Information Needs in Developing Countries: How Are They Being Served by Public Access Venues?

Authors

Elizabeth A. Gould, Technlology & Social Change Group University of WashingtonFollow
Ricardo Gomez Ph.D., The Information School University of WashingtonFollow
Kemly Camacho, Sulá Batsú Cooperative San Jose, Costa RicaFollow

Abstract

This paper analyzes challenges to meet information needs of underserved communities through public access to ICT in 25 developing countries. Information needs are analyzed from the perspective of the users and of the operators of public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés. We discuss the importance of locally relevant content, available in local languages, and the need to help strengthen information literacy among users and operators of public access venues, including digital literacy. Libraries, telecentres and cybercafés in the countries studied were found to be meeting local users needs in different ways in each case. Effectively meeting users’ information needs is critical if public access to ICT is to contribute to human development, especially in libraries and telecentres, which generally have a social development mission (as opposed to profit-driven cybercafés).

Recommended Citation

Gould, Elizabeth A.; Gomez, Ricardo Ph.D.; and Camacho, Kemly, "Information Needs in Developing Countries: How Are They Being Served by Public Access Venues?" (2010). AMCIS 2010 Proceedings. 9.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2010/9