Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries
Purpose – This study aims to investigate the discourses surrounding the provision of internet access in Singapore through the public library system and to consider what the government, librarians and members of the public consider are the legitimate uses of the internet in Singapore's public li...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90420 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8352 |
| _version_ | 1826114082434973696 |
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| author | Kay, Adrian Heng Heok Luyt, Brendan |
| author2 | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information |
| author_facet | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Kay, Adrian Heng Heok Luyt, Brendan |
| author_sort | Kay, Adrian Heng Heok |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Purpose – This study aims to investigate the discourses surrounding the provision of internet access in Singapore through the public library system and to consider what the government, librarians and members of the public consider are the legitimate uses of the internet in Singapore's public libraries, how these compare with what the librarians see as their role in facilitating access and to what extent the internet as an educational tool features in public libraries according to users.
Design/methodology/approach – A discourse analysis of public documents and semi-structured interviews with ten senior librarians, managers, and 40 members of the public were conducted. Observation was also conducted of library users and of their usage at the computer terminals in the library.
Findings – Findings from the study throw up very different definitions of what constitutes learning through the internet within the context of a public library. This reinforces conclusions from previous studies that what is termed learning through the internet is variously constructed, and understood in multiple ways. This defies what is often presented of the internet as a technical quick fix of policy makers to help its population leap frog into the future.
Research limitations/implications – While the study provided a glimpse into the discourse surrounding the internet in one country, similar work should be carried in more Asian countries to provide a more comprehensive survey of the region and compare this with findings conducted in an Occidental setting.
Originality/value – The study provides an Asian perspective that complements findings on the various discourses that had surrounded internet technology in the USA and Europe. It also calls for a new spirit of awareness on the part of librarians to the views of library users with regard to internet access. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:33:41Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/90420 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:33:41Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/904202020-03-07T12:15:50Z Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries Kay, Adrian Heng Heok Luyt, Brendan Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information DRNTU::Library and information science::Libraries::Public libraries Purpose – This study aims to investigate the discourses surrounding the provision of internet access in Singapore through the public library system and to consider what the government, librarians and members of the public consider are the legitimate uses of the internet in Singapore's public libraries, how these compare with what the librarians see as their role in facilitating access and to what extent the internet as an educational tool features in public libraries according to users. Design/methodology/approach – A discourse analysis of public documents and semi-structured interviews with ten senior librarians, managers, and 40 members of the public were conducted. Observation was also conducted of library users and of their usage at the computer terminals in the library. Findings – Findings from the study throw up very different definitions of what constitutes learning through the internet within the context of a public library. This reinforces conclusions from previous studies that what is termed learning through the internet is variously constructed, and understood in multiple ways. This defies what is often presented of the internet as a technical quick fix of policy makers to help its population leap frog into the future. Research limitations/implications – While the study provided a glimpse into the discourse surrounding the internet in one country, similar work should be carried in more Asian countries to provide a more comprehensive survey of the region and compare this with findings conducted in an Occidental setting. Originality/value – The study provides an Asian perspective that complements findings on the various discourses that had surrounded internet technology in the USA and Europe. It also calls for a new spirit of awareness on the part of librarians to the views of library users with regard to internet access. Accepted version 2012-07-30T06:49:04Z 2019-12-06T17:47:27Z 2012-07-30T06:49:04Z 2019-12-06T17:47:27Z 2010 2010 Journal Article Kay, A. H. H., & Luyt, B. (2010). Imagining the internet: learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries. Journal of Documentation, 66(4), 475–490. 0022-0418 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90420 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8352 10.1108/00220411011052911 en Journal of documentation © 2010 Emerald Group Publishing Limited This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by Journal of Documentation, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at: [http://dx.doi/org/10.1108/00220411011052911]. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Library and information science::Libraries::Public libraries Kay, Adrian Heng Heok Luyt, Brendan Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title | Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title_full | Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title_fullStr | Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title_short | Imagining the internet : learning and access to information in Singapore's public libraries |
| title_sort | imagining the internet learning and access to information in singapore s public libraries |
| topic | DRNTU::Library and information science::Libraries::Public libraries |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90420 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/8352 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kayadrianhengheok imaginingtheinternetlearningandaccesstoinformationinsingaporespubliclibraries AT luytbrendan imaginingtheinternetlearningandaccesstoinformationinsingaporespubliclibraries |