SDSL's Cornerstone Newsletter

From the desk of Cheyenne Chontos, Library Technology Coordinator

After you’ve considered the importance of incorporating digital literacy services in your library and thought of the unique needs of your community, you might be asking, “Can you give me some examples of digital literacy services my library could provide?”

Absolutely! There are almost limitless possibilities on what digital literacy services a library could provide. As technology changes and grows, those possibilities also change and grow! These are just a few examples to help you start thinking about the types of digital literacy services a library could provide:

• Providing parent resources and a program on safe online communication skills for kids.
• Providing resources and a program on how to change privacy settings on websites and platforms, such as social media (ex: Facebook, Instagram).
• Hosting a workshop about appropriate online behavior and etiquette.
• Providing resources and a program on popular online scams and how to stay safe online.
• Teaching a program on how to search and/or do research online or through databases.
• Teaching a program on basic computer, device, and software use.

These are just a handful of ways to incorporate digital literacy services into your library. Digital literacy services can also come in many forms - programs, workshops, handouts, and more.

“I would love to offer more digital literacy services in my library,” you might be saying, “but my library just doesn’t have the staff, training, time, and/or resources to incorporate these right now.”

One way to help overcome these barriers is through collaboration. By working with other organizations or community partners, it allows your library to meet more community needs even with challenges in place. Here are just a few examples of ways your library can collaborate with others to provide digital literacy services:

• Partner with local universities, colleges, or technical schools to have faculty and students offer digital literacy skills courses.
• Public libraries can collaborate with school and academic libraries to provide a space and equipment for students to work on digital literacy skills during the summer.
• Public libraries can leverage PLA’s digital literacy training site to empower the digital skills trainers in their libraries and the learners in their communities. Access to DigitalLearn.org is completely free to all users.
• Reach out to tech-savvy volunteers to see if they would be interested in creating a course or materials on digital literacy. Teenagers are often looking for volunteer opportunities, and – with some support – can often lead effective courses on digital literacy skills.
• Visit the PLA webpage on digital literacy, which includes several tools and resources for librarians.

Of course, you can always reach out to the South Dakota State Library for assistance and potential collaboration ideas! For more information and resources on how to integrate these programs in your library, check out the SDSL LibGuide page “Digital Literacy Guide.”

If you have a specific question regarding digital literacy or technology in your library, please contact SDSL's Library Technology Coordinator, Cheyenne Chontos at cheyenne.chontos@state.sd.us or 605-295-4330.

The South Dakota State Library provides leadership for innovation and excellence in libraries and services to state government.

Email: library@state.sd.us
Website: library.sd.gov
Location: 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD, USA
Phone: 6057733131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibrarySD
Twitter: @LibrarySD

The SDSL does not endorse any service or product listed in this newsletter.