Digital literacy

Abstract: Today, with most correspondence happening through E- Mail, and the comfort of
making payments and settling bills or booking movie tickets from home, internet chatting using
messenger, Digital Literacy proves not just as advantage but is slowly becoming a necessity for
everyone.
In order to be literate in todays media-rich environments, young people need to develop
knowledge, values and a whole range of critical thinking, communication and information
management skills for the digital age. As increasing numbers of businesses, services and even
democratic processes migrate online, citizens who lack digital literacy skills risk being
disadvantaged when it comes to accessing healthcare and government services and opportunities
for employment, education and civic participation.
[1]

Given how quickly and frequently our media world is evolving, developing and maintaining
ones digital literacy is a lifelong process. The specific skills that are needed will vary from
person to person depending on their needs and circumstances which can range from basic
awareness and training to more sophisticated and complex applications.
Just as community access has become an important component of public
library services, so too has patron technology training. Although public
libraries face many challenges in their efforts to provide access and
instruction services, they are embracing their role bridging the digital divide,
and they continue to expand their services and innovate in their practices


Introduction:
In general, digital literacy means the ability to locate, evaluate, and use
digital information. The digitally literate can efficiently find the information
they seek, evaluate that information, and use that information effectively.
The ability to recognize what information is needed and when to use it are
additional components of digital literacy.
1
Digital literacy also includes the
ability to effectively use a range of technologies (e.g., computers, mobile
devices) and Internet-enabled services (e.g., Blogs,Twitter, Facebook,
YouTube). These different components of digital literacy are of equal
significance. Without access, people cannot develop digital literacy; without
digital literacy, they cannot gain maximum benefit from online
resources.(ALA)
American Library Association Digital Literacy definition:"Digital Literacy is the ability to use
information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate
information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills."
Digital Literacy includes the ability to read and interpret media, to reproduce data and images
through digital manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital
environments.
digital culture where they are used to accessing media whenever and wherever they want.
Instant-messaging, photo sharing, texting, social networking, video-streaming, and mobile
Internet use are all examples where youth have led the charge in new ways of engaging online.
Use, Understand, Create
Traditional definitions of literacy have focused on skills relating to numeracy, listening,
speaking, reading, writing and critical thinking, with the end goal being developing active
thinkers and learners who are able to engage in society in effective and meaningful ways.
[4]

These skills are needed for full participation in digital society as well, but they are only part of a
larger set of skills and competencies that are required.
Competencies for digital literacy can be classified according to three main principles: Use,
Understand and Create.
Use represents the technical fluency thats needed to engage with computers and the Internet.
Skills and competencies that fall under use range from basic technical know-how -- using
computer programs such as word processors, web browsers, email, and other communication
tools -- to the more sophisticated abilities for accessing and using knowledge resources, such as
search engines and online databases, and emerging technologies such as cloud computing.
Understand is that critical piece its the set of skills that help us comprehend, contextualize,
and critically evaluate digital media, so that we can make informed decisions about what we do
and encounter online. These are the essential skills that we need to start teaching our kids as soon
as they go online.
Understand includes recognizing how networked technology affects our behaviour and our
perceptions, beliefs and feelings about the world around us.
Understand also prepares us for a knowledge economy as we develop individually and
collectively information management skills for finding, evaluating and effectively using
information to communicate, collaborate and solve problems.
Create is the ability to produce content and effectively communicate through a variety of digital
media tools. Creation with digital media is more than knowing how to use a word processor or
write an email: it includes being able to adapt what we produce for various contexts and
audiences; to create and communicate using rich media such as images, video and sound; and to
effectively and responsibly engage with Web 2.0 user-generated content such as blogs and
discussion forums, video and photo sharing, social gaming and other forms of social media.
The Multi-Literacies of the Digital Age
Digital literacy is more than technological know-how: it includes a wide variety of ethical,
social, and reflective practices that are embedded in work, learning, leisure, and daily life.
The term multi-literacies is often used to describe the various aptitudes and abilities that are
needed for us to use, understand and create digital media. Given this, its helpful to think of
digital literacy not as a concrete set of skills, but as a framework that draws from and expands
on numerous literacies and competencies.
Under the digital literacy umbrella are a wide range of interrelated skills that traditionally fall
under media literacy, technology literacy, information literacy, visual literacy, communication
literacy and social literacies.
[5]

