Bridging the Digital Divide through Public, School and College Libraries: Case Study of Bangladesh

Type Journal Article - Journal of the Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers
Title Bridging the Digital Divide through Public, School and College Libraries: Case Study of Bangladesh
Author(s)
Volume 1
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2011
Page numbers 49-77
URL http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/jbayr/article/download/6839/5311
Abstract
The least developed and developing countries are combating against digital divide in order to keep the wheel of development rolling and escape from the vicious circle of poverty as digital divide is one of the key factors that can lead the poverty situation of these nations to an extreme level. In Bangladesh, the digital divide condition is severe. It is imperative for Bangladesh to take effective steps to bridge the digital divide and ensure ICT facilities at the national level. Recently as government pledged to convert Bangladesh into ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021 which is the golden jubilee year of the independence of Bangladesh, several initiatives have been taken to overcome the digital divide and to produce future qualified generations. However, it has been observed that no worth mentioning project has yet been taken by any government that ensures proper development of the public, school and college libraries. Government should realize the fact that complete development of the country is never possible unless we concentrate library based education. It is not possible for any government to ensure the possibility to provide computer with internet connection to each and every family in Bangladesh, although, it may be possible to provide ICTs at school, college and public libraries. The authors of this paper firmly believe that ensuring ICTs to public, school and college libraries will greatly reduce digital divide at the national level and will produce qualified, efficient ICT competent future generations. An attempt has been made to show the existing digital divide in the country, current ICT scenario and core projects that have been taken by government, NGOs, donor agencies and other development organizations. The inherent objective is to demonstrate how public, school and college libraries could reduce digital divide at the national level. It is believed that coordinated, long-term, effective projects/programmes to reduce digital divide will ensure peaceful, educated, qualified, ICT competent future generations.

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