Phil Bradley, newly-elected vice-president of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), comments on a recent Guardian article. Even in South East England, said to be the richest regional of the UK, one in four homes does not have access to the Internet.
It appears that the divide between the haves and the have-nots is getting wider as the disadvantage of the lack of Internet access creates an inability to do basic school work.
Anecdotally, I have noticed that many homes with access are using it for social media and using Google to provide answers to basic questions. There is no distinction made between “an” answer and “a complete, authoritative” answer to the question.
The answer? Access via public libraries with knowledgeable staff to help people young and old (and anywhere in between).
The reality? Cuts in library services in many areas of the UK and the divide getting wider and wider!
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