PLA encourages practitioners to complete survey on digital literacy practices

CHICAGO – The Public Library Association (PLA) hopes to collect insight and feedback through a brief survey intended for both library professionals and community educators regarding their digital literacy efforts. The survey aims to identify teaching practices and top resources for digital literacy learning.

The survey responses will help inform the development of the Digital Learning Center, an initiative sponsored by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). PLA is partnering with the ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) to develop an online collection of digital literacy resources that will be accessible to libraries, patrons and other community-based organizations. In addition to user-directed resources, the grant activities will include development of training curricula in English and Spanish, technology trainer competencies, handouts and patron skills assessment.

PLA will launch the online beta resource center at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, with plans to continue demonstrations of the resource center at ALA and PLA conferences throughout 2013 and 2014. The project is timed to coincide with the launch of the broadband initiative Connect2Compete and an Ad Council campaign in early 2013 urging people to visit their local libraries for free online tools and digital literacy education.

For more details about the Digital Learning Center, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s website at www.pla.org.

About the Public Library Association
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. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s website at www.pla.org.