For immediate release | December 10, 2024

PLA provides funding to more than 100 public libraries as part of $2.7 million effort to boost digital literacy

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CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA) has selected more than 130 public libraries across 42 states to host digital literacy workshops, powered by a generous $2.7 million contribution from AT&T. The PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive and the new PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive support public libraries in their work of improving basic digital skills among families and communities. The workshops will utilize training materials, created in collaboration with AT&T, that are freely available to anyone through DigitalLearn.org and AT&T ScreenReady.

This cohort is the third to participate in the expanded national initiative and collaboration between PLA and AT&T. Since 2022, PLA has helped nearly 400 public libraries conduct more than 3,800 workshops, training more than 19,000 learners across 45 states through its digital literacy incentive programs. This new cohort will increase the number of learners libraries can continue to reach.

PLA President Michael Lambert said, “PLA is proud to support public libraries in being at the forefront of boosting digital literacy skills and bridging the digital divide in their communities. With another year of PLA’s sustained collaboration with AT&T, more learners across the nation than ever before will get connected to vital digital literacy skills and technology resources at the library.”

Workshops will be offered on eight digital literacy topics. Courses cover basic technology skills which include topics such as internet use, video conferencing, cybersecurity, and using mobile devices.

Participant from last year’s Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive cohort Logan Anderson, Library Director of Wayne County Public Library (Monticello, Ky.), remarked, “This program allowed us to respond to a daily, pervasive need in our community of library users, and we are extremely appreciative of the funds, curriculum, and support that have been made available to us. Our attendees voiced higher levels of confidence and understanding after attending the workshops and requested that we offer them again in the future.”

Recipients of the new PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive will utilize DigitalLearn materials to support library patrons with ongoing, individualized guidance with their devices, connectivity, and digital skills. Digital navigators are trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices, and digital skills. The 2023 Public Libraries and Technology Survey finds that almost 30 percent of respondents report offering digital navigator services.

“At AT&T, we are dedicated to empowering communities by providing essential digital literacy resources and support,” said Mylayna Albright, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at AT&T. “Our continued collaboration with the Public Library Association underscores our commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that individuals and families across the nation have the skills they need to thrive in today's digital world.”

Workshops funded by the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive will be conducted at participating libraries across the United States. Workshops will begin in December 2024 and will be offered through May 2025. Patrons should check with their local libraries to learn about upcoming workshops in their community.

Selected Libraries (A-Z by State) (* indicates participation in both incentive programs):

