Digital Equity 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
- 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: 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
Webinars
- 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.
