Digital Literacy

CHICAGO – Twenty-seventeen was a busy year for DigitalLearn.org, the Public Library Association’s (PLA) website designed to help consumers increase their digital literacy skills. DigitalLearn.org offers a collection of tutorials on a wide range of subjects through video-based learning modules with narration at a fourth-grade reading level, the majority of which are available in both English and Spanish.

CHICAGO — DigitalLearn.org, the Public Library Association’s (PLA) website designed to help community members increase their digital literacy skills, has added two new beginner-level courses to its collection of tutorials, which now totals 21. The learning modules on DigitalLearn.org are video-based with narration at a fourth-grade reading level. Each course takes between six and 22 minutes to complete.

CHICAGO — A new compilation from editor and maker Ellyssa Kroski, “63 Ready-to-Use Maker Projects,” published by ALA Editions, spotlights a multitude of creative projects that you can tailor for your own library. Librarians and makers from across the country present projects as fun as an upcycled fashion show, as practical as Bluetooth speakers, and as mischievous as a catapult. Included are projects for artists, sewers, videographers, coders, and engineers.

CHICAGO – Nearly all public libraries offer some sort of digital literacy services, ranging from group computer classes to individual tutoring assistance, but how do library staff know their efforts are achieving the desired effect? How can libraries provide consistent digital literacy programs that answer their patrons' most frequently asked questions? How can libraries measure the success of these services and identify areas for improvement? These are just a few of the questions that will be addressed through the Public Library Association's September webinar.