubarak & Nycyk, 2017;Robards et al, 2018) Gender (Acilar, 2020;Ogbo et al, 2020;Singh, 2017;Tjiptono et al, 2016;James, 2007;Idiegbeyan-Ose et al, 2016;Allen et al, 2012;Alenizi, 2020) Culture (Raj et al, 2020;Hai et al, 2021;Aghimien et al, 2020;Bakon et al, Trust (Aghimien et al, 2020;Joshi & Sharma, 2021;Alenizi, 2020) Security (Raj et al, 2020;Joshi & Sharma, 202l;Yudhiyati, Putritama & Rahmawati, 2021;Topornin et al, 2021;Aghimien et al, 2020) Digital piracy (Tjiptono et al, 2016;James, 2003) Marginalizationof Workers (Casilli, 2017) Flexibility of operations…”

“…, Sharma, Lopes de Sousa-Jabbour & Rajak, 2020; Bakon, Elias & Abusamhadana, 2020; Aguilar-Rodriguez, Bernal-Torres, Aldana-Bernal, Acosta-Aguinaga, Artieda-Cajilema & Chalá, 2021; Anshari & Almunawar, 202l; Robards, Kang, Usherwood & Sanci, 2018; Hong, Zhou, Z., Fang, Y., & Shi, 2017; Idiegbeyan-Ose,Nkiko, Idahosa & Nwokocha, 2016; Igun, 201l;Minghetti & Buhalis, 2010;Chang, Kim, Wong & Park, 2015) …”

Adoption of Library Management System: Motivation and Challenges in Developing Countries

“…This is not unconnected to prolonged adverse economic conditions, limitations in budgetary provision, infrastructural and political challenges facing these countries as well as inadequate technical-know required for the deployment and usage of modern working tools and technologies involved within LMS. Other factors include high cost of ICT equipment, lack of ICT strategies and policies, frequent Power Outages and poor maintenance culture [14,15,16,17].…”

Factors Influencing ICT Adoption in Some Selected Secondary Schools in Ogun State, Nigeria

“…Several sectors of the economy of Nigeria have adopted ICT as a tool for improving people, processes and procedures. Some are listed; road freight transport [1], construction industry [2], agricultural research [3], small and medium scale enterprises [4][5], accounting systems [6], advertising [7], tourism [8], libraries of tertiary institutions [9][10] and service industry [11]. Others are: school management [12], green technology and renewable energy [13], electronic commerce [14], marketing of pharmaceutical products [15] and effective governance, democracy and elections [16][17][18].…”