Biblioteca pública e inclusão digital: o caso da Biblioteca Central do Estado da Bahia

Abstract

The work of the public library towards digital divide is the theme of this monograph, whose aim is to present and describe the case of the Central Library of the State of Bahia (BCEB) on its contribution to digital divide in Salvador. Therefore, in broad terms, this research aims to identify and analyze the actions in which the analyzed library develops the process of digital divide in the city of Salvador. In turn, on specific terms, the study aims to identify what are those actions and how the Library acts to promote them, as well as verify how often these activities and of its public occur, also observing the public they target. In addition, this research intends to verify what the evaluation of the Unit's managers, directly or indirectly related to these initiatives, is, regarding the level of digital divide the BCEB reaches. In order to attend the proposed objectives of the research, the technique of in-person interview with the General Director of the Library was adopted, as well as the Coordinator of Cultural Production and the Technician in Cultural Affairs of Viva Nucleus, the Library Sector focused on management and development of its digital divide activities. Another technique of data collection applied by the researcher was the use of an online questionnaire used exclusively with the last informant, the Sub Manager of Special Activities of the said library. The required instruments for data collection in the study analysis were, in the following order, semi structured interview guides and question forms which allowed the description of inclusion actions offered by the Library as well as identify the respondents' perception regarding the results of these initiatives and the level of digital divide the BCEB has achieved. For the theoretical and empirical foundation in the Research, it was necessary to reflect, in light of specialized literature, on concepts concerning the public library and its social function. Equally, discussions made by the main authors on digital divide’s study, as well as its relation with the public library in the Librarianship and Information Science's conception were lightly approached in this study's development. As a result, it was noted that BCEB has been acting towards digital divide through offering regular and punctual workshops besides providing continuously the free access to computers with Internet connection to its public and other assistive technologies and accessibility equipment to the visually impaired or the public with mobility restriction. In face of everything discussed and analyzed on the results found in this study, it was concluded that BCEB acts towards the digital divide with certain limitations, since it has developed activities that haven't yet reached use and appropriation of resources and digital content capable of potentializing digital emancipation of its public, still residing, therefore, its actions in a basic and initial level of digital divide.