In Other Words By the Numbers

摘要

Although I am not a numbers person, I appreciate statistics. When presented well, statistics can drive home vital points that words alone may not convey. The following articles from the March issue of Computers in Libraries (CIL) and the February/March issue of Database Trends and Applications (DBTA) use numbered lists and stats to accentuate their messages. The CIL article "Collaborating to Close the Digital Divide" beings with a question: "Does the digital divide still exist?" The answer is yes, according to its authors, Melissa Donaldson, digital services and innovation coordinator at Racine Public Library in Wisconsin, and William Martin, the city of Racine's chief innovation officer. And as a result of the pandemic, it has gotten worse: "More than ever, those without digital access are being denied access to opportunity." These folks include students who are unable to get online instruction or complete online homework, adults who lack the tools to apply for a job, and seniors who can't use telehealth options.