Module 5: Information Access for all

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is a key element of the previous Australian Government strategy to progress towards an information society.  The NBN is a fundamental scheme of the Australian Federal Government-National Digital Economy Strategy. The NBN comprises of, “high speed network comprising of three technologies, which will essentially enable broadband access to all Australian premises (What is National Broadband Network, 2011).  By providing equity of access the intention of the Australian Government is to enable all Australian society to participate in the global marketplace.  The significance of this access to information is intended to benefit all parts of Australian Society by improved access to business sectors, increased job opportunities, health education and government services.

The paradox of today’s digital society is the sheer plethora of information that is available and the skills required to critically evaluate and use this information in order to be an effective participant in this contemporary information society.  Limitations to the government strategy of NBN rollout are pinpointed by Missingham (2009, p.396) who states that broadband access is only part of a solution, “access to information can only be effective is literacy skills, particularly information and digital literacy are addressed”.

In 2011, the National and State Libraries Australia (NSLA) revealed that access to services is provided through a network of 1,494 public library service points (1,418 fixed point libraries and 76 mobile libraries) throughout Australia.  Furthermore, 92 % of these service points have public internet access (Duncan, 2011, p.6).  Missingham (2009,p.32p) notes that Australians are progressively relying on online information for education needs, community information, health, societal needs including access to information. Strategic visions of National and State Libraries Australia (NSLA) is to ensure that information is accessible to all Australians.  Discovery services are available with access to internet, institutional portals, government portals, catalogues indexes and databases.   The rollout of the NBN has had a great impact on how public libraries can deliver services and access to information.  The benefits of broadband are that access is no longer defined by geographical location, moreover, the ubiquity and speed of network technologies are creating  unprecedented teaching and learning platforms (Smith,2011, p.5).  

Duncan, R. (2011). Libraries and their role in the digital economy. Retrieved 15 September 2013, from www.pla.org.au

Missingham, R. (2009). Encouraging digital economy and digital citizenship.

Australian Library Journal, 58(4), 386-399. Retrieved September 15 2013, from http://www.alia.org.au/

Smith, A. (2011). Inquiry into the role & potential benefits of the National Broadband network. Retrieved September 15, 2013 from National and State Libraries Australia website: http://www.nsla.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/NSLA.submission-Inquiry.into_.role_.benefits.NBN_2011.pdf