Catawba County News
Library Launches Digital Navigator Program
Published: October 31, 2024
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, digital literacy isn’t just nice to have - it’s essential to possess the ability to understand and use digital technologies for day-to-day activities. The Catawba County Library is passionate about bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals to thrive in this modern landscape. Understanding that digital skills are vital for personal and economic growth, the library is excited to announce the launch of its Digital Navigator outreach program aimed at equipping citizens with the skills they need to succeed.
So, what does this mean for our community? The library has hired two bilingual digital navigators who will operate a mobile computer lab. This mobile unit will allow them to provide tailored digital literacy training to individuals throughout Catawba County, meeting people right where they are. This approach not only breaks down barriers but also fosters trust and raises awareness of the valuable resources the library offers.
The Digital Navigators will guide citizens through the process of accessing internet resources, navigating online healthcare information, staying connected with loved ones, and engaging with online communities. The curriculum is designed with community needs in mind and focuses on essential digital skills like communication, information retrieval, and problem-solving, utilizing educational resources like Northstar Digital Literacy and The Achievery in both English and Spanish.
While this initiative is open to all residents, special outreach efforts will be made to support specific populations including veterans, aging and rural residents, formerly incarcerated individuals, low-income households, minority groups, and individuals facing language barriers.
For over 20 years, the Catawba County Public Library has been a cornerstone of our community, offering free access to computers, Wi-Fi, and digital literacy training. As the original digital navigators, we are dedicated to helping our community members learn how to effectively use technology and the internet. Training for the Digital Navigators will kick off in November, with the first digital literacy workshops expected to launch by early 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on how this exciting new program will empower our citizens and foster a more digitally inclusive Catawba County!
*This project is funded with a federal grant administered by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology.