Media literacy:
With its expanded notion of text that includes images, audio and digital media, media literacy
is closely associated with digital literacy. Media literacy reflects our ability to access, analyze,
evaluate and produce media through understanding and appreciation of:
the art, meaning and messaging of various forms of media texts
the impact and influence of mass media and popular culture
how media texts are constructed and why they are produced
how media can be used to communicate our own ideas effectively
Critical thinking is central to both digital and media literacy. Learn more about media literacy
in the Media Literacy Fundamentals section.
Technology literacy:
Proficiency with technology is most often associated with digital literacy. This ranges from basic
computer skills to more complex tasks like editing a digital film or writing computer code.
We have to be careful, though, not to confuse proficiency with knowledge and understanding: a
teched-up teen with superb technology skills may still trust much of the information he/she finds
online, copy straight off the Web for school projects, and not give a thought to the privacy
implications of his/her online activities. Digital literacy involves both skills and a set of good
online habits that include reflection, critical awareness and responsibility.
Information literacy:
This is another important aspect of being digitally literate that includes the ability to assess what
information is needed, to know how to find it online and how to critically evaluate and apply it.
Originally developed for library use, this literacy translates well into the digital domain where, in
a sea of unfiltered online information, knowing how to think critically about sources and content
is essential.
Visual literacy:
At its most basic, visual literacy reflects our ability to understand and produce visual messages,
whether through objects, actions or symbols. Visual literacy is essential to both learning and
communication in modern society.
Communication literacy:
These competencies form the foundation for thinking, organizing and connecting with others in a
networked society. In particular, todays youth need not only to understand how to integrate
knowledge from multiple sources such as music, video, online databases, and other media
[6]
; they
also need to know how to use multiple sources to disseminate and share knowledge.
Social literacy:
Social competencies are also needed for full participation in digital society, which media scholar
Henry Jenkins describes as a participatory culture that is developed through collaboration and
networking.

Digital Literacy Model


the eight essential elements of
digital literacies are:
1. Cultural
2. Cognitive
3. Constructive
4. Communicative
5. Confident
6. Creative
7. Critical
8. Civic
This Cultural element of digital literacies is best acquired through immersion in a
range of digital environments. Although the situation is slowly changing, this element is
not helped by the banning and heavy-handed filtering policies put in place by many
educational institutions. In addition, given that educational institutions are tasked with
preparing young people for an uncertain future, they should expose them to the widest
range of semiotic domains possible. In a similar way to learning a new language or a
musical instrument, this would enable and encourage them to learn to approach the
wider
world in a different way. The Cultural element of digital literacies is all about seeking
ways to give people additional lenses through which to see the world.
The second element of digital literacies I would suggest is essential is the
Cognitive element. One way of interpreting this element has been the mainstay of
traditional forms of literacy. That is to say that with the traditional definition, literacy is
about expanding the mind, a psychological phenomenon in which an individual
interacts with an objectively-defined form of literacy.

.
Digital Literacy Mession:
Why we need DLM ?
To remove illiteracy by educating the underprivileged children of India
To remove digital divide by offering free computer training to the DLM tutors and facilitators
To create job opportunities for the DLM tutors and facilitators
To develop course content and training guidelines
To create database of students with their family background
Digital Literacy Mission (DLM) aims to progressively remove digital divide in India by
spreading general as well as computer literacy using Information & Communication
Technology (ICT). The DLM is a Technology Driven Social Entrepreneurship
Programme in which underprivileged children are given free tuition at the tutor's home.
In the first phase, children of the domestic women work force are given tuition in all
subjects at tutors' homes ("Databya Pathshala"). These children need home tuition to
cope up with their curriculum and often their mothers, who are the sole breadwinner, are
forced to pay exorbitant tuition fees (Rs. 100 per month per child of monthly earning of
less than Rs. 2000). Through DLM, tuition fees to the teachers (preferably women) are
being paid.
We encourage DLM tutors to offer some home cooked food to the students.

