Deer Park librarian Linh Tran hard at work. 68818 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK’S libraries are helping to bridge the digital divide, a new study has revealed.
Brimbank Council recently conducted a survey of more than 1400 users across the city’s libraries, with results showing the facilities were vital to addressing technological inequalities.
Access to computers and internet were particularly important in suburbs like Sunshine and St Albans, where only around half of those surveyed reported owning a computer with internet access.
The Sunshine Library takes around 11,000 computer bookings every month, with a further 1100 making use of the library’s free wifi on their mobile phones and laptops.
Around half of people surveyed said they used the libraries’ computers, while a further 18 per cent make use of printing and photocopying facilities.
“Without local libraries disadvantage would be even more entrenched,”Brimbank Council’s general manager of community wellbeing Kelly Grigsby said.
Ms Grigsby said access to computers and internet was a big drawcard for young people, with more than a third of users under 18.
“In wealthier communities, kids are more likely to have video game consoles at home,” Ms Grigsby said.
“But in Brimbank young people only have access to computer games at the library, though that’s not all they’re doing, of course.
“They’re using the internet, reading books, doing their homework and becoming digitally literate, a necessity in today’s world.”
Between 2010/2011 Brimbank’s libraries recorded more than 1.2 million visits, with more than 80,000 members, or around half of Brimbank’s population.
More than 1.7 million items were borrowed from the city’s libraries during the financial year.
Earlier this month the State Government backed down on proposed funding cuts to the State’s public libraries, announcing a review instead.
