TY - JOUR AU - Samsuddin, Samsul Farid AU - Mohamed Shaffril, Hayrol Azril AU - Mohamed, Nor Aini AU - Bolong, Jusang PY - 2021/08/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Into the unknown: Do people in low literacy rate areas practise digital reading? JF - Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science JA - MJLIS VL - 26 IS - 2 SE - Articles DO - 10.22452/mjlis.vol26no2.2 UR - https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/MJLIS/article/view/23410 SP - 23-36 AB - <p><em>Various initiatives have been taken to </em><em>bridge </em><em>the </em><em>urban-rural </em><em>digital divide in Malaysia, which has impacted the change of mindset among the rural community in terms of acceptance and assimilation of </em><em>digital </em><em>technolo</em><em>gies</em><em> in their daily life. This includes </em><em>digital </em><em>literacy-related activities for self-development, especially in </em><em>cultivating reading habits</em><em>. The main purpose of this study is to investigate digital reading practices among rural communities </em><em>in low literacy rate areas </em><em>in </em><em>promoting</em><em> reading culture in Malaysia under the 10-year National Reading Decade (DMK) 2021-2030 programme.</em> <em>A quantitative design of the study which involved 400 rural community respondents from 4 selected states in Malaysia (Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak, and Sabah) using the multi-stage and mix</em><em>ed</em><em> sampling </em><em>method</em> <em>in administering </em><em>the survey questionnaires. </em><em>This study found </em><em>that rural communities</em><em> in low literacy rate areas</em><em> in Malaysia did practice digital reading, </em><em>primarily on</em><em> smartphone.</em><em> The empowerment of digital literacy in terms of digital reading practices is believed </em><em>to be able to</em><em> narrow down the digital divide among rural communities</em><em>. </em><em>The findings are expected to provide useful guidance for rural development in ICT and create better understanding and awareness among policymakers</em><em> to </em><em>create </em><em>a rural </em><em>society which is</em> <em>learned and well-informed</em><em> through a more inclusive digital reading practices.</em></p> ER -