Research on the Connotation of Digital Inclusion in Public Libraries in the AI Era: An Interpretation of the IFLA Internet Manifesto

The Internet Manifesto issued by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) reflects a profound transformation in the meaning of digital inclusion within the field of global internet governance. Interpreting its content offers valuable insights into how public libraries can position themselves within internet governance and fulfill their mission of promoting digital inclusion in the AI era. Guided by the concept of digital inclusion, this study analyzes the Internet Manifesto text to elucidate the evolution of its target groups, actions, and missions, thereby clarifying the role of public libraries in the ongoing process of internet governance. The forms and severity of the digital divide have undergone qualitative changes—from the access gap, to the usage gap, and finally to the knowledge gap. Accordingly, the connotation of digital inclusion has evolved toward the diversification of beneficiaries' rights, the broadening of action domains, and the deepening of its mission. Public libraries must transform from providers of information resources into creators of digital communities, responding to technological feudalism with a humanistic approach.