Last week the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) hosted a webinar – It Takes a Community to Bridge the Digital Divide. The webinar provided background and some practical advice, especially for anchor institutions (or any institution who might work with folks who aren’t currently using technology) on how to promote broadband use. Here’s the description from the webinar website, if gives more context:
In FCC Chairman Genachowski’s announcement of the sweeping Connect2Compete initiative to increase broadband connectivity and Internet access across the nation, he listed an impressive array of partners who are joining in the effort. Although he singled out libraries as “vital centers for digital literacy,” any effective actions must involve the whole community of players. Join us to hear about the key role that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is playing in the broadband adoption challenge and the actions already underway for building digital communities. And also hear insights on the collaborative roles and efforts of city/county governments and public and private organizations. Learn how to get started with inclusion efforts from organizations who have taken the steps to implement practical programs which meet local needs and share your ideas about collaborative efforts which lead digital inclusion.
The best part of the website to me is the list of Resources and Links Referenced. Librarians are great for annotated lists!
- IMLS Digitally Inclusive Communities issue page
- Building Digital Communities: A framework for action (121 page report)
- Report Release – Building Digital Communities (link will be live later in March)
- IMLS Strategic Plan
- Project Compass
- Digital Divide Infographic
- The Digital Nation report from NTIA
- OECD Broadband portal
- International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and icma.org/libraries
- Seattle.gov/tech and Techmap
- Puget Sound Off
- Technology Indicators for a Healthy Community
- Seniors Training Seniors
- Race & Social Justice IT Project Management Tool
- Tech matching fund
- Communitiesconnect.org and state definition of digital inclusion
- DigitalLiteracy.gov
- Telecentre.org International center for resources on digital literacy and community technology centers
- Federal Broadband plan http://www.broadband.gov/plan/
- Connect Your Community Broadband Adoption Impact & Sustainability (CBAIS) Conference wiki
- Benton Foundation tracking broadband policy and plan implementation http://benton.org/initiatives
- Knight Community Information Toolkit
- Youth Digital Media (YMCA)
- Eagle Consulting’s Existing “People-Ready” Broadband Entrepreneurship and Digital Literacy Curriculum
- April Rural Telecon Congress and Broadband Communities Summit 12
- Journal for Community Informatics