Digital inclusion has always been part of library services; now it’s time to embrace it as core to our missions. This session provides a 4 step process to devise actionable services for a digitally equitable future. You’re probably already offering basic digital inclusion services, and you might even have ‘stealth’ services where patrons don’t realize you are teaching them (like helping someone reset a password). But our communities face growing barriers to digital participation, and these basic services are no longer enough to answer their needs. Especially with federal funds on the horizon from the 2021 Digital Equity Act, libraries must be prepared to offer bold new services that reach our patrons where they are. Fortunately, librarians are uniquely qualified to be local leaders because we can approach this work from the foundation of our professional values. Once we have a vision for digital equity, we can jump into blue-sky thinking to design library services for a better future. The 4 step process shared in this session will translate your wild brainstorm into a plan you can actually implement. You’ll experience the process in real time as we start a hands-on workbook together, and you’ll leave with clear next steps to make your vision a reality. Resources provided in the workbook include a cheat sheet for broadband jargon and acronyms, strategic questions for cutting through highly technical conversations and staying focused on patron services, and a find-and-replace vocabulary tool to help you maximize buy-in from partisan groups.
Learning Objectives:
Explore how digital inclusion work is already central to your library’s mission.
Find opportunities to reach further into your community with broader services to close the digital divide.
Swap ideas with colleagues and brainstorm solutions that fit your library’s unique situation.
Gather resources and tools to make your ideas possible.
