即使身處21世紀資訊科技發達的時代，網際網路已相當普及，但是無論在美國或臺灣地區、甚至全世界仍然存在著不同程度的數位落差。雖然公共圖書館電腦網路公共取用服務（Public Access Computing）的提供亦達到接近百分之百的普及率； 然而相較於都市地區，偏遠地區公共圖書館因為地理位置的區域差異，以及長期處於人力、物力及經費的缺乏，其讀者的電腦網路使用行為明顯存在數位落差的危機與挑戰。因此本研究以臺中縣偏遠地區和平鄉、新社鄉與東勢鎮圖書館讀者為調查對象，並納入臺中市立文化中心為調查對照組，藉以凸顯偏遠地區公共圖書館讀者之電腦網路使用行為的數位落差。

Even though in the 21st century, the advanced information technology and the internet have been available with each passing day, there still has been existing the digital divide around the world. Despites the most public libraries maintaining public access computing service, but still the rural libraries are fragile; that is, the patrons in the rural and small town libraries are the most disadvantages with respect to being able to use the public access computing. It seems that quite often the isolated, rural libraries still have to face and struggle with the continued challenges: the lack of funding and resources. The study includes three rural libraries in Taichung County. And then in order to proclaim the digital divide on these rural libraries’ patrons, it also subsumes the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau as a comparison.