Digitally dependent, but technologically restricted: inequalities of access laid bare by Covid-19

This talk will offer a counterpoint to sessions that focus on technical developments in the sector. Reflecting on our experiences of working within a unique joint public and university library, we will focus on our experiences of digital poverty over the course of the pandemic. Digital poverty is not a new phenomenon, but the pandemic has brought with it a magnification of digital need. The shift to online has created an increased dependence on digital, and simultaneously highlighting the inequalities of access to hardware, data, and digital skills and confidence.