This page features select publications authored by members of the Digital Equity Action Research (DEAR) Lab. Names in bold indicate DEAR Lab members.
Rhinesmith, C. (2026). Public libraries, digital equity coalitions, and the public good. Public Library Quarterly, 45(1), 94–118. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2025.2452060
Rhinesmith, C. (2025). Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley: Report highlights and recommendations. Southeastern New York Library Resources Council.
Dagg, P. R., Knittel, M., Rhinesmith, C., & Oh, J. (2025). Beyond access and infrastructure: Evaluating the impact of local contexts on digital equity strategies through the lens of the digital opportunities compass. Journal of Information Policy. https://doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.15.2025.0006
Rhinesmith, C., & Kang-Le, S. (2025). Understanding the value of a digital equity researcher-practitioner collaboration using participatory action research. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 6(2), 177–206.
Rhinesmith, C., & Prasad, R. with Stratton, C., & Clark, L. (2025). From the ground up: Investing in the human Infrastructure of broadband. Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/Ground-Up-Infrastructure-Investing.pdf
Rhinesmith, C. (2024). “It’s one of the most important things we carry for us”: How mobile hotspots support people experiencing homelessness. Mobile Media & Communication, 12(2), 274-292. https://doi.org/10.1177/20501579231212061
Rhinesmith, C. (2023). Digital equity and justice in Maryland: Opportunities and challenges. Digital Equity Research Center, Metropolitan New York Library Council. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20233.83041
Rhinesmith, C. (2023). Community informatics and artificial intelligence. The Journal of Community Informatics, 19(1), 1-2. https://openjournals.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/JoCI/article/view/5583
Bauer J. M., Dagg, P. R., Rhinesmith, C., Byrum, G., & Schill, A. (2023). A comprehensive framework to monitor, evaluate, and guide broadband and digital equity policy. Proceedings of the TPRC2023, The Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy. Available at SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4557340
Rhinesmith, C., Krongelb, M., & Kang-Le, S. (2023). Developing a digital equity theory of change with Tech Goes Home. Tech Goes Home. techgoeshome.org/our-reports
Rhinesmith, C., Dagg, P.R., Bauer, J.M., Byrum, G., & Schill, A. (2023). Digital opportunities compass: Metrics to monitor, evaluate, and guide broadband and digital equity policy. Working paper, Ann Arbor, MI: Merit Network, Inc. and East Lansing, MI: Quello Center. https://quello.msu.edu/broadband/do_compass-pdf/
Rhinesmith, C. (2023). Missing pieces: How the FCC’s Broadband Map misrepresents public libraries. School, Libraries, Health and Broadband Coalition and American Library Association.
Rhinesmith, C., Krongelb, M., & Jiang, J. (2022). The Digital Equity Leadership Lab (DELL): A case study of community leadership development to promote digital equity and justice. The Journal of Community Informatics, 18(1), 104-131. https://doi.org/10.15353/joci.v18i1.4875
Ritzo, C., Rhinesmith, C., & Jiang, J. (2022). Measuring library broadband networks to address knowledge gaps and data caps. Information Technology and Libraries, 41(3). https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v41i3.13775
Rhinesmith, C., & Santo, R. (2022). Digital equity ecosystems measurement framework. Digital Equity Research Center, Metropolitan New York Library Council. https://metro.org/digital_equity_ecosystems
Glaze, S., Rhinesmith, C., Webb, C., Roach, S., Quintanilla-Muñoz, C., Krongelb, M., Rivers, T., Martinez, S., Green, A., Flores, L. (2022). The digital equity action research (DEAR) fellowship: A participatory action research project. Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/DEAR.pdf
Doran, M., Rhinesmith, C. and Arena, S. (2021). Perspectives of community partner organizations in the development of ethical service-learning guidelines. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 27(1), 155-180. https://doi.org/10.3998/mjcsloa.3239521.0027.107
Rhinesmith, C., Dutilloy, J., Kennedy, K., McCann, L., Ritzo, C., Bullen, G., & Stenberg, S. (2020). Co-designing an open source broadband measurement system with public libraries. In L. Stillman, M. Anwar, C. Rhinesmith, & V. Rhinesmith (Eds.), Proceedings – 17th CIRN Conference 6-8 November 2019, Monash University Prato Centre, Italy: “Whose Agenda: Action, Research, & Politics.” (pp. 153-176). Department of Human Centred Computing, Monash University.
Reisdorf, B., & Rhinesmith, C. (2020). Digital inclusion as a core component of social inclusion. Social Inclusion, 8(2), 132-137. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v8i2.3184
Rhinesmith, C., & Kennedy, S. (2020). Growing healthy digital equity ecosystems during COVID-19 and beyond. Evanston, IL: Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. http://benton.org/digital-equity-ecosystems-report
Strover, S., Whitacre, B., Rhinesmith, C., & Schrubbe, A. (2020). The digital inclusion role of rural libraries: Social inequities through space and place. Media, Culture & Society, 42(2), 242-259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443719853504
Rhinesmith, C., Reisdorf, B., & Bishop, M. (2019). The ability to pay for broadband. Communication Research and Practice, 5(2), 121-138. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2019.1601491
Rhinesmith, C. (2019). Community informatics. In G. Ritzer & C. Rojek (Eds.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2nd Ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeos1457
Reisdorf, B., & Rhinesmith, C. (2018). An asset-based approach to digital inclusion research in the US context. In Massimo Ragnedda and Bruce Mutswairo (Eds.), Digital Inclusion: An International Comparative Analysis. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Rhinesmith, C., & Stanton, C. L. U. (2018). Developing media literacy in public libraries: Learning from community media centers. Public Library Quarterly, 37(4), 420-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2018.1525527
Sweeney, M., & Rhinesmith, C. (2017). Creating caring institutions for community informatics. Information, Communication & Society, 20(10), 1482-1497. DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2016.1234635
Rhinesmith, C., & Siefer, A. (2017). Digital inclusion outcomes-based evaluation. Benton Foundation. https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/outcomes-based-evaluation.pdf
Rhinesmith, C. (2016). Digital inclusion and meaningful broadband adoption initiatives. Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation. https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/broadbandinclusion.pdf
Rhinesmith, C., Dettmann, M., Pierson, M., & Spence, R. (2015). YouthStudio: Designing public library YA spaces with teens. Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults, 6(4), 1-24. https://www.yalsa.ala.org/jrlya/2015/11/youthstudio-designing-public-library-ya-spaces-with-teens/
Whitacre, B., & Rhinesmith, C. (2015). Public libraries and residential broadband adoption: Do more computers lead to higher rates? Government Information Quarterly, 32(2), 164-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2015.02.007
Rhinesmith, C. (2012). Free library hot spots: Supporting broadband adoption in Philadelphia’s low-income communities. International Journal of Communication, 6, 2529-2554. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/1782