Clinton Cites ALA in Announcing
“Digital Divide” Initiative
President Clinton announced a “National Call to Action” April 4 to address the “digital divide” between computer haves and have-nots. The effort calls on companies and nonprofit organizations to help bring digital opportunity to youth, families, and communities around the country.
The initiative’s two goals, said Clinton, are to “bring 21st-century learning tools to every school” by finishing the job of connecting every classroom to the Internet, and to create digital opportunity for all Americans through community technology centers and eventual universal home Internet access.
Clinton cited four existing projects that illustrate the sort of partnerships he hopes to encourage, including ALA’s work to create and expand local programs offering information literacy training. He noted that the Association “has pledged to expand the information literacy programs of its members in at least 250 communities.”
Clinton also announced that later this month he would travel from California’s Silicon Valley to the Comdex computer conference in Chicago, accompanied by CEOs and members of Congress, to focus attention on efforts to help poor people gain computer skills.
Posted April 10, 2000.
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