Bridging the digital divide through e‐governance. A proposal for Africa's libraries and information centres
| Date | 01 October 2005 |
| Pages | 591-602 |
| Published date | 01 October 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470510631308 |
| Author | Stephen M. Mutula |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Bridging the digital divide
through e-governance
A proposal for Africa’s libraries and
information centres
Stephen M. Mutula
Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana,
Gaborone, Botswana
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to present the status of the digital divide in Africa and the implications for
libraries, and to demonstrate that, contrary to recent published findings, the digital divide is not
narrowing.
Design/methodology/approach – A general literature review is undertaken, along with a case
study of the digital divide in an academic setting.
Findings – Africa still suffers from rampant poverty, and consequently resources that could be
utilised to bridge the digital divide are directed at meeting peoples basic survival needs, including
food, shelter, health care, housing, etc. Additionally, governments are increasingly adopting
e-government initiatives that libraries could explore for automation.
Research limitations/implications – More research is needed to show why – given that the gap
between rich and poor countries is increasing, and that economic development is a good predictor of
ICT uptake – that the digital divide between developed and developing countries is claimed to be
narrowing.
Practical implications – Libraries have the potential to use e-government initiatives for
automation, but they need to exert influence on their governments through advocacy and other
measures.
Originality/value – Few studies, especially in Africa, have explored the potential of e-governance
for library automation. Similarly, issues of the digital divide have in the past been looked at largely
from international and national perspectives, with little attention being paid to the existence of the
phenomenon within libraries. Finally, existing studies on the digital divide largely use ICT metrics
without paying much attention to the totality of other variables that influence the digital divide. This
paper provides a proposal on how e-governance could be used to narrow the digital divide within
libraries in Africa.
Keywords Digital communication systems, Libraries,Library automation, Governance, Africa
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
The digital divide is always described in terms of the difference in the number of
telephones, internet users or computers per head between rich and poor countries.
Kenny and Fink (2004), in their recent study of the global digital divide, pointed out
that the digital divide’s size and importance have been overstated and that current
trends suggest that it is actually shrinking, not growing. They also proposed that
policies designed to bridge the digital divide may need rethinking. More succi nctly,
they suggested that international aid for bridging the digital divide should be put to
use elsewhere.
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Bridging the
digital divide
591
The Electronic Library
Vol. 23 No. 5, 2005
pp. 591-602
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470510631308
To continue reading
Request your trial