Auburn library receives digital literacy workshop incentive grant

The Auburn Public Library is among more than 160 public libraries nationwide awarded funding by the Public Library Association to conduct digital literacy workshops using Digitallearn.org resources.

The PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive, supported by AT&T, provides support to libraries of all sizes to conduct digital literacy training in their communities and help close the digital divide.

The library will help patrons utilize these resources in upcoming workshops that will be conducted in person in the second floor computer lab at the 49 Spring St. library.

The first workshop is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, and will cover computer basics. Skills will include navigating the desktop, organizing files and folders, managing the windows of an application, and working within files.

The library aims to bring people, resources and ideas together to engage, enlighten and enrich the community. Within that mission, two goals speak directly to the need for knowledge of technology — helping customers of all generations to grow and to learn, and promoting workforce development, according to a news release from the library.

Knowledge of technology continues to be an important and necessary skill for members of any community. Whether applying for resources, seeking a new job, or simply communicating, more and more businesses and organizations are requiring that people complete courses or training, job applications, and/or formal documents online. On a given day at the APL Reference Desk, staff spend a significant amount of time providing some form of technology help, whether on library computers or with a customer’s personal laptop or other device. Customers often ask about whether the library offers formal classes in digital literacy. The receipt of this grant will allow the library to teach the necessary skills for its community members to succeed in a digital environment.

Through the grant funding, to better facilitate these workshops, library will purchase a large television monitor in the computer lab. This will allow the instructor to better facilitate the workshops and those participating to more clearly see the screen. The library also plans to purchase tablets for program participants for use with the training.

“We are grateful to have this grant, which allows us to continue our digital and media literacy efforts. We began with an American Library Association grant a few years ago, and we realize now more than ever our work is not done here,” said Mamie Ney, the library’s director.

For a listing of all of the planned digital literacy workshops associated with this grant, visit auburnpubliclibrary.org or call Donna Wallace at the Reference Desk at 207-333-6640, ext. 4.