With the Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL) all set to roll out the National Optical Fibre
Network that aims to provide connectivity to 250,000 gram panchayats and over 35 million
mobile internet users in the country, access to technology will no longer be a worry. What will
be worrying is whether all citizens know what they can do with technology, whether they know
how to leverage it for personal growth, and whether they have easy access to it. While the
answer will be a yes for a fraction of the population, it is still likely to be a no for the
majority.
These were some of the concerns addressed at the Digital Literacy Conclave held on August 22,
2012 in New Delhi. Organised by Intel and Hindustan Times, the conclave was an initiative
rolled out by the Digital Literacy Forum under the aegis of NASSCOM and the NASSCOM
Foundation. The Digital Literacy Forum, led by Intel, will bring together organisations such as
Microsoft, Lenovo, NIIT, Dell and HP. The objective is to unite the effort of each of these
organisations in the field of digital literacy, and create an impact at the national level.
Speakers at the conclave agreed that digital literacy was not so much about computer know-how,
as it was about the ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate and analyse information using
digital technology.
The challenge for India, it was felt, lay in unleashing the power of technology to connect, and
transform the lives of her citizens and employing digital literacy as a tool for inclusion.
Speaking to attendees at the conference, Sachin Pilot, Minister of State, IT and Communications
pointed to the multiplicity of languages in India, and the challenge the government faced in
delivering common content to all citizens. We are dismantling barriers by creating the right eco-
system that will help increase digital literacy rates in India. We want to create an India where at
least one individual in every family is digitally literate, he said.
Addressing CEOs at the conclave, Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM spoke about how all
players corporates, government agencies and NGOs had to come together to scale digital
literacy to reach the vast populace of the country. According to the NASSCOM President, the
government needed to follow the fibre, to bring digital literacy to areas that had been newly
connected.
In todays day and age, merely being in possession of a device such as a mobile or a laptop is
not important. Rather, it is important to know how to leverage the device, said Intel South Asia
Managing Director, Debjani Ghosh.
The Digital Literacy Forum will celebrate a Digital Literacy Week in early December to engage
corporate volunteers in reaching the masses. The event will also serve as a great opportunity for
various players in the digital space to come together and scale the effort.
Rita Soni, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation stated that the organisation was looking to create a
common platform where both public and private partners could share their expertise for making
digital literacy a reality. This will require investment of both time and resources in the
development of mechanisms and monitoring tools that will ensure true reach and impact, she
said.
For more information on the forum, contact Santosh Abraham, Senior Manager, NASSCOM
Foundation at
- See more at: http://www.nasscom.in/digital-literacy?fg=172816#sthash.5hF0HoAr.dpuf
Nasscom partners Google, Intel and
Microsoft for its Digital Literacy Week
IT-ITeS industry body Nasscom has joined hands with technology firms, including Google,
Microsoft and Intel, to organise the second Digital Literacy Week (DLW) starting next week.
The initiative, part of the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM), complements the
government's efforts in making at least one person per household, e-literate.
The week will provide an opportunity to employees from firms including Acer, Dell, HCL, HP,
IBM, Intel, Lenovo, NIIT, TE Connectivity, Wipro and others, to impart practical and relevant
digital skills to those with little or no computer knowledge, Nasscom said in a statement.
The Digital Literacy Week, to be held from December 9-13, serves as an opportunity for
