Assessing the geodemographics of the People's Network in public libraries in Shropshire.

Résumé

The People's Network – Internet-accessible computers in every public library in the country - has been a key method in public policy to make Internet access available in public spaces in the UK. This study examines the userbase within the county of Shropshire via Mosaic geodemographic software to determine how far the Network is used by the 'socially excluded’, the key target population for policymakers. While 46% of the sample had no Internet access elsewhere other than at library premises, the userbase was mainly comprised of people from reasonably affluent areas, with little sign people in deprived areas used the service.