Closing the Digital Divide Through Digital Equity: The Role of Libraries and Librarians

All libraries, especially public libraries, must continue to play a leading role in closing the digital divide. Through this article, the authors present a brief history of libraries and the digital divide, how libraries address the digital divide through digital equity, ways the U.S. government has addressed the digital divide, insights shared from serving on the New Jersey Broadband Access Commission, strategies that public libraries can implement to bring about digital inclusion, the need for libraries to address the technology needs of youth, the importance of public-private partnerships and examples of initiatives and the resources created that address digital equity.