Melody Clark
ABSTRACT
Public access to computers and the Internet can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations. Public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés are sometimes free, and sometimes charge user fees. User fees can be an important barrier to use of public access venues, especially among underserved communities in developing countries. This paper analyzes the role of user fees and other critical barriers in the use of computers in public access venues in 25 developing countries around the world. Results of this study suggest that digital literacy of staff and local relevance of content may be more important than fees in determining user preference for public access venues. These findings are important to public libraries, which tend to offer free services, but where perceptions of digital literacy of staff and locally relevant content tend to be lowest, compared to telecentres and cybercafés, according to the results of this study. More attention to digital literacy of staff and availability of locally relevant content may be more important than free services to meet the information needs of underserved populations.
- K. Barzilai-Nahon. (2006). Gaps and bits: conceptualizing measurements for digital divide/s. The Information Society: An International Journal. 22(5).Google Scholar
- A. Bryne Potter, A. (2006). Zones of silence: a framework beyond the digital divide. First Monday. 11(5).Google Scholar
- C. Fink and C. Kenny. (2003). W(h)ither the digital divide? Available at: http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/background/themes/digital_divide/fink-kenny.pdf.Google Scholar
- R. Gomez and B. Casadiego. (2002). Letter to Aunt Ofelia: seven proposals for human development using new information and communication technologies. IDRC (PAN Americas), Ottawa, ITDG, Lima and Raices Magicas, Bogota.Google Scholar
- R. Gomez and J. Martinez. (2001). The Internet ... Why? And What for? IDRC, Ottawa and Acceso, San Jose, CA.Google Scholar
- M. Gurstein. (2003). Effective use: a community informatics strategy beyond the digital divide. First Monday. 8(12).Google Scholar
- E. J. Wilson. (2004). The Information Revolution and Developing Countries. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. Google ScholarDigital Library
- P. Yu. (2001). Bridging the digital divide: equality in the information age. Cardoza Arts & Entertainment. 20(1). 1--52.Google Scholar
- International Telecommunication Union (ICT). (2010). Measuring the Information Society. Geneva, Switzerland. Available at: www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2010/pdf/PR08_ExecSum.pdf.Google Scholar
- F. Etta. (2002). The Trouble with Community Telecentres. IDRC. Ottawa. Available at: http://www.acacia.org.za/telecentres_etta.htm.Google Scholar
- R. Heeks. (2002). Information systems and developing countries: failure, success, and local improvisations. The Information Society. 18(2), 101--112.Google ScholarCross Ref
- R. Heeks. (2009). The ICT4D 2.0 Manifesto: Where next for ICTs and international development? Development Informatics Group Working Paper Series. Paper 42. Available at: http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/research/publications/wp/di/di_wp42.htm.Google Scholar
- R. Thirumavalavan and C. Garforth. (2009). ICT4D and farming communities: success and failure of telecentres in rural Tamil Nadu. Assessing the Contribution of ICT to Development. Dubai School of Government, UAE. 26--28 May. http://www.ifp.dsg.ae/docs/dc05_Thiru_Final.pdf.Google Scholar
- C. N. Adeya. (2002). ICTs and Poverty: A Literature Review. IDRC. Available at: http://www/web.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10541291550ICTPovertyBiblio.doc.Google Scholar
- T. Bell. (2006). Village Computing: A state of the field. Reflections on the Village Computing Consultation. Grameen Foundation.Google Scholar
- P. Benjamin. (2000). Telecentre 2000 Report 1: Literature Review. LINK Centre, P&DM. WITS University.Google Scholar
- A. Sey and M. Fellows. (2009, April). Literature Review on the Impact of Public Access to Information and Communication Technologies. TASCHA (CIS) Working Paper. No. 6.Google Scholar
- F. Bar and M. Best. (2008). From the Editors: Assessing the Impact of Public Access to ICTs. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(3). Google ScholarDigital Library
- W. Chigona and P. Licker. (2008). Using Diffusion of Innovations Framework to Explain Communal Computing Facilities Adoption Among the Urban Poor. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(3), 57--73. Google ScholarDigital Library
- D. Cogburn and N. Levinson. (2008). Teaching Globalization, Globally: A 7-Year Case Study of South Africa--U.S. Virtual Teams. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(3), 75--88. Google ScholarDigital Library