employees of partner companies to volunteer for training the under-served, across Bangalore,
Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad and Pondicherry, it added.
"While, rural areas struggle with connectivity, our urban centres continue to be replete with
digital illiteracy alongside 21st century industries," Nasscom Foundation CEO Rita Soni said.
"Nasscom is thrilled to organise DLW 2.0 where it expects more than 1,000 IT-BPM employees
to volunteer their time and expertise. Already over 100 people have signed up for the initiative,"
she added.
NDLM formed under the aegis of NASSCOM and its foundation will bring leading IT
companies together on a collaborative platform to unite each individual company's effort in the
field of digital literacy.
With the common goal of increasing Digital Literacy in the country, NASSCOM Foundation
along with Google, Intel organized a week long volunteering initiative called Digital Literacy
Week observed from 9th 13th December, 2013. The event was organized at 9 locations in pan
India spanning from New Delhi NCR region, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune,
Puducherry, Kolkata & Lucknow. The main objective of the event to mobilize employees of
various IT companies to volunteer & teach / train people in basic digital literacy from under
developed communities across these locations.
421 volunteers participated from companies like Acer, Google, IBM, Intel, Dell, Ericsson, HP,
Lenovo, Microsoft, NIIT, RBS, Wipro, Randstad and TE.These volunteers took time out of their
busyschedules make out time to deliver a 3 hour session to urban people who are not
digitallyliterate. NASSCOM Foundation organized about 50 training venues where participants
from respective local communities were trained on basic Digital Literacy.
Employee volunteers supported lead faculty, to drive hands on sessions on Digital literacy (lab
assistance). The head of community based organization & other identified person certified
participation of beneficiaries by issuing certificates. The beneficiaries were the people from the
respective communities from all works of life ranging from school going children, street
children, parents of students learning computers, farmers, women, youth employed or
unemployed or old age people from the community who may or may not have been using
computers etc.
National Digital Literacy Mission
INITIATIVES IN INDIA TO INCREASE DIGITAL LITERACY
In order to provide urban amenities in rural areas for coherent knowledge and resources
distribution across the country [4], three types of connectivity have been envisioned by the
past President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. These are physical connectivity by providing
roads in rural areas, electronic connectivity by providing reliable communication network
and knowledge connectivity by establishing more professional institutions and vocational
training centres. While National Informatics Centres (NIC) which essentially facilitates e-
governance, Village Knowledge Centres (VKC), e-Chaupals (www.echoupals.com) , ect are
some of the information centers which deliver programmes to the common citizens useful for
their livelihood. These initiatives also deliver information literacy training to the users of
information kiosks, where learners know how to use information resources available within
the respective initiatives portal, intranet and Internet, and how this information can be used
in solving the problems of individuals in their vocational (e.g. agricultural knowhow),
personal (e.g. getting a certificate) and social (e.g. sanitation) life.
In India, government institutions share the major responsibility for spreading general literacy
programmes like Sharva Shiksha Aviyan (SSA). Basic literacy through SSA is the primary
requirement for creating a digitally literate nation. This is especially applicable for the poor
people. Along with GOI initiatives, many Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) have
taken up programmes for spreading general as well as digital literacy. Some of these
organizations use ICT tools for creating interesting games, video presentations, on line
books, etc. Table 1 presents various initiatives taken by NGOs and Trusts, who have internet
presence, for spreading literacy among the underprivileged people of India.

