Digital literacy is broadly defined by the American Library Association (ALA) as "the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills."
Key Benefits:
Impact: A survey of Texas public libraries found major investment ($70-$90 million statewide) in digital literacy training and services, demonstrating measurable community impact.
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
Audience: Adults or seniors who may have limited experience with computers/Internet
Topics:
Format:
Duration: 4-6 weeks, 1 session per week, 60-90 minutes each
Audience: Adults wanting to build confidence (for employment, education, daily life)
Sample Session Breakdown:
Format:
Focus: Computer classes enable community members to apply for jobs, complete their taxes, register children for school, and communicate electronically.
Duration: 1-2 hours, perhaps weekly or bi-weekly
Audience: Mixed ages; patrons can drop in with own devices or use library computers
Format:
Benefits:
Format: 1-day or half-day event, perhaps in partnership with a local organization
Example Topics:
High-quality resources that libraries can leverage (many free or low-cost) to design and run digital literacy courses:
Free self-paced courses for basic digital skills (email, search engines, apps, online safety), in English & Spanish. Also includes facilitator guides, presentation decks, and handouts.
Free tutorials on technology and life skills, useful for adult learners and library patrons.
Non-profit working to eliminate the digital divide; offers information on low-cost internet and computer access and free digital literacy courses.
A detailed guide for libraries on how to plan, promote, and evaluate digital literacy instruction.
A 100-page guidebook for state and local libraries covering planning, frameworks, and case studies.
For Grant Applications: Reports and data such as "Texas Public Libraries: Serving Communities to Enhance Digital Literacy" (2023) are useful for grant applications and internal justification of programs.
Solution: Use the buddy system by pairing more experienced participants with beginners. Create different tracks or breakout groups. Offer both beginner and intermediate sessions.
Solution: Provide take-home materials and practice exercises. Start each session with a review. Create simple reference guides. Offer drop-in lab times for practice.
Solution: Use bilingual volunteers or staff. Utilize resources available in multiple languages (like DigitalLearn.org). Focus on visual demonstrations. Partner with ESL programs.
Solution: Extend public computer hours. Develop device lending programs. Partner with organizations like EveryoneOn for low-cost internet access. Offer mobile hotspot lending.
Solution: Emphasize that everyone starts somewhere. Share stories of other beginners' success. Create a welcoming, non-judgmental atmosphere. Use peer support and normalize asking questions.
Solution: Leverage free resources and curricula. Train volunteers as digital navigators. Apply for grants using impact data. Start small and scale gradually. Partner with community organizations to share resources.
Track and document the impact of your digital literacy programs for reporting, grant applications, and continuous improvement:
Quantitative Measures:
Qualitative Measures:
Documentation Tip: Collect success stories regularly. Examples like "helped participant apply for their first job online" or "enabled senior to video chat with grandchildren" are powerful for demonstrating impact to funders and stakeholders.