Digital exclusion is high on the international agenda and covers a variety of inequalities in access to and use of digital technologies, and in the skills and motivation needed for their adoption. This research contributes to the discussion on solving digital exclusion issues by addressing the emergent roles and challenges of Lithuanian public libraries in reducing the digital divide. The article combines a multilevel model of the digital divide with the concept of business idea and analyzes the future scenarios of Lithuanian public libraries. The findings highlight the public libraries' importance in conducting training, consultancy, and experiential learning to stimulate digital inclusion. Potentially, libraries can motivate users to adopt digital technologies, but this role is still not sufficiently visible. The findings show that libraries face challenges of redefining their social value and obtaining the sustaining funds, skills, and infrastructure necessary for digital inclusion programs. However, they can use collaboration networks, effective cost management, and external expertise to overcome these obstacles.

中文翻译：

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准备缩小数字鸿沟：立陶宛公共图书馆的情景

数字排斥在国际议程上占据重要位置，涵盖了获取和使用数字技术以及采用这些技术所需的技能和动机方面的各种不平等。这项研究有助于通过解决立陶宛公共图书馆在缩小数字鸿沟方面的新兴作用和挑战来解决数字排斥问题的讨论。文章将数字鸿沟的多层次模型与商业理念的概念相结合，分析了立陶宛公共图书馆的未来场景。调查结果强调了公共图书馆在开展培训、咨询和体验式学习以促进数字包容性方面的重要性。潜在地，图书馆可以激励用户采用数字技术，但这种作用仍然不够明显。调查结果表明，图书馆面临着重新定义其社会价值和获得数字包容计划所需的持续资金、技能和基础设施的挑战。但是，他们可以使用协作网络、有效的成本管理和外部专业知识来克服这些障碍。