Towards a Digitally Literate India

The National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) is an industry initiative led by Intel that aims to
increase digital literacy in India, showcase the impact of technology on livelihood, and drive the
Government and industry to accelerate the adoption of technology.
The NDLM was launched at Digital Literacy Keeping India Ahead in the Information Age, a
conclave held in New Delhi on August 22, 2012, which brought together representatives from
government, industry and the media to deliberate upon and support the Government of Indias
vision of making one person in each household in the country digitally literate by 2020. Mr
Sachin Pilot, Honble Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology,
Government of India, was present at the launch of this unique initiative, which was jointly
organised by Hindustan Times and Intel, and supported by NASSCOM.
The NDLM complements the governments National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) initiative,
which will provide broadband connectivity to all the 250,000 gram panchayats in the country. It
aims to:
Empower rural communities with capacity building and training programmers and make them
digitally literate.
Facilitate deployment of rural citizen services through digital means.
Create a digital data house in every rural community to make them economically viable.
Generate social, cultural and economic advantages for rural communities with information and
content gateways.
We are dismantling barriers by creating the right ecosystem

that will help increase digital literacy rates in I ndia.

We want to create an I ndia

where at least one individual in every family is digitally literate.
Shri Sachin Pilot, Honble Minister of State for Communications and Information
Technology, Government of India
Background
In India, across over 6,50,000 villages and 2,50,000 panchayats represented by 3 million
panchayat members. Approx 40% population is living below poverty line, illiteracy rate is more
than 25-30% and digital literacy is almost no-existent among more than 90% of Indias
population.
While the country boasts the worlds second fastest-growing mobile market, it is lagging behind
when it comes to internet connectivity. Connecting the community and its members to the world
through the Internet is becoming increasingly essential for community vitality for the
development and social progress in recent years.
According to the IAMAI report, there were about 30,000,000 internet users in rural India in
December 2011. The 50 per cent spike leading to the expected 45,000,000 by December 2012 is
primarily driven by mobile internet access, community centers and cyber cafes. However, within
rural communities, the task to empower using ICT can still be challenging, but many of us have
been dedicating time and energies to empower trouble torn community.
NDLM: INTRODUCTION
In a country with more than 6,50,000 villages, where more than half of its population live in rural
areas and off-the-map villages. Most are remote and too isolated to benefit from the countrys
impressive economic progress. Yet theres a growing desire among people in rural India to be
part of its modernization process. But, the last-mile delivery has always been a challenge for
India. Increasingly the government with the support of NGOs is looking at better ways to reach
remote, rural India.
As per the NSSO Level and Pattern of Consumer Expenditure Report 2011, only 3.5 households
in 1000 rural households in rural India had internet connectivity at home in 2009-2010. And
there are close to 90,000 rural info kiosks (Common Service Centres, Community Information
Resource Centres and others) in India, and around 5452 CSCs are located in the state. However,
these kiosks lack internet connectivity and services to delivery at peoples doorsteps. To make
India digitally literate, it is important 3.5 million people to be digitally literate.
For this purpose, the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) has established Bharat
Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL) to roll out the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) plan.
BBNL will lay out the optic fiber cable terminating in each of the 250,000 gram panchayats in
the country, providing 100 MBPs link to be used as information highway to be utilized diversely
by all kind of stakeholders to ensure that digital inclusion has reached in all villages across the
country. For this, BBNL has identified three pilot blocks Arain (Rajasthan); Naogang (North
Tripura) and Pravada (Visakhapatnam) where the fiber connectivity would be reached and the
same would be available for usage free for a month and later on do costing of the project.
With a hope and desire to light up the rural communities and to complement the objectives of
NOFN plan, Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) supported by with Intel Corporation as a
part of the National Digital Literacy Mission has launched Follow the Fibre Programme (FtF) to
help rural communities conquer this challenge of digital illiteracy.
About NDLM
National Digital Literacy Mission Programme is a dynamic and integrated platform of digital
literacy awareness, education and capacity programmes that will help rural communities to take
lead in the global digital economy and help them in maintaining the competitiveness and also
shape a technologically empowered society. NDLM is an effort to complement the objectives of
National Optic Fibre Netowrk (NOFN) plan to transform one from each household as digitally
literate. Under NDLM, we pledge to work with multi-stakeholder to Digitally Literate at least
One adult from each of 147 million rural household of India.
DLM will be an ecosystem of digital literacy awareness, education and training that will help
India take a lead in the global digital economy and help us maintain the competitiveness and also
shape a technologically empowered society. DLM is an effort to extend NOFN objectives to
empower rural citizens by making them digitally literate.
Vision
The vision of Digital Literacy Mission (DLM) is to create multi-stakeholder, consortium and
work with government and their various schemes and agendas to showcase in some of those
panchayats constituencies that how making them digitally literate can change the scenario of
governance, empowerment, social inclusion, educational approach and employment.
Why NDLM?
To empower rural communities with capacity building & training programmes and make
them digitally literate
To facilitate deployment of rural citizen services through digital means
To create a digital data house at every rural community level to make them economically
viable
To generate social, cultural and economic advantages for rural communities with two
information and content gateway

