Libraries for Digital Literacy

Libraries need to advance into the digital age; young people need to learn more about technology. Why not couple these two interests? Libraries around the world have the capacity to bring technological experience and expertise to every student, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Today, many jobs require at least some basic computer skills, but those skills are not easily accessible to many populations. Computers are expensive, and learning how to use them effectively requires practice and instruction. 

Youth left without the opportunity to experience the use of new and upcoming technologies are left at a disadvantage compared to other students who have had access to computers, tablets, and smartphones their whole lives.

This project aims to remedy that inequality by introducing the technological skills necessary to succeed in the workforce to the young people who will soon be entering that workforce. 

Libraries can act as hubs of learning, quiet spaces for studying, and places of entertainment for students and people of all ages. So, why not extend the purpose of libraries into promoting digital literacy globally?

A recent study from the PEW Research Center found that 75% of respondents thought that libraries were effective at teaching computer skills to those who lacked them. That same PEW study advocated for the expansion of the role of libraries in creating digitally literate societies beyond what they have been doing so far.

Through LDL, young students around the world will be exposed to technology and will learn how to perform both basic and advanced tasks using computers and other electronic devices. These students will likely be from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and will likely not have consistent educational access to technology at home or at school. 

With the help of LDL, these students should be able to procure jobs that require the use of technology.

The curriculum of LDL will be free, deployed through trained librarian instruction as well as some online videos, which will be accessible from public computers in libraries.

Use online registering to track users - 10,000 students make use of LDL's curriculum in libraries

Online examinations track progress in a field - A student successfully learns how to code Java

Surveys regarding employment sent out to users - A student will obtain a job making use of their learned computer skills

Libraries for Digital Literacy provides under served communities with the opportunity to gain skills previously inaccessible to them. Whereas other solutions may attempt to introduce new organizations or new facilities to provide students with these skills, LDL makes use of and expands upon existing structures to teach young people. 

The infrastructure already exists through public libraries, all that remains is for the infrastructure to be used and used well. 

Additionally, whereas other online learning platforms are focused on people with access to the internet, LDL is focused on those who do not.

The primary goal of LDL is to provide people with the tech experience they need to procure and perform jobs in the future. Every part of the process if focused on helping people achieve their full potential. The curriculum will be designed with the most basic skill levels in mind, but will also allow students who do have some experience to skip ahead. Some skills will be taught by trained professionals in person, and any assignments will be evaluated by the same professionals before being returned with feedback. 

The solution will be accessible online through the use of library-based computers. All that students would need to do is register as a student under LDL and be present at the library for any classes taught in-person by a trained teacher (possibly librarians themselves) and for access to computers. 

Because public libraries are free and open to the public, most expenses would be covered through taxes without any extra cost to the people who need LDL's service.

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