Final answer:
Maria is an innovator for her idea to provide digital library access to students. Her initiative is similar to others like the K.I.N.D. Fund and the Hole in the Wall Project, which also contribute to reducing the digital divide and building social capital.
Step-by-step explanation:
People like Maria, who came up with the idea to connect students in her town to a digital library, are known as innovators. Innovators are individuals who introduce new ideas, methods, or devices. Maria's initiative mirrors the actions of figures such as Lawrence O'Donnell with the Kids in Need of Desks (K.I.N.D.) Fund and Sugata Mitra with the Hole in the Wall Project, who have also taken significant steps to enhance educational opportunities and resources for children in less privileged areas.
Tackling the digital divide — the gap in access to technology between different demographics or regions — is of paramount importance. Access to technology not only provides educational benefits but also bridges social and economic gaps, enabling individuals and communities to engage more fully in the political and social landscape, thereby fostering social capital and driving social change.