Who is it open for? The impact of digital poverty on the move to open

This presentation will challenge delegates to think about what the move to open means beyond academia. Working in the Hive, a fully integrated university and public library, I’ve seen that the impact of the pandemic on students and the attendant move to digital has a longer-term impact on what academic information the public have access to. Whilst the move to open access would appear to offer a solution, the pandemic has also highlighted the gulf in digital equality and inclusion, both in terms of access to equipment and digital skills. How can libraries bridge this gap and ensure that open means open for all?