Public libraries as reserves of cultural and digital capital: Addressing inequality through digitalization

Can cultural capital, cognitive ability, and economic capacity help rural older adults bridge the digital divide? Evidence from an empirical study

Background

The digital divide is the difference between individuals who use the Internet and those who do not. Under the triple social environment of urban-rural dichotomy, population aging, and the digital era in China, the existence of digital divide among rural older adults has seriously affected their access to health information through the Internet, so it is urgent to bridge the digital divide problem they face.

Methods

Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Stress Coping Theory, the impact of cultural capital on the digital divide among rural older adults was systematically analyzed using hierarchical regression and Chained Mediation Effect Tests using data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS).

Results

Cultural capital has a significant positive effect on the digital divide among rural older adults (β = 0.178, p < 0.01). Cognitive ability and economic capacity both play independent intermediary effects between cultural capital and digital divide among rural older adults, and the intermediary chain formed by the two plays a chain intermediary effect. The increase in the cultural capital of rural older adults has led to an increase in their cognitive ability and economic capacity, which ultimately has a favorable effect on the bridging of the digital divide. Heterogeneity results suggest that cultural capital is more effective in bridging the digital divide among male rural older adults aged 60-69.

Conclusion

Cultural capital is able to bridge the digital divide faced by rural older adults and is age and gender heterogeneous. At the same time, improved cognitive ability and economic capacity can also help rural older adults bridge the digital divide. Therefore, it is proposed that we increase the construction of public cultural service infrastructure in rural areas, liaise with community neighborhood committees and village committees to do a good job of publicity, improve training measures for key groups, and maintain the enthusiasm of rural older adults for learning, so as to provide references for the rural older adults in China and developing countries in general to bridge the digital divide.

Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults

BACKGROUND

Libraries in the UK have evolved from traditional book-lending institutions into dynamic community hubs, This study aims to explore the potential of libraries to act as community hubs to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults, drawing on insights from both library users and library staff in England.

DESIGN

A mixed-method, cross-sectional study using online survey and interviews with community-dwelling adults and library staff.

METHODS

We collected data using a 14-item electronic survey and interviews with library users and staff to gauge perceptions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to identify key trends and emergent themes.

RESULTS

We included 605 respondents from the survey and interviewed 12 library users and staff. Libraries remain popular and are considered a 'safe place by members of the community, regardless of their frequency of service usage irrespective of whether they are frequent users of services. However, a lack of awareness among library users about community-facing services could act as a hurdle to improving community health and wellbeing. Targeted engagement with residents is needed to increase awareness of libraries' services, including community interventions to help tackle loneliness and inequalities in digital and health literacy. Library staff often did not feel involved in important decision-making. Various barriers, drivers and practical recommendations were identified to leverage libraries as hubs to promote community health and wellbeing.

CONCLUSION

Libraries already offer a variety of resources that directly or indirectly support the health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults and young people. However, public awareness of these services is limited. As we navigate post-pandemic recovery, libraries can serve as platforms for community engagement, fostering resilience, mental health support and reducing social isolation. Recognising libraries' untapped potential can lead to healthier communities and improved wellbeing.

Cultural capital, the digital divide, and the health of older adults: a moderated mediation effect test

BACKGROUND

It is of great practical significance to study the intrinsic relationship between cultural capital, digital divide, cognitive ability, and health of older adults in the dual social context of population aging and the digital era.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) initiated by the China Center for Social Science Surveys at Peking University. Physical health, mental health, and memory health were set as indicators of older adults, and the relationship between cultural capital, digital divide, cognitive ability, and health of older adults was examined by hierarchical regression with moderated mediated effect methods.

RESULTS

Improvement in the health of older adults is associated with an increase in the level of cultural capital; cultural capital may bridge the digital divide faced by older adults, which in turn promotes the improvement of the health of older adults; the higher the level of cognitive ability, the stronger the effect of cultural capital on the digital divide, and at the same time, the stronger the mediating effect of the digital divide; cultural capital has a more pronounced effect on the health of older male adults living in the city.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study show that cultural capital can have a positive impact on the health of older adults, but there is urban-rural heterogeneity and gender heterogeneity, in which the digital divide plays a mediating role, and the enhancement of the cognitive ability of older adults will be conducive to the improvement of their health, so the health of older adults should be promoted by improving the level of their cultural capital and the ability of older adults to use digital technology, thus provide references for the protection of health of older adults.

Bourdieusian e-capital perspective enhancing digital capital discussion in the realm of third level digital divide

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a research framework to scrutinize how individuals' digital technology use produces tangible and intangible outcomes in online (digital) and offline realms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies the Bourdieusian e-capital perspective to create a theory-based framework. The framework was used to guide a survey design to explore women's “social media-assisted reuse” at the micro-scale in Helsinki, Finland.

Findings

The paper argues that a new form of capital emerges when individuals utilize digital technologies in correspondence to their goals to gain added value that would be impossible or significantly more arduous to gain without the digital realm. The survey indicates that the respondents utilize the digital space – set objectives and gain capital-related outcomes – in correspondence to their differing social, economic and cultural positions and related resources in- and outside of the digital realm.

Practical implications

If digital spaces – due to social inequality and underlying power structures – become increasingly stratified, there will be significant impacts on how individuals from differing backgrounds gain accumulated forms of capital through the digital realm. The question is of great importance for battling inequality.

Originality/value

The paper enhances and synthesizes recent discussions on different forms of capital and outcomes of the use of digital technologies and presents a combined “e-capital–digital divide” framework that offers a more complete agenda for investigating the finely nuanced links between the inputs, outputs and outcomes of digital technology use.