ICT usage at rural libraries: Does positive youth development exist?

This study was to discover the Positive Youth Development (PYD) dimensions towards ICT usage in rural libraries among youths in Malaysia. This is a quantitative design and descriptive study in nature, which involved 400 respondents among rural youths from 16 selected rural libraries in four states of Peninsular Malaysia were chosen based on multistage cluster and simple random sampling. Rural youth community in Malaysia exhibited high level of PYD towards ICT usage at rural libraries especially on level of confidence when using ICT. Based on the analysis performed, education level and employment status have significance difference, meanwhile age has positive relationship with PYD towards ICT usage at rural libraries. The findings are of limited generality due to the small size of the sample. However, the study has implications on the understanding of the acceptance of technology among socioeconomically disadvantaged people towards PYD. The practical implications is the implementation of PYD through ICT usage in local rural libraries instead of other positive places, particularly in terms of local community participation. Data on demographic can be used as evidence of service provision for rural community in the future. © 2019, Library Philosophy and Practice