Tom Denison

Centre for Community Networking Research (www.ccnr.net)

tom.denison@monash.edu

Broadband, Libraries and Communities

Broadband, Libraries and Communities

The application / implementation of technology is not neutral.

Broadband brings with it not only opportunities but also threats.

Broadband, Libraries and Communities

What will change?

• Massive growth in video (by 2014 video is projected to account for 91% of consumer traffic - David Thodey, CEO Telstra)

• Massive interest in telehealth applications

• Massive growth in the number and type of connected devices within the home

Broadband, Libraries and Communities

Broadband will build on changes brought about by

• The growth in mobile technologies and devices

• The growth of social networking

• Lessening presence / importance of ‘traditional’ websites

• The growth of cloud computing (local branding of services)

The UK Experience

The full value of broadband includes education around an educated citizenship, an informed democracy, cultural understanding, community and inclusion, social capital, resilience and trust.

(UK Broadband Stakeholders’ Group (2008). A framework for evaluating the value of next generation broadband)

The UK Experience

In his Connecting Communities report, Dr. Tim Williams focuses on 2 key agendas:

• Digital inclusion• Improved public service outcomes and relations between

citizens and government

He also notes the potential benefits for regional communities.

Connecting communities: The impact of broadband on communities in the UK and its implications for Australia,

http://www.huawei.com.au/connectingcommunities/

The UK Experience

Main areas of benefit:

• Health • Care of the elderly • The environment • Education• Older, disabled and isolated• Public service efficiencies• Responsiveness of public servants and politicians

Broadband, Libraries and Communities

“While the provision of technology is a necessary condition for tackling digital exclusion, it is not sufficient on its own”(Evaluation of Communities@one program).

Research suggests that the internet has not, of itself, created social capital – it has acted to enhance what is there. Broadband infrastructure should not, of itself, be expected to create social capital.

‘Effective use’, based on a mix of access and skills, is essential.

(Source: Simpson 2005) Community informatics and sustainability: why social capital matters. Journal of community informatics, 1, (2), 102-119.

What are the opportunities for libraries?

• Access

• Content and services

• Education and training

Content and services

Libraries must engage with communities and build applications and services that build social capital.

Libraries can create community spaces and go where the community is, be that online in social networking sites, or offline at local meetings.

Libraries must work with the community and civil society in partnership arrangements – with joint ownership / decision making. This may or may not involve ‘crowd-sourcing’ projects but the rights of the participants must be recognised.

Content and services

• The Sunderland digital community (http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2601)

• The Digital Panopticon: Convict Founders and Survivors of Tasmania (IBES - http://www.broadband.unimelb.edu.au/)

• Broadband-enabled connections for young people with disabilities in ethnic communities (IBES)

• Screen stories and community connections (IBES)

• Social interaction through universal broadband access in public spaces (IBES)

• Zero Carbon Moreland, Engaging local residents in a local zero carbon initiative through social networking (CiiF - http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au/Round1Projects)

• Museum Victoria, Community Collection Management System, Community collection agencies cataloguing and sharing their local collections and artefacts (CiiF)

• Public Records Office of Victoria, Koorie Archiving System, Online space for Koorie community members and archivists to partner in arranging, describing and interpreting government records (CiiF)

• Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, Living, learning, Working: a Community Channel for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities (CiiF)