Pustaka in a box: bridging the digital gap

At about 124,450 km 2, Sarawak is the largest state in the Federation of Malaysia. The total population of Sarawak is about 2.6 million and that gives a population density of about 21 per km 2. This is a real challenge in providing library services even online as the digital gap exist not just because of geography but also due to economic reasons. Microcomputer is used as a server to store digital resources including e-books, articles and videos. The system is called Pustaka in a Box and it was tested in remote areas of Sarawak. Access is via local wifi from the microcomputer. The system could accommodate 20 users simultaneously and the signal is good about 20 meters away. Pustaka in a Box is a cheap way of providing access to information resources. Power needs by the microcomputer is minimal and it can also run on power bank. This is a very effective way of addressing the digital gap.