- S. Parkinson and A. Lauzon. (2008). The Impact of the Internet on Local Social Equity: A Study of a Telecenter in Aguablanca, Colombia. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(3), 21--38. Google ScholarDigital Library
- C. Zhang. (2008). The Institutional Framework of the United Nations Development Programme--Ministry of Science and Technology (UNDP-MoST) Telecenter Project in Rural China. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(3), 39--55. Google ScholarDigital Library
- T. Unwin (ed). (2009). ICT4D: Information and Communication Technology for Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
- D. Kleine and T. Unwin. (2009). Technology Revolution, Evolution, and New Dependencies: What's new about ICT4D? Third World Quarterly. 30(5), 1045--1067.Google ScholarCross Ref
- M. Best, B. Kolko, D. Thakur, and M. Aitieva. (2007). Assessment of Economic Growth Impacts of the eCenters Project in Kyrgyzstan. AED.Google Scholar
- A. Bailey. (2009). Issues Affecting the Social Sustainability of Telecentres in Developing Contexts: A field study of sixteen telecentres in Jamaica. The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries. 36(4).Google Scholar
- F. Amariles, O. P. Paz, N. Russell, and N. Johnson. (2006). The Impacts of Community Telecenters in Rural Colombia. Journal of Community Informatics. 2(3).Google Scholar
- P. Benjamin. (2001). Telecentres in South Africa. The Journal of Development Communication Telecenters & ICT for Development -- Critical Perspectives & Visions for the Future. 12(2).Google Scholar
- H. E. Hudson. (2001). The ACACIA Programme: Developing Evaluation and Learning Systems for African Telecentres. IDRC, Ottawa.Google Scholar
- R. Kuriyan and K. Toyama. (2007). Review of Research on Rural PC Kiosks. Microsoft Research. Available from http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/india/projects/ruralkiosks/kiosks%20research.doc.Google Scholar
- S. Gitta and J. R. Ikoja-Odongo. (2003). The Impact of Cybercafes on Information Services in Uganda. First Monday. 8(4).Google Scholar
- A. Jafri, A. Dongre, V. Tripathi, A. Aggrawal, and S. Shrivastava. (2002). Information Communication Technologies and Governance: The Gyandoot Experiment in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh, India. Overseas Development Institute. London.Google Scholar
- F. Etta and S. Parvyn-Wamahiu (eds.). (2003). Information and Communication Technologies for Development in Africa. Volume 2: The Experience with Community Telecenters. CODESRIA/IDRC. Ottawa.Google Scholar
- P. Gamage and E. Halpin. (2007). E-Sri Lanka: Bridging the Digital Divide. The Electronic Library. 25(6).Google Scholar
- R. Kumar and M. Best. (2006). Social Impact and Diffusion of Telecenter Use: A Study from the Sustainable Access in Rural India Project. Journal of Community Informatics. 2(3).Google Scholar
- J. Pal, S. Nedevschi, R. Patra, and E. Brewer. (2005). A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Studying Village Internet Kiosk Initiatives: The Case of Akshaya. Policy Options and Models for Bridging Digital Divides. University of Tampere. Finland.Google Scholar
- E. Adomi. (2005). The Effects of a Price Increase on Cybercafe Services in Abraka, Nigeria. The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances. 18(2), 78--86.Google ScholarCross Ref
- M. Best, D. Thakur, and B. Kolko. (2007). The Contribution of User-Based Subsidies to the Impact and Sustainability of Telecenters -- the eCenter Project in Kyrgyzstan. AED.Google Scholar
- C. Egholm and H. Jochumsen. (2000). Perspectives Concerning User Fees in Public Libraries. Library Management. 21(6), 298--306.Google Scholar
- T. Salvador, J. Sherry, and A. Urrutia. (2005). Less Cyber, More Café: Enhancing Existing Small Businesses Across the Digital Divide with ICTs. Information Technology for Development. 11(1), 77--95. Google ScholarDigital Library
- C. Stillwell, B. Gentil, and A. Leach. (2006, July). "Public Access Computing Services and Cost Recovery Mechanisms for Public Libraries: A Global Survey and Analysis." Draft for INASP, unpublished.Google Scholar
- S. Ward, Y. Fong, and D. Camille. (2002). Library Fee-Based Information Services: Financial Considerations. The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances. 15(1), 5--17.Google ScholarCross Ref
- E. Gould and R. Gomez. "Community Engagement and Infomediaries," presented at iConference 2010, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, February 3--6, 2010.Google Scholar
- J. F. Bossio. (2004). Social Sustainability of Telecentres from the Viewpoint of Telecentre Operators: A Case Study from San Paulo, Brazil. London School of Economics. London.Google Scholar
