In the article entitled, "What is the role of libraries in the age of e-books and digital information," the author notes the recent American Library Association annual State of America's Libraries Report, and that many of its findings were grim. The article goes on to cite a recent Pew Research Center report, which uncovered a digital divide in the use of e-books.
Mike Crandall, senior lecturer for the iSchool and chair of the master's of science in information management, was quoted in the article as saying, "Without libraries, the division would be even greater, since for many people they serve as the only access point for digital information and services. Our study of library computer use found that for 22 percent of library computer users (age 14 and older), the library was their only source for access to computers and the Internet. This would suggest that similar restricted access would apply to e-books without libraries in the mix."
Crandall is referring to the U.S. IMPACT study of library use conducted by the iSchool and published in June, 2011.