Sharing Digital Navigators Among Public Libraries

Data Gathering Forms

Client Intake Assessment Form: 

This form gathers intake information that allows the navigator to stay in contact with the client over repeated appointments and determine their reasons for scheduling the appointment. It also provides a means for the navigator to assess basic skills and needs in categories such as account management, adaptability, computer skills, device access, hardware and software knowledge, access to the internet, knowledge for their safety and security, and their smartphone skills.

The navigators were provided with an explanation sheet to help them understand the intent of each question and to standardize answers for data entry. This form and the explanation sheet are attached below. The actual questions in the form are found in rich text on the Data subpage, Client Intake and Assessment Form Questions. 

Appointment Report: 

The Appointment Report is designed to prompt the navigator to reflect on the appointment, note the desire on the part of the client for new visits on new topics and/or for a device.  Appointment reports by navigators are reviewed by the Project Coordinator and maintained as working records for the navigator. 

Testimonial Form:

The testimonial form is designed to allow clients who want to be part of a digital equity advocacy project to go on record supporting navigation services and to describe what it meant to them. 

Process for Data Gathering and Preserving

• Navigators interviewed clients at their first appointment using the paper intake form.
• Navigators used Appointment Progress forms for each subsequent meeting with a client
• Due to lack of capacity to maintain privacy with online entry, navigators brought their completed forms to the Hub.
• At the Hub, a part-time data entry contractor transferred the information to the access table.
• This data entry contractor noted elements of navigator completed forms that needed standardized
• Issues in data collection that complicated standardized data entry were discussed at monthly meetings of navigators with data staff
• As the process revealed anomalies, the data collection developer/ manager and project coordinator proposed adjustments to the system
• The data system developer and manager brought regular reports on the progress and findings from navigation to participating directors