PLA Project Manager Jamie Hollier receives White House Champion of Change award

CHICAGO — On Tuesday, June 11, Jamie Hollier, project manager for DigitalLearn.org, a digital literacy initiative of the Public Library Association, will be honored as a “Champion of Change” at the White House. The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature groups of Americans who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Hollier is among 12 individuals chosen for their work with museums and libraries in making a difference for our neighborhoods and nation by providing powerful learning experiences.

“Digital Literacy is core to the success of all Americans, and I am honored to be heading to the White House in recognition of my contributions toward supporting digital inclusion for our most disenfranchised residents,” Hollier acknowledged. “Through my involvement with DigitalLearn.org, I am pleased to be supporting all those working on the ground to bridge the digital divide and I accept this honor on behalf of all of the unsung heroes in libraries, nonprofits and community organizations improving the lives of their community members.”

Hollier is the owner of Anneal, a consulting firm, and is also a partner at Commerce Kitchen, a Web development, design and marketing company. She has led the development of DigitalLearn.org, an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant-funded project to create an online hub for digital literacy support and training. The full site will launch this month with both self-directed tutorials for end-users to increase their digital literacy and an online community for practitioners and teachers to share resources, tools and best practices. It is intended to build upon and foster the work of libraries and community organizations as they work to increase digital literacy across the nation. DigitalLearn.org is being undertaken in partnership with ALA's Office of Information Technology Policy and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, as well as bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders including representatives from national agencies, state libraries, public libraries, community organizations and many others.

Hollier previously worked as the project manager for Colorado’s Public Computer Centers, which brought computers and training to 88 locations throughout Colorado and has already seen more than three million users. Hollier is a board member for the Digital Public Library of America and consults for Open Government and Startup communities in Colorado.

For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s website at www.pla.org. PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.