Library System Name	City/Town	State	Program
Seward Community Library & Museum	Seward	AK	DigitalLearn Workshop
Homewood Public Library	Homewood	AL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Navajo County Library District	Holbrook	AZ	DigitalLearn Workshop
Berkeley Public Library	Berkeley	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Los Angeles Public Library	Los Angeles	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Madera County Library	Madera	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Murrieta Library	Murrieta	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Oakland Public Library	Oakland	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Oceanside Public Library	Oceanside	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Paso Robles City Library	Paso Robles	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Riverside County Library System	Riverside	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Sonoma County Library	Rohnert Park	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Nevada County Library	Nevada City	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Santa Cruz Public Libraries	Santa Cruz	CA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Loveland Public Library	Loveland	CO	Both*
Rockville Public Library	Vernon	CT	DigitalLearn Workshop
The Westport Library	Westport, CT	CT	DigitalLearn Workshop
Delaware Division of Libraries	Dover	DE	Both*
St. Lucie County Library System	Fort Pierce	FL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library	Tampa, FL 33602	FL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Osceola Library System	Kissimmee	FL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Henry County Library System	McDonough	GA	Both*
Cobb County Public Library System	Marietta	GA	DigitalLearn Workshop
DeKalb County Public Library	Decatur	GA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Decorah Public Library	Decorah	IA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Logan Public Library	Logan	IA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Scott County Library System	Buffalo	IA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Algona Public Library	Algona	IA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Homedale Library District	Homedale	ID	DigitalLearn Workshop
Mountain Home Public Library	Mountain Home	ID	Digital Navigator Pilot
Broadview Public Library District	Broadview	IL	Digital Navigator Pilot
Carlinville Public Library	Carlinville	IL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Gail Borden Public Library District	Elgin	IL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Robert R. Jones Public Library	Coal Valley	IL	Both*
Chillicothe Public Library	Chillicothe	IL	DigitalLearn Workshop
Highwood Public Library	Highwood	IL	Digital Navigator Pilot
North Riverside Public Library	North Riverside	IL	Digital Navigator Pilot
Bartholomew County Public Library	Columbus	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Goshen Public Library	Goshen	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Hamilton East Public Library	Noblesville	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Jefferson County Public Library	Madison	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
New Albany-Floyd County Public Library	New Albany	IN	Digital Navigator Pilot
Washington Carnegie Public Library	Washington	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Breeden Memorial Library	Leavenworth	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
St. Joe County Public Library	South Bend	IN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Emporia Public Library	Emporia	KS	Digital Navigator Pilot
Paola Free Library	Paola	KS	DigitalLearn Workshop
Winfield Public Library	Winfield	KS	Digital Navigator Pilot
Paul Sawyier Public Library	Frankfort	KY	DigitalLearn Workshop
William B. Harlan Memorial Library	Tompkinsville	KY	DigitalLearn Workshop
Ouachita Parish Public Library	Monroe	LA	DigitalLearn Workshop
St. James Parish Library	Lutcher	LA	Both*
Terrebonne Parish Library System	Houma	LA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Blackstone Public Library	Blackstone	MA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Holbrook Public Library	Holbrook	MA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Swansea Free Public Library	Swansea	MA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Taunton Public Library	Taunton	MA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Cambridge Public Library	Cambridge	MA	Both*
St. Mary's County Library	Leonardtown	MD	Both*
Baltimore County Public Library	Towson	MD	DigitalLearn Workshop
Bangor Public Library	Bangor	ME	Digital Navigator Pilot
D.A. Hurd Library	North Berwick	ME	Digital Navigator Pilot
Millinocket Memorial Library	Millinocket	ME	Digital Navigator Pilot
Pittsfield Public Library	Pittsfield	ME	DigitalLearn Workshop
Skidompha Public Library	Damariscotta	ME	Digital Navigator Pilot
Fowlerville District Library	Fowlerville	MI	DigitalLearn Workshop
Hartford Public Library	Hartford	MI	DigitalLearn Workshop
Trenton Veterans Memorial Library	Trenton	MI	Digital Navigator Pilot
East Grand Forks Campbell Library	East Grand Forks	MN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library	Brookhaven	MS	DigitalLearn Workshop
Waynesboro-Wayne County Library	Waynesboro	MS	DigitalLearn Workshop
Great Falls Public Library	Great Falls	MT	DigitalLearn Workshop
Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library	Burnsville	NC	DigitalLearn Workshop
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center	Fayetteville	NC	DigitalLearn Workshop
Onslow County Public Library	Jacksonville	NC	DigitalLearn Workshop
Keene Memorial Library	Fremont	NE	DigitalLearn Workshop
Lincoln City Libraries	Lincoln	NE	DigitalLearn Workshop
Jersey City Free Public Library	Jersey City	NJ	DigitalLearn Workshop
Ocean County Library	Toms River	NJ	DigitalLearn Workshop
Princeton Public Library	Princeton	NJ	DigitalLearn Workshop
South Orange Public Library	South Orange	NJ	DigitalLearn Workshop
Sussex County Library System	Newton	NJ	DigitalLearn Workshop
San Felipe Community Library	Algodones	NM	DigitalLearn Workshop
Hudson Area Association Library	Hudson	NY	Digital Navigator Pilot
Mohawk Valley Library System	Schenectady	NY	DigitalLearn Workshop
New Rochelle Public Library	New Rochelle	NY	Digital Navigator Pilot
Onondaga County Public Libraries	Syracuse	NY	DigitalLearn Workshop
Patchogue-Medford Library	Patchogue	NY	Digital Navigator Pilot
Queens Public Library Foundation	Jamaica	NY	DigitalLearn Workshop
Williamson Public Library	Williamson	NY	Digital Navigator Pilot
Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library	Chillicothe	OH	Digital Navigator Pilot
Logan Hocking County District Library	Logan	OH	Digital Navigator Pilot
Mentor Public Library	Mentor	OH	DigitalLearn Workshop
St. Marys Community Public Library	St. Marys	OH	Digital Navigator Pilot
Williams County Public Library	Bryan	OH	DigitalLearn Workshop
Lawton Public Library	Lawton	OK	DigitalLearn Workshop
Miami Public Library	Miami	OK	DigitalLearn Workshop
Clatskanie Library District	Clatskanie	OR	DigitalLearn Workshop
Hillsboro Public Library	Hillsboro	OR	DigitalLearn Workshop
Toledo Public Library	Toledo	OR	DigitalLearn Workshop
Parkland Community Library	Allentown	PA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Baldwin Borough Public Library	Pittsburgh	PA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Somerset County Library (PA)	Somerset	PA	Digital Navigator Pilot
Mayaguez Children's Library/ Biblioteca Juvenil de Mayaguez	Mayagüez	PR	DigitalLearn Workshop
West Warwick Public Library	West Warwick	RI	Both*
Providence Public Library	Providence	RI	Both*
Westerly Library	Westerly	RI	Digital Navigator Pilot
Custer County Library	Custer	SD	DigitalLearn Workshop
Memphis Library Foundation	Memphis	TN	DigitalLearn Workshop
Benbrook Public Library	Benbrook	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Flower Mound Public Library	Flower Mound	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Houston Public Library	Houston	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Jarrell Community Library	Jarrell	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Marathon Public Library	Marathon	TX	Digital Navigator Pilot
McAllen Public Library	McAllen	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Texarkana Public Library	Texarkana	TX	Both*
Honey Grove Library & Learning Center	Honey Grove	TX	DigitalLearn Workshop
Pottsboro Library	Pottsboro	TX	Digital Navigator Pilot
Salt Lake City Public Library	Salt Lake City	UT	DigitalLearn Workshop
Franklin County Public Library	Rocky Mount	VA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Virginia Beach Public Library	Virginia Beach	VA	DigitalLearn Workshop
Salisbury Free Public Library	Salisbury	VT	DigitalLearn Workshop
Whiting Library	Chester	VT	DigitalLearn Workshop
Anacortes Public Library	Anacortes	WA	Digital Navigator Pilot
Columbus Public Library	Columbus	WI	DigitalLearn Workshop
T.B. Scott Free Library	Merrill	WI	DigitalLearn Workshop
Thomas St Angelo Public Library	Cumberland	WI	Digital Navigator Pilot
McIntosh Memorial Library	Viroqua	WI	DigitalLearn Workshop
Crook County Library System	Moorcroft	WY	DigitalLearn Workshop

About the Public Library Association

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 9,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or pla@ala.org.

Contact:

Eliana Kleiman

Communications Associate

Public Library Association

ekleiman@ala.org

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