REFERENCES
1. S.B. Ghosh and A.K. Das, Information literacy initiatives in India with special reference to emerging
knowledge economy, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Literacy (ICIL
2006), June 14-15, 2006; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hosted by Faculty of Information Management,
Universiti Teknologi MARA with the Librarians Association of Malaysia.
2. ASERF, Status of education and vocational education in India, Apeejay Stya Education Research
Foundation, www.aserf.org.in
3. India Literacy Projects, http://www.ilpnet.org/
4. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Address to the nation by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the
eve of 56th Republic Day [Online], www.presidentofindia.nic.in
5. Digital Literacy Mission (DLM), https://sites.google.com/site/dlmindia11/
6. Active Citizens, http://activecitizens.britishcouncil.org/
7. Digital Literacy mission, An e-hope, Dr. Mita Tarafder
1*
, Ms. Pankhuri Sinha
1
and Ms. Rini
Tarafder,
8. S.B. Ghosh and A.K. Das, Information literacy initiatives in India with special reference to
emerging knowledge economy, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information
Literacy (ICIL 2006), June 14-15, 2006; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hosted by Faculty of
Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA with the Librarians Association of
Malaysia.
1. ASERF, Status of education and vocational education in India, Apeejay Stya Education Research
Foundation, www.aserf.org.in
2. India Literacy Projects, http://www.ilpnet.org/
3. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Address to the nation by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the
eve of 56th Republic Day [Online], www.presidentofindia.nic.in
4. Digital Literacy Mission (DLM), https://sites.google.com/site/dlmindia11/
5. Active Citizens, http://activecitizens.britishcouncil.org/

http://www.dellchallenge.org/projects/digital-literacy-program
http://defindia.org/national-digital-literacy-mission/
Digital literacy and library role
Digital Literacy & Public Libraries
Digital Divide
In an information and Internet-driven age, where information, services, and
resources are increasingly available only online, people without access to a
computer or the Internet are at a considerable disadvantage. They may lack
the ability to access information resources, or the knowledge to use these
resources effectively. This lack of ability or knowledge is likely to have a
negative impact on their ability to succeed by limiting their access to
employment and E-government resources, educational achievement, as well
as informational and recreational resources. Public libraries play a vital role
in providing people with both access to computers and Internet and
instruction in the use of resources, helping to bridge these gaps.
Technology Training
The technology training services offered by libraries are an important
component of the services they provide to the community, with 90.2% of
libraries offering some type of training (see Figure 1). Librarians report that
usage of patron technology training classes has increased at 36.3% of
libraries and only 4.5% report a decrease. Librarians recognize the value of
these services, ranking technology training 3.8 out of 5 in terms of the
importance of services offered to the community (5 being the highest
importance).
Digital literacy training can take many different forms and deciding on what kind of training to
make available is a local decision. There are many free resources that provide great ways for
libraries to meet patron needs when there is limited staff capacity to offer in-person training.
One-on-one support: When a library staff member helps with learning or improving an online or
technology skill. This could be informal one-to-one assistance or through scheduled
appointments.
Scheduled classes: Formal sessions with a trainer/facilitator using a curriculum. Often scheduled
in training lab space.
Online self-paced learning: Many libraries provide access to online training through services
such as Lynda.com or LearningExpress that allow users to take an online course to develop new
skills, such as Microsoft Word or setting up an email account. The Goodwill Community
Foundationalso offers free online courses.

