Public Libraries in the Wake of COVID-19, Part 2: Digital Inclusion and Technology Infrastructure

Abstract This report is the second of two articles that present findings from a survey of public libraries in eight states across the U.S., selected for regional diversity, which included questions meant to provide insight into changes in American public library services during and after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings in this article focus on the provision of internet access, internet-enabled technologies, and related training and assistance during the pandemic and changes to these services after the peak of the infection period. The study also provides baseline data on public library services involving internet-enabled computer technologies, showing the status quo in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that city and suburban public libraries were better able to shift services related to computer access and training to remote formats than libraries in rural areas and towns. Libraries in more populated areas were also more likely to loan physical technologies, such as Wi-Fi hotspots and laptop computers, for home usage during the pandemic. Despite differences across libraries in different locales, though, the overall responses show that public libraries are still considered to be valuable sources for internet and computer access and assistance in their communities.