Durham County Library Digital Navigators
Durham County Library
Anti-Racism, Digital Equity and Inclusion
| 2023
Innovation Synopsis
In partnership with local nonprofits and NC State University, Durham County Library executed an LSTA EZ Grant to address Durham’s divide in access to technology and digital literacy skills. A consultant trained library staff to become digital navigators to educate patrons in technology skills and connect those patrons with low-cost devices.
Challenge/Opportunity
- Durham County’s Digital Divide: 13% of residents without Wi-Fi connection in home, 10,000 households without a computer in the home
- Disparity both in access to devices and the skills needed to operate devices
- Need for access concentrated among low-income residents and rural areas of Durham County
- Especially post-Covid, technology used for education, banking, employment, utilities, and healthcare
- Digital literacy skills important for discovering the information resources the library has to offer
Key Elements of Innovation
- Consultant hired and trained 10 library staff to become digital navigators
- Partnerships with NC State University’s Friday Institute and Digital Durham, a collective of 15 organizations
- Held outreach sessions and worked one-on-one with community members to provide instruction in digital literacy skills
- Filled out forms for low-cost and free computers and assisted in signup for Affordable Connectivity Program
- Innovative collaboration provided devices and training to high-need individuals
Achieved Outcomes
- Outreach sessions: 16 sessions at Durham Center for Senior Life, 3 sessions at Families Moving Forward (a local family shelter), 1 session at NCCU Health Fair – 150+ individuals and 7 families served
- Exit surveys from 65 individuals, data entered into Qualtrics
- 87% agree or strongly agree they felt more confident using digital resources & are more aware of library resources, 89% intend to use what they learned
- Library will partner with NCCU for grant from National Telecommunication and Information Administration