Building the Next Generation Workforce
Information and technology skills are essential for developing a competitive
workforce. Public libraries teach people how to find and use the information
they need, use technology, use the Internet and Internet-enabled
technologies and services, and enhance their knowledge. Public libraries
combine these workforce development skills with a number of critical
services and resources:

In doing so, public libraries create a skilled and knowledgeable workforce
able to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Key Issues and Challenges
In spite of the importance of these services, public libraries face a number of
challenges in their efforts to provide access to and instruction in digital
resources. Increased use of technology training classes coincides with
increased use of library resources across the board, representing an increase
in demand on library resources and staff (see Figure 3). Over half (65.4%)
of libraries report having insufficient public access Internet workstations to
meet patrons needs during at least some part of a typical day. Most libraries
(60.2%) report an increase in the usage of public access Internet
workstations in the last fiscal year. Increasing demand means many libraries
have established time limits for patrons using public access workstations,
which has a significant impact on people who lack other means of access this
information. Technology training competes with other library services in its
importance to the community. Job seeking services and E-government
services are consistently ranked amongst the most important services to the
community provided by libraries. That the public library is the only, or one of
few, community resources addressing these issues means librarians often
must combine digital literacy instruction with other services.
3. Can you provide an example of what digital literacy training looks like?
DigitalLearn.org is a resource from the Public Library Association and funded by IMLS which
offers free, online basic training on topics such as Basic Search, Navigating a Website and
Getting Started on the Computer. The site also has a section dedicated to trainer resources for
people interested in offering live training. They are building a great community of practice that
you are welcome to join!

The role of libraries in promoting digital literacy is a topic of great interest. At a 2013 training, a
librarian from Butte described a key role of librarians as conducting digital literacy triage
meaning that libraries are where people go to get assistance as they begin to become functional
online citizens. At that same training, librarians identified the various basic computer skills that
patrons need as the majority of the activity that libraries are doing to promote digital literacy.
For example, teaching patrons how to use a computer mouse was one skill set that was identified
by most of the attendees as something that they do often in their library.

The National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) identifies three factors that
relate to how well communities are embracing the broadband online world: availability (whether
or not broadband is even an option in that community), access (whether households can acquire
connectivity and equipment), and adoption (the level to which users are functionally able to use
broadband resources and equipment). The role of libraries in the front line of adoption seems
quite clear. It is less clear, but equally important, that libraries will continue to play an important
role with access and availability issues.

Look here for resources to learn more about digital literacy and what libraries are doing to
promote a digitally-literate society.
Librarians have potentially numerous roles to play in the digital environment, but one of their key roles
is in supporting and advising staff and students. Photograph: Michael Hanschke/EPA
The Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) is working on a project to
review the roles academic libraries are playing in developing the digital literacies within their
own institutions, and across the information profession. Academic librarians have a long
tradition of championing the effective use of information. The SCONUL project is designed to
reveal how libraries and librarians are shaping their services to maximise the opportunities and
benefits of working in a digital environment.
The starting point is the assertion that digital literacy is more extensive then effective use of
technologies. Being computer or more broadly IT literate is an essential skill in both education
and life. But it is only one of a set of skills which, when combined with other learning, research
and information skills, and applied in a digital environment, define what might be broadly
understood as digital literacy. In an attempt to try to capture what this might mean in practice and
produce a tool which will have some meaning to the HE community, a digital literacy 'lens' has
been drafted on behalf of SCONUL.
It is based on the seven pillars of information literacy, but focuses on digital environment. It
describes and reflects the skills and behaviours of an effective learner, consumer and producer; it
asserts the need to have an understanding of your digital presence, what's appropriate on
Facebook wall or your virtual learning environment (VLE) discussion board. It also looks at the
need to be aware of where to locate and publish digital information on a blog or a webpage or
shared in Google docs and the skills required to seek, identify, evaluate and use information for
specific purposes and audiences, the principles of citing and referencing digital sources,
appropriate communication routes, formats, discoverability and tagging and much more.
Librarians have potentially numerous roles to play in this environment, but one of their key roles
is in supporting and advising staff and students how to navigate, select and use digital tools,
content and services to achieve a particular goal.
This model is designed to be debated, and its application will be tested by students, academic
staff and researchers. It is also open for public use.
Individually, academic libraries are active in seeking ways in which staff and students can
benefit from technologies to provide improved access to resources, services and communication.
For example, at Edge Hill University, we are currently running our fourth e-learning student
survey; one result from this survey indicates the upward trend in ownership of smartphones and
other mobile devices. In response we have launched the mobile version of our VLE, we currently
use SMS for alerts, appointment reminders and information, and we're planning for mobile
versions of our library catalogue and website.
QR codes, a faint presence two to three years ago, are now being used routinely to access short
training video clips, our mobile apps, webpages and other information sources. Support is
offered through online chat and there are pilots using collaborative tools to support students in
outreach centres and on distance learning programmes.
One challenge we face is ensuring that our own staff have the capabilities to offer expertise in
the digital environment and that the expertise is not limited to one or two 'experts'. There is no
easy answer to this, but investment in this area is critical to better service.
Digital Literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate and use digital information.
Public Libraries offer a wide range of free computer, Internet use and resource instruction to
help people locate, evaluate, and use online resources.
Libraries are vital centers for access to digital literacy.
The lives of library users continue to change, and libraries must continually evolve to meet the
digital needs of their communities.
Comments (0)
Digital Literacy Examples
What exactly is Digital Literacy in a Library?
A seminal work in this arena is the 2009 Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills report
from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Through a self-assessment tool, case
studies, and policy analysis, the report establishes the essential role that libraries and museums
play in creating an engaged citizenry and competitive workforce. The report highlights the ways
in which these institutions support information, communications, and technology literacy;
creativity and problem solving; civic literacy; global awareness; and other twenty-first-century
skills.

