This study reexamined the influence of demographic characteristics on the use of
community-based information and communication technologies (ICTs) along with
two other predictors of use: psychological attributes and alternative service accessibility.
Data were collected from 394 randomly selected community network users
using survey questionnaires. Overall, demographic variables were not found to be
significant predictors of use. When the sample was divided into two groups by users’
accessibility to an alternative service, the two groups were considerably different in
their demographic characteristics, attitude, perceptions, and current and past use
of the service, and use was explained by different sets of predictors in each group.
Demographic variables predicted use among the people who did not use an alternative
service (np176). In contrast, psychological variables predicted use among
the people who were using an alternative service (np206).Most importantly, those
without an alternative service were identified as people of lower socioeconomic
status. Implications for future research and for practice in library and information
professionals are discussed based on the findings.