The Opportunity Index
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Though the analysis of each of these items is important, it is their collective measure that truly determines the potential for a library to assist in battling the digital divide and building Digital Consciousness. Therefore, for each library an opportunity index was thus calculated based on the number of hours the library was open, how often basic and expert help was available, the connectivity, creation, and software scores, internet speed (with a bonus for wireless), and the day-to-day average availability of computers. This opportunity index should roughly approximate a consummate predication a library’s given capacity to aid users in accessing and creating knowledge, develop digital literacy, build social capital and all of the other benefits mentioned in the introduction to this study.
Respondents to the survey were asked specifically how frequently help for patrons was available: never, rarely, sometimes, often, and always. These responses were assigned scores (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) and then multiplied by 1 for basic help, and 0.1 for expert help and then added together (thus giving a small bonus to libraries who have computer experts on hand). This number was multiplied with the total hours per week a given library was open, its connectivity, creation, and software scores (expressed as a decimal based on percent of fulfillment). Internet connection speed was broken down into points (1 for never fast enough, 3 for always) and libraries with wireless received a bonus of 1 point. This number was then divided by 4 to give the library an internet capabilities score, which was in turn multiplied against the previous product of hours, help availability, and computer capabilities. Finally, this entire grouping was multiplied against the average availability of computers expressed as a decimal fraction (0.33 for never enough, 0.66 for sometimes enough, 1.00 for always enough). To some extent this measure is a fabricated and arbitrary index but it also does take into account the importance of all factors in determining a library’s success rate. Some factors perhaps should be worth more than others but it seemed like library hours would be a safe mediating basis, as none of the learning, production, or magic can happen until you get through the library doors.1 Figures 4.14-4.20 review (next page):
Figures 4.14-4.17 – The Opportunity Index, a measure a library’s total capacity to raise Digital Consciousness.
Figure 4.18 – The Opportunity Index, a measure a library’s total capacity to raise Digital Consciousness.
Figure 4.19 – The Opportunity Index, a measure a library’s total capacity to raise Digital Consciousness.
Figure 4.20 – The Opportunity Index, a measure a library’s total capacity to raise Digital Consciousness.
It’s pretty apparent Champaign dominates the measure, but this is because it is favored by the relative weight of hours of availability, all of its libraries were open much more often. Regardless, we can see that St. Clair, Alexander, and Pulaski county all stand out as places in need of assistance. Furthermore, on the whole significantly African American populations are better off than predominantly African American ones. This measure stands even after the removal of Champaign Public library, where the average for significant would still be 7.3, as compared to 3.7 for predominant.
As it stands, rural, impoverished, and predominantly African American areas are in the greatest need of help when it comes to library resources. These needs come in many forms, and when added up together, weigh heavily upon the library.
Design and Dissemination
At this point the Design and Dissemination stages beyond this paper are largely unaccomplished. The dataset, as well as the summaries above, will be posted online and made available for future research by any interested parties. The website could even be data-driven then it will likely also come in the form of a searchable database. Upon final feedback and approval, the report will be spread via IDEALS,2 the open access archive for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, the author’s up and coming personal community informatics website,3 and eBlack Illinois.4
[1] Perhaps library websites would have been another important aspect – but it is unclear how much virtual libraries are used by general community members. If they’re using a library computer then there may be a good chance that their computer at home doesn’t have internet (if it is even present in the first place).
[3] Address TBA, but it will be linked off of http://JAG-wire.net