- M. Best and R. Kumar. (2008). Sustainability Failures of Rural Telecenters: Challenges from the Sustainable Access in Rural India (SARI) Project. Information Technologies & International Development. 4(4), 31--45. Google ScholarDigital Library
- P. Ulrich. (2004). Poverty Reduction through Access to Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Areas. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. 16(7).Google Scholar
- A. Whyte. (2000). Assessing Community Telecentres: Guidelines for Researchers. IDRC. Ottawa. Available from http://www.idrc.ca/acacia/ev-9415-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html#begining.Google Scholar
- Bridges.org. (2009). 12 Habits of Highly Effective ICT-Enabled Development Initiatives. Available from http://www.bridges.org/12_habits.Google Scholar
- R. Gomez. (2009). Structure and Flexibility in Global Research Design: Methodological Choices in Landscape Study of Public Access in 25 Countries. Performance Measurement and Metrics (forthcoming).Google Scholar
- DNet. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Bangladesh. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- M. Voelcker. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Brazil. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- R. Gomez L. Barón & M. Valdéés. (2010). Documentos de Trabajo: Puntos de acceso público a Internet en Colombia. Relatoría grupo focal Marinilla, Antioquia. Universidad de Washington, ICESI, Colombia Multicolor. Available at http://faculty.washington.edu/rgomez/projects/Colombia.Google Scholar
- SAP International. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Nepal. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- IPM. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Moldova. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- OPINIA. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Moldova. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- Y. Bakelli. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Algeria. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- PACT. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Kazakhstan. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- J. F. Bossio and K. Sotomayor. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Peru. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- F. Alfaro, J. P. Molina, and K. Camacho. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Dominican Republic. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- A. Rozengardt and S. Finquelievich. (2008). Public Access to Information & ICTs Final Report: Argentina. University of Washington. Seattle. Available from http://cis.washington.edu/landscape/library/working-documents.Google Scholar
- C. Metoyer-Duran, Gatekeepers in Ethnolinguistic Communities. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing, 1993.Google Scholar
- T. Schilderman, "Strengthening the knowledge and information systems of the urban poor," Dept. for International Development (DFID)2002.Google Scholar
- J. Abrahamson and K. E. Fisher, "What's past is prologue: Towards a general model of lay information mediary behaviour," Information Research, vol. 12, 2007.Google Scholar
- R. M. Mason, "Culture-Free or Culture-Bound? A Boundary Spanning Perspective on Learning in Knowledge Management Systems," Journal of Global Information Management, vol. 11, pp. 20--36, 2003.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- Cost and other barriers to public access computing in developing countries
Recommendations
Loose strands: searching for evidence of public access ICT impact on development
iConference '11: Proceedings of the 2011 iConferenceTelecenters, libraries and internet cafés are often credited as being important venues for making information and communication technologies (ICTs) more widely available for people in developing and developed countries. Although numerous case studies ...
Social network analysis of public access computing: relationships as a critical benefit of libraries, telecenters and cybercafés in developing countries
iConference '12: Proceedings of the 2012 iConferenceBuilding on theories of social network analysis, this paper discusses perceived benefits of Public Access Computing (PAC) in developing countries. Through a study of libraries, telecenters and cybercafés in Colombia, South America, we discuss users' ...
Multi-channel electronic public service delivery mechanisms in developing countries: a case study of the eSahulat programme in Pakistan
ICEGOV '10: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic GovernanceAs debate and development in eGovernment have started to mature, the developing countries that have so far been in a catchup scenario are now creating innovative strategies to engage their citizens in eServices for effective and efficient public service ...
Comments