A study on Chinese independent libraries' capabilities to provide ICT-based service

Purpose:The research aims to investigate the capabilities of the Chinese independent libraries in providing service based on information and communications technologies(ICTs).Design/methodology/approach:Questionnaires were distributed to 140 Chinese independent libraries all over China.Data analysis was based on 114 valid questionnaires retrieved.Findings:The Chinese independent libraries’ directors had a low level of competency in the use of computers.Among them,the old people are faced with more difficulties in computer use than the young people.About 55%of independent libraries own computers,but only43%of them offer Internet connections.Most libraries pay less than 1,000 Yuan annually for the Internet access and the Internet access fee accounts for about 5%of library directors’ annual household income on average.With a limited number of computers,it is challenging for independent libraries to provide electronic reading service.However,to their users,they are playing the same important role as public libraries in ICT-based community service.Research limitations:Independent libraries that do not have an Internet website may not be included in our sample.In addition,missing responses and some inaccurate data in annual household income may affect our analysis result.Practical implications:Governments or non-government organizations should pay more attention to independent libraries’ informatization development and provide computer training for librarians,because independent libraries are playing an important role in community information communication.Originality/value:As there is so little related research published,the data collected in this survey provides a valuable snapshot of the Chinese independent libraries’ situation in providing ICT-based service.

Understanding information seeking behavior of rural women:Field studies in China

Purpose:The purpose of this research is to investigate Chinese rural women’s information needs and information seeking behavior,with an emphasis on exploration of the intervening variables that influence information needs and information seeking behavior.Design/methodology/approach:The sample consisted of 27 women from 9 villages in Gansu Province,Anhui Province and Tianjin City,China.Data were collected through in-depth individual interview.Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze the data.Findings:Chinese rural women’s needs are basically tied to agricultural technologies,employment and health information.Social network,rather than the Internet,serves as the most frequently used information channel.Women’s cognitive ability,social role and their living environment are the 3 intervening variables that have an impact on their information needs and their information seeking behavior.Research limitations:This qualitative research is based on a small sample and conducted on specific socio-economic settings in China,which may restrict the generalization and application of relevant findings in other settings and countries.Practical implications:The study results will help librarians and information professionals better understand Chinese rural women’s information needs and information seeking behavior in an effort to find ways to solve problems they may encounter in their information seeking process.Originality/value:This paper introduced an analysis framework that provides an integrated perspective on understanding information needs and information seeking behavior of Chinese women in rural areas.

The impact of social capital on children's (6–12) use of ICT in urban communities: A field survey from Zhengzhou City, Henan Province

Purpose： This paper focuses on the impact of social capital on urban children＇s use behavior of information communication technology （ICT）.Design/methodology/approach： Using the field survey and in-depth interviews, we interviewed 40 children aged 6 to 12 and their parents from a staff residential quarter of the Zhengzhou University--＂Shengheyuan＂ community （SHY）, and a commercial residential quarter--＂Wanfenghuicheng＂ community （WFHC） in the high-tech zone of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. We used the social capital theory to analyze the interviewees＇ record.Findings： In urban communities, social capital is the most important factor for children （aged 6 to 12） in their ICT use. Our findings indicate that children in families with higher levels of social capital, such as internal resources, family income, parent educational backgrounds and parents＇ social network, have more-highly developed ICT skills. Personal motivation and obstacles, such as lack of access to computers on a regular basis, also have an impact on children＇s ICT use. External social capital, including schools, libraries, and public service institutes, have little impact on children＇s ICT use, if not combined with internal social capital factors.Research limitations： Our research samples were collected from two communities within the same city, which may influence the generalization of this research result.Originality/value： To explore the social capital＇s influence on children＇s ICT use, we used field observation for ICT use of children aged 6 to 12 in urban communities in China, and studied the children＇s ICT behavior from the perspective of internal and external social capital.

Structural origins of digital poverty in rural China

When information and communication technologies and information resources produce more GDP and social wealth, create more jobs, improve efficiency of governance and business, and increase residents’ income and life quality, they are challenging social resources distribution mechanism, poverty alleviation and social balanced development by nurturing digital poverty. The paper proposes three research questions: 1) What is the essence of digital poverty? 2) What are the typical categories of digital poverty phenomena? 3) What are the structural factors and how do they determine the different sorts of digital poverty?The author finished a large scale of and long time field studies on digital poverty in rural China, including 4 provinces and 2 municipalities. 337 rural residents participated in our in-depth interviews, focus groups and social experiments. Content analysis method is employed to construct definitions of digital poverty and structural poverty, categories of digital poverty, and structural origins. The paper defines digital poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomena and status of social individuals on 8 digital elements, including digitally physical tools, digital services, digital abilities, digital efforts, digital social norms, digital social support and digital social impacts. Based on the 8 core digital elements, I recognize and describe the following typical categories of digitally poor communities: physically poor communities, digitally illiterate communities, psychologically vulnerable communities, socially lonely communities, digitally idle communities, digital resisters, vain seekers, and the digitally extremely poor. Furthermore, structural poverty is defined in comparison with individual and cultural poverty, and structural origins of digital poverty are distinguished and proved by field evidences. Four structural factors covering economic capital, cultural capital, social capital and political capital are impacting typical sorts of digital poverty separately and comprehensively. Finally, 6 strategic reflections on digital poverty alleviation are proposed.