Public Libraries and Digital Literacy
Do you see your library here?
EDGE Intiative
Launched in March 2011, the Edge initiative is an effort driven by a coalition of leading and local
government organizations to develop public access technology benchmarks for public libraries.
The Edge benchmarks, which will be piloted in summer 2012, will help libraries evaluate and
continually improve their public technology services for their communities.
Digital Literacy Resources and Collaboration



In todays 21st century digital economy, libraries play a critical role in providing access to high-
speed internet and training to help more Americans compete in todays workforce. Americans
use libraries to connect to the Internet to find jobs, improve education, access government
services and create business opportunities.
ALA: Accessing Digital Literacy
ALA discusses Digital Literacy Assessments
NorthStar on-line Digital Literacy Assessment and Certification
C2C Everyone Digital Literacy 2013
The project: A media blitz will publicize that by going through the EveryoneOn website, one can
find free computer training in their area. This free training is offered by public libraries and other
entities all over America.

The message: Do one thing better online.

The Goal: harnessing the digital opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race, income,
geography, or education
While digital literacy is key to an engaged and inclusive society, it is also important to create
user-focused technology to improve communities, which can have an incredible positive social
impact. I am involved in technology development in a diversity of ways. I am a partner at
Commerce Kitchen, a company that helps businesses and nonprofits add value through online
software and tools. I am a board member for the Digital Public Library of America, a non-profit
that is working to provide free and open access to the collections of libraries, museums, and
archives across the nation. And I am an organizer for Denver Startup Week.
Technology is an amazing and powerful tool that can help us build stronger communities and
provide more opportunities for all Americans. That tool, however, can also divide our
communities when digital access and digital literacy are limited. With the great power of
technology comes our great responsibility to assure that no one is left behind. This work is not
the work of one or even a few; our responsibility to assure that no one is left behind is the work
of many. I want to acknowledge that while I am being given this great honor, I am just one
representative of the thousands of Americans who are hard at work helping people gain new
digital skills across the nation and making sure that all of us will benefit from technology.
- See more at: http://blog.imls.gov/?p=3699#sthash.6lhZpYRc.dpuf

References
1 American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information
Literacy. Final Report. (Chicago: American Library Association, 1989).
http://www.ala.org/pla/advocacy/edge