Resources & Tools for Libraries
Libraries engage in digital equity and inclusion in many ways. If your library provides Wi-Fi hotspots, offers one-on-one technology support, teaches information literacy skills, provides community relevant resources and partners with community organizations and health providers, your library engages in digital equity and inclusion.
Getting Started
- NTIA: BroadbandUSA
- Digital Equity Technical Assistance Hub
- State Broadband Leaders Network
- Needs Assessment Guide
- Asset Mapping Guide
- State BEAD and Digital Equity Plans and Challenge Process Portals
- Webinar: How Libraries and Schools are Partnering on Digital Equity for Students (August 29, 2023)
- ALA & PLA: Digital Equity Resources for Public Libraries
- ALA: What Your Library Needs to Know: Technical Requirements for Seeking State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Funding
- ALA: What Your Library Needs to Know: Developing Your State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Funding Program.
- ALA: Amplify and Connect your Assets
- ALA: Ensure State Digital Equity Plans Include Libraries
- ALA: Leverage Federal Funds to Advance Digital Equity in Your Community
- ALA: Federal Funding Resources
- ALA: State E-Rate Coordinators
- ALA: Digital Inclusion Working Group
- ALA: Policy Brief: Digital Equity and America’s Libraries
- ALA: Leveraging Libraries to Achieve Historic Progress Towards Digital Equity for All
- Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA): Find the top library officials in your state.
- IMLS: IMLS Building Digital Communities: A Framework for Action
- NDIA: Digital Inclusion Coalition Guidebook.
- NDIA and NYSL: Digital Inclusion Toolkit
State Digital Equity Plans
Use our interactive map to learn more about your state's Digital Equity Plan! We've gathered each state's plan along with information on where to go to find out more. States are color coded by their plan's current status: Red is for states that have submitted their plan; Yellow is for states that have been awarded grant funds from NTIA; and Green is for states that have begun applications for sub-grants. Visit your state broadband office website for additional updates.
Webinars
- NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant Webinar Series
- ALA & PLA: Expand Library Digital Equity Services with New Funds Now! (September 4, 2024)
- The Impact of High-Speed Internet Access on Incarcerated and Justice-Impacted Individuals NTIA (April 2024)
- Digital Equity Champions for All Learners: Partnering to Advance Digital Equity Co-hosted by ALA, Common Sense Media, and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) (April 2024)
- Advancing Digital Equity Through Federal Programs and Library Partnerships Webinar Co-hosted by ALA, Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) (April 2024)
- How Libraries Can Upgrade Their Internet Through the BEAD Program (February 2024)
- How Libraries and Schools are Partnering on Digital Equity for Students NTIA and ALA (August 29, 2023)
- "Gearing Up for the Digital Equity Act With Libraries" webinar co-presented by National Skills Coalition (NSC), ALA, and PLA (April 2022)
Supporting Covered Populations
- NTIA Serving Veterans
- NTIA Digital Equity in Tribal Communities
- NTIA Serving Individuals with Disabilities
- NTIA Serving Incarcerated Individuals
- NTIA Serving Aging Individuals
- NTIA: Health Equity and Digital Equity
- Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: Visions of Digital Equity provides an overview of why each covered populations is being targeted for digital equity efforts.
- ALA: Serving Patrons with Disabilities in Small and Rural Libraries: Practitioner's Guide
Build Your Digital Equity Ecosystem
- NDIA: The Digital Inclusion Start Up Manual
- ULC: Edge 360 tool to provide public libraries with a set of digital equity activities
- Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit and Introductory Video.
Free tool to help libraries learn about and improve their current broadband infrastructure and internal information technology (IT) environment.
