• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.179-203
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to identify (1) the attitudes of seniors toward library digitalization, (2) factors that lead them to use digital information in libraries, and (3) factors that hinder or prevent them from using digital information in libraries. As a result of conducting 1:1 in-depth interviews with 20 senior users of the National Library of Korea, the majority of seniors had a favorable attitude toward library digitalization. 'Librarian' and 'vision and font size' were found to be the most important factors for seniors' use of digital information. These two factors are factors that enable the use of digital information, but they are also factors that prevent or hinder the use of digital information. In addition, factors for the use of digital information include 'characteristics of the content' and 'convenience', factors for non-use include 'attitude and psychological factors' and 'physical properties of books', and hindering factors include 'website usability issues'.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.169-188
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• 2013

In spite of various efforts to resolve digital divide of people with disabilities, it still has a long way to go because there lack of identifying information needs of people with disabilities and potential users including their family and the related, and integrated information channels such as a portal, and so on. In this context, this study aims at analyzing the users' unique information behavior and evaluating usability of domestic web information services for people with disabilities which are currently serviced. Increasingly, we suggest new functional requirements of building a library portal for people with disabilities.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.271-295
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• 2018

Information inequality has been differently conceptualized and defined in national laws. While the information inequality increases, library policy and informational service has lagged behind in meeting the needs of the society and the state. This paper aims to provide a preliminary research on information inequality, in terms of conceptualization, the legal base, terminology, index development based on the level of digital information. The paper also highlights cases on library services for solution of the difference. It compares library services designed for the disabled, ethnic minorities and the aged. The paper reviews the existing literature and project data. As a result, there are a number of processes and tasks that needs to be developed, including policy development, supporting organization, human capital, cooperating network, supporting facilities and service, and data.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.91-114
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• 2020

Due to the settlement of the ICT environment and the widespread dissemination of Net media, the quantitative digital divide based on access to information has evolved into the formation of a qualitative digital divide. In the current information environment where enormous amounts of information exist on the Internet, there is a deeper intellectual digital divide that is different from the existing quantitative and qualitative digital divide. This study identified the changes in digital divide resulted from the evolution of information environment and empirically verified the formation of the intellectual digital divide. It also demonstrated that the intellectual digital divide is not distinct from the existing quantitative and qualitative digital divide, but from differences in the intellectual capacity of the information based on the factors of the existing digital divide. In particular, it was confirmed that the educational and economic levels, which have been the key factors of the traditional digital divide, still form the quantitative and qualitative digital divide, and also act as the key factors in the formation of the intellectual digital divide.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.29-52
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• 2012

The use of smart device has changed the traditional meaning of digital divide. It has also bridged the gap between information-haves and have-nots. In contrast, some researchers insist that the dissemination of smart devices has created new digital divide different from traditional divide. In order to clarify the current status of digital divide, this research statistically analyzed correlations between the factors of digital divide and possessions of smart devices based on the survey results conducted by Pew Research Center. It was also statistically demonstrated whether the digital literacy in using smartphones affects the generation of smart divide.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-42
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to obtain descriptive information about public library connectivity and use related to the Internet in Korea. Questionnaire was sent to all of the 364 public libraries in the nation. The data show that, as of the end of 1999,70.9% of the 351 public libraries which answered the questionnaire had some type of connection to the Internet, and 50.4% of them provided public Internet access services. The infrastructure of hardware and telecommunication, use policy for their public access Internet services were analysed. Public librarians were asked to evaluate their public Internet services. Overall the study found that the level of the nation' s public library Internet services were not satisfactory in quality and quantity. It also found that there were some significant disparities among public libraries in metropolitan areas, medium and small sized cities, and rural counties.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.97-126
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• 2010

Many visually handicapped people face difficulties with using libraries. Public libraries are thus required to meet the need of visually handicapped people. Public libraries should guarantee the visually handicapped the right to use appropriate services. If so, the visually handicapped can improve their life quality by decreasing information gap and increasing information comprehension or accessibility. This study is designed to analyze how visually handicapped people can use public libraries. Based on the analysis, this study can provide actual suggestions to improve opportunities for the visually handicapped to use libraries. Data are collected from visually handicapped people who are the members of Suseong Public Library, Daegu, Korea. In specific, this study can analyze various characteristics(i.e., information needs, selection and use behavior of information sources, difficulties and gaps to access information, use behavior and service satisfaction of public library) regarding their library use by telephone interviews.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.219-236
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• 2005

This study intends to shed light on the everyday lives of the urban poor in four metro areas in Korea, viewed especially from the information perspective. Employing in-depth interviews and participant observation interchangeably, it attempts to illustrate such phenomena as information poverty, and to scrutinize the reasons of their passive behaviors in information seeking. This paper, specifically, focuses on the following characteristics of information need and information related behaviors of the urban poor : types of everyday concerns and ways to deal with them: characteristics of the help provided: types of information sources consulted : na, barriers and limitation of everyday information seeking and information use.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.97-123
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• 2011

To achieve public library services for all by including those with disabilities, librarians have to think of them in new ways, and be knowledgeable about various types of disabilities and how to best assist the patron. And public libraries must provide them with services designed by types of disability. This study analyzed the characteristics of Korean disabled people by types of disability and proposed the directions to develop of public library services for people with disabilities by types of disabilities.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.315-341
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• 2022

The goal of this study is to explore and draw implicaitons from international and domestic media and information literacy (MIL) policies and educational systems. To this end, international policy documents issued by UNESCO, IFLA, OECD, and the EU as well as domestic South Korean laws and policies related to MIL and the fuctions of public libraries and related institutions were analyzed. The findings show that international organizations recognize public libraries as institutions that are responsible for providing information access and supporting knowledge sharing for citizens within and outside of formal education systems. Additionally, public libraries are seen as institutions responsible for supporting lifelong learning and civic education, as well as improving media, information, and digital literacy skills of their communities. In South Korea, the Library Act gives public libraries and librarians responsibility for improving citizens' MIL to support the public's right to know and to narrow the information gap. However, the functions of public libraries and librarians in South Korea have been limited or excluded in the domestic MIL policies. This study concludes that public libraries and librarians are responsible for reducing the information gap among citizens and should actively participate in policy development to improve citizens' MIL skills.