English

Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide

Millions of Americans--35 percent of adults--live without broadband access at home. Perhaps more surprising, as of late 2009, 22 percent of adults still did not use the Internet at all. New government initiatives and services mean that Internet access and understanding is no longer an optional skill. How can libraries help close the gap? Teaching novice computer users, including seniors and individuals with disabilities, how to do what they want and need to do online is a formidable challenge for library staff. Part inspirational, part practical, Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide is a summary of techniques, approaches, and skills that will help librarians meet this challenge. Jessamyn West's experience as a librarian, deeply immersed in technology culture yet living in rural America, makes her uniquely qualified to write this book. Taking a big-picture approach to the subject, she demystifies and simplifies tech training for the busy librarian, providing an easy-to-use handbook full of techniques that can be used with a library's many diverse populations. As an added bonus, she also examines the players in the library technology arena to offer firsthand reports

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