IGF 2020 Equitable access to digital content: lessons from COVID-19

Time
Thursday, 5th November, 2020 (12:40 UTC) - Thursday, 5th November, 2020 (14:10 UTC)
Room
Room 1
About this Session
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted crucial questions around access to key digital resources and services at a time of crisis. This session takes stock of emergency responses of libraries, governments, publishers and other key stakeholders - and their impacts on digital inclusion and access to information and content. Looking at the current policy context and lessons learned during the pandemic, the session examines key policy questions and lessons for the ‘new normal’ and any future emergencies.
DC

Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries (DC-PAL)

Round Table - Circle - 90 Min

Theme
Description

The dramatic changes to work and education in light of the COVID-19 pandemic have put remote education and access to online resources and services in the spotlight. Emergency responses from different stakeholders have sought to address the rapid shift in public needs.

Educational institutions and their libraries have worked to ensure students' access to necessary materials; some governments (e.g. in Ireland and Norway) have offered support to libraries to increase their online offering as public demand for digital resources soared (as much as sixfold in some areas). Many publishers and vendors have launched initiatives to extend and/or offer easier access to their online resources – often following requests or consultations with research and educational institutions, library consortia and other key stakeholders.

There have also been more initiatives to support Open Access - especially for resources that support research on COVID-19 and related areas, or that ensure the continuity of education during lockdowns. However, these have been far from uniform within and across countries, deepening the existing digital divide and creating new inequalities. Under lockdown conditions, lower income, remote and otherwise disadvantaged communities could have limited access or be entirely cut off from work, education, healthcare or other key dimensions of participation in society.

This session examies how the pandemic has highlighted the questions around access to key digital resources and services at a time of crisis, drawing on the experience of libraries, educational institutions and other stakeholders. It aims to take stock of the emergency responses and their impacts; and lessons for the post-COVID world and any future emergencies.

 

Agenda:

 1. Introduction and welcome. The evolution of digital inclusion challenges and public access solutions – from content to skills and technology. Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency, Ireland

Establishing the baseline: public access solutions in broadband policies

2. Digital inclusion interventions in libraries – policy implementation, impacts and insights from several countries. Presentation of a DC-PAL report. Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

The new challenges: equitable access to content and services during the pandemic. Impacts and emergency responses

3. Access to information during the pandemic - library responses across Africa. Taking stock of achievements and exploring ways to maximize impact. Nkem Osuigwe, African Library & Information Associations & Institutions

4. Libraries supporting response and recovery - from internet access to digital services and beyond. Don Means, Gigabit Libraries Network

5. Helping to provide information access and context in the age of mis- and disinformation. Mark Graham, Director, the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive. Controlled Digital Lending and Turn All References Blue

6. Access to knowledge in a pandemic: a public health issue? Review of library, publisher & government responses, options available under global IP rules. Teresa Hackett, Electronic Information for Libraries

Moving forward: lessons for the ‘new normal’ and future emergencies

7. Open discussion. Lessons learned from the pandemic response:  what policy changes are needed to ensure equitable access to key digital content for education, culture and research in future emergency situations and in the everyday practices post-COVID?

8.   Conclusion. Takeaway messages, and a look ahead to DC-PAL follow-up work.

Relevance to IG

Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has started a discussion among different stakeholders on what needs to change or be adapted in order for people to have access to key digital content and resources - especially in emergency situations - and how it relates to current policies and regulatory frameworks. We expect that in the near future relevant decision-making Internet Governance processes might be examining the lessons learned from the pandemic, and potentially introduce relevant policy changes to further shape the policies and regulatory frameworks that impact people's access to key content online.

Relevance to Theme

Access to relevant content, resources and services is a key part of meaningful digital inclusion. Libraries work to ensure equitable access to such content, making it more accessible and affordable for a larger number of people. As such, these policy questions are also central to ensuring that as many people as possible can make meaningful use of connectivity to meet their educational, research and cultural needs.

Organizers
  • Ramune Petuchovaite, Electronic Information for Libraries, Public Libraries Innovation Program Manager (Lithuania)
  • Stephen Wyber, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Policy and Advocacy, Manager (Netherlands)
  • Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency (Ireland)
  • Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Policy and Research Officer (Netherlands)
Speakers
  • Nkem Osuigwe, African Library and Information Associations & Institutions (Nigeria)
  • Don Means, Libraries WhiteSpace Project and Gigabit Libraries Network (USA)
  • Mark Graham, The Internet Archive and The Wayback Machine (USA)
  • Theresa Hackett, Electronic Information for Libraries, Copyright and Libraries Programme Manager
  • Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (Netherlands)
Onsite Moderator

Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency, Ireland

Online Moderator

Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Rapporteur

Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

SDGs

GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Key Policy Questions and related issues
What emergency measures have been taken by various stakeholders to support access to information, digital content and services during the pandemic?
How do existing policy frameworks (ICT and broadband, intellectual property, library, etc) impact access to information, digital content and services at the peak of the pandemic, and in the eventual recovery?
What policy changes and practical measures can support access to information and key content and services in the phases of response and recovery - as well as future crises?
2. Summary of Issues Discussed

The session discussed key perspectives and dimensions of access to content and information, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes connectivity infrastructure and capacities of libraries and similar facilities which help deliver this access, digitisation and digital content delivery and access models, and relevant Intellectual Property policy frameworks.

There was a broad agreement among the panelists that access to key content is an high priority, especially since the demand and need for it has grown rapidly. Taking measures that help ensure equitable digital inclusion and access to content and information is therefore crucial.

The panelists discussed policy frameworks and practices that can help support public access and digial inclusion through public access, and emergency measures that have been taken by various stakeholders (governments, libraries and library organisations, NGOs and publishers) to ensure access to key content during the pandemic.

3. Key Takeaways

The session defined several key policy issues around access to content and information during the pandemic and future recovery, and suggested several ways equitable access can be expanded:

1) Access to key content, especially during the pandemic, is integral to sustaining and supporting education, employment, health, citizen participation.

2) Expanding the rollout of connectivity infrastructure and capacity-building for libraries and similar facilities helps ensure equitable access to content for the public.

3) Innovative and emerging solutions and practices also offer valuable models for supporting equitable access to content and, more broadly, digital inclusion. This includes, for example, using bands of spectrum open for public use (i.e. TV White Space) for broadening connectivity, offline internet and controlled digital lending.

4) It is also important to ensure that existing Intellectual Property frameworks and mechanisms offer a supportive policy environment that helps ensure equitable access to key content. One example of a key issue here is e-book and textbook pricing and access models.

6. Final Speakers

Nkem Osuigwe, African Library & Information Associations & Institutions

Don Means, Gigabit Libraries Network

Mark Graham, Director, the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive

Teresa Hackett, Electronic Information for Libraries

Valensiya Dresvyannikova, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Moderator: Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency, Ireland

8. Session Outputs

The draft DC-PAL report discussed during the session - "Public access in libraries: achievements and insights from broadband policy implementation" - https://www.ifla.org/digital-plans