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Sharing Digital Navigators Among Public Libraries

Lessons from Institute and Museum Library Service National Leadership Grant LG254838-OLS-23: Designing and Implementing a Replicable Regional Digital Navigator Sharing Plan

Training Navigators for Community Service

For this project, we followed a training method developed by the Hamden Public Library for previous navigation programs. It consisted of two parts. The first was a two-week introductory period punctuated with a few readings and two-hour webinars with presentations and group discussion. The second was a period of one-two months of shadowing an experienced navigator and slowly taking on appointments with support nearby.  The duration of this period of shadowing depended on the level of confidence demonstrated by navigator-in-training. 

At the same time, navigators were encouraged to think about the gaps in their knowledge by filling out this short Digital Literacy Goals Survey.  They were also encouraged to join the National Digital Inclusion Alliance navigator group sessions and to share, if they felt compelled, their ideas and experiences.

The first part of the training took place over two weeks, meeting three times a week for three hours in the afternoon.

A few short readings were recommended for discussion. These included:

  • "Digital Navigation: A Guide for Connecticut State Hub Digital Navigators," Robert Gagne and Thomas Rooney, Hamden Public Library, 2022
  • "ISPs and the End of ACP," CCG Consulting, May 21, 2023
  • Shara Tibken, "The Broadband Gap's Dirty Secret: Redlining Still Exists in Digital Form," CNET, June 28, 2021.
  • Adie Tomer et al, "Digital Prosperity: How Broadband Can Deliver Health and Equity to All Communities," Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings Research Brief, February 2020

Navigators and library directors were invited to attend. Below is the schedule of topics: 

  • Orientation to Digital Navigation and the Regional Hub
  • Day in the life of a Digital Navigator
  • How will the Regional Hub work
  • Data tells our story - why we need to do data collection
  • Resource Day, Life without the ACP and other resources for other needs 
  • Nate Stone, Denver Public Library Digital Navigator speaks to Privacy Issues and Cybersecurity

Video of these sessions may be requested for private internal viewing.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Leaders Grants - Libraries award LG-254838-OLS-23, administered by the CT State Library. 

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