Digital Inclusion Resource Library

 

We’re all working on building our community’s capacity for digital inclusion, but too often it feels like we’re working in a vacuum, reinventing the wheel over and over. As part of our cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance has created a new place to work together.

The Digital Inclusion Resource Library is a community-driven materials hub, where practitioners, policy-makers, librarians and educators can submit their best documents and slides, distribute community broadband plans, localize curricula, and share out their best practices.

The Resource Library is a work in progress. To make this platform valuable, we need your participation. We’ll be reopening submissions soon. Email [email protected] for more information.

Use the search below, or browse the whole library.

Glossary

Group or population for whom a resource is intended

  • Community-based organizations: people who work for or are engaged with a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.
  • Digital inclusion practitioners: people who are engaged with the public in digital inclusion activities
  • Government – Federal: people who work for or are engaged with the federal government
  • Government – Local: people who work for or are engaged with municipal or county government
  • Government – State: people who work for or are engaged with state governments
  • Grant writers: people who compose applications for funding from organizations, government agencies or other entities that support external programs
  • Learners: participants in digital-inclusion-related educational programs
  • Libraries: people who work for or are engaged with libraries
  • Affordable devices: making available internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of a user. Affordability should be relative to the user and not exclusionary based on financial means.
  • Affordable internet: making available robust broadband services that meet the needs of a user. Affordability should be relative to the user and not exclusionary based on financial means.
  • Broadband and internet service: high-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies, such as fiber, wireless, satellite, digital subscriber line and cable. For the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), broadband capability requires consumers to have access to actual download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and actual upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps.
  • Electronic resources: online subscription resources and/or databases provided to a user community for reference, educational and entertainment purposes.
  • Knowledge management: process of creating, sharing, using and managing the knowledge and information of an organisation.
  • Language documentation and revitalization: using technology to record details of a declining language while attempting to reverse said decline.
  • Program Management: planning, implementing and evaluating a project or group of projects within an organization
  • Advocacy: activities by a person or organization to influence decisions and values within political, economic, and social institutions. May include media campaigns, lobbying, branding, and social justice activism.
  • Budgeting: planning for an expenditure over a given period of time
  • Community needs assessments: systematic process for identifying and addressing the local needs of a community based on current conditions
  • Curriculum design: a planned sequence of instruction for learning experiences and objectives. Includes instructional content, materials, evaluation criteria, and other educational resources.
  • Fundraising and grant writing: activities involved in funding an organization’s objectives through requesting donations and voluntary contributions or completing an application process for funding provided by an institution
  • Outreach and marketing: activities involved in promoting and providing services to targeted populations
  • Partnership building: outreach, collaboration, and capacity building among organizations and entities to achieve shared goals
  • Staff development: increasing the capabilities of staff through continuing education, professional development, and training
  • Strategic planning: the process of defining a strategy or map goals for a business or organization and allocating resources
  • Volunteer management: engagement, coordination, scheduling, and administrative functions to utilize volunteers to support an organization’s mission

Planning, operating and maintaining products and services related to computer and telecommunications systems

  • Assistive technology: device, software or item to help people with disabilities
  • Broadband: high-speed, high-capacity Internet access
  • Device lending: short-term loan of technology
  • Electronic device use policies: rules or guidelines for personal technologies, including cell phones, email and Internet access (i.e. user agreements for hotspot lending, public computer center terms of use)
  • Hardware: physical components of a computer or other device
  • Information management: acquiring, organizing and distributing documents or other materials
  • Mobile labs: a vehicle fully equipped with technology that can be used in a wide variety of locations
  • Network management: administering and operating computer systems
  • Security: protecting networks from hackers, viruses and other threats
  • Software: computer or device programs, apps or operating systems
  • Tech planning: plotting the future direction of a network or system
  • Tech support: help for users of devices, networks, or systems; keeping the system functional

Content areas covered in resources and instructional or informational sessions

  • Adult literacy: materials for developing reading and writing skills of adults
  • Affordable devices: Low-cost Internet capable devices such as laptops, tablets, and cell phones (i.e. Tech Soup)
  • Affordable Internet: Discounts and subsidies for Internet service for low-income households or eligible institutions such as public libraries and non-profit organizations (i.e. EveryoneOn)
  • Audio and video production: creating, recording, and producing audio and moving image media using various recording equipment and software (i.e. reviews of open source video editing software like Audacity)
  • Broadband and Internet service: High-speed Internet access delivered through a variety of technologies, including DSL, cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite, and Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) (i.e. Internet2 technology assessment packet, directions for testing internet speed)
  • Civic engagement: participation in activities to address public concerns, engage in representative democracy, and promote community empowerment (i.e. voter information, accessing public records, how to submit a FOIA request)
  • Coding and programming: applying machine language or an executable program to solve a problem or complete a task using computer processing. (i.e. a list of free educational sites like Kahn Academy or w3schools)
  • Computer basics: General skillset needed to use a computer. Includes using a mouse, typing skills, understanding how computers work, ports, and navigating an operating system
  • Databases: database management systems, related data, or any collection of organized data (i.e. SQL, database modeling, understanding hierarchies)
  • E-Rate: the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, which provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and broadband access. E-rate funding falls into four categories*: telecommunications, Internet access, internal connections, and maintenance of internal connections.
  • Electronic resources: online media such as ebooks, digital audiobooks, online journals (i.e. downloading an ebook from your local library’s hoopla or Overdrive)
  • Email: sending and receiving messages using an email service (i.e. how to add tags to series of messages, how to attach items to an email, email etiquette)
  • Entertainment: accessing entertainment resources online (i.e. TechBoomers guide to using Netflix, use of streaming media)
  • Financial literacy: Skills needed for an individual to make informed and effective decisions regarding their financial resources. In the web environment, this includes being able to use online banking features, such as managing a bank account and making online payments.
  • Hardware: physical components of a computer (i.e. increasing RAM, setting up a webcam)
  • Health: accessing online medical information (i.e. online patient portal), telehealth services, and researching health issues (i.e. steps to signing up for Obamacare, guides to using a local telehealth service)
  • Image and photo editing: skills and software needed to manipulate, enhance, and edit digital images (i.e. guides to using Photoshop)
  • Information and media literacy: Info literacy refers to the ability to effectively search for, evaluate, and use information. Media literacy involves these same abilities in a variety of media types and formats. Both require critical engagement of text (i.e. a classroom activity on evaluating the news) and may involve using a search engine or a database (see Internet search).
  • Internet search: information seeking using a web browser. Includes selecting a search engine, entering useful search terms or relevant keywords, assessing results, and advanced searching.
  • Job search skills: Activities involved in searching for employment, updating, improving, or posting a resume, or finding a job training program
  • Knowledge management: use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for creating, sharing, and managing information and knowledge resources for a community, business, or organization. Includes activities such as creating and distributing workflows representations, project management tools, and document management (i.e. developing a file naming system for use on a shared drive). Knowledge management may also include content management systems (i.e. using Archive-It or Mukurtu to build and create access to digital content)
  • Language documentation and revitalization: activities involved in the process of reversing language shift. Includes activities such as linguistic documentation, digitizing audio and print material, expanding digital language domains, archiving, teaching language, and advocacy (i.e. Using a Unicode font)
  • Legal and law: primary and secondary sources for legal information and research (i.e. guides to accessing state records online)
  • Online shopping: using electronic commerce sites to buy goods and services from a vendor over the Internet (i.e. TechBoomers guide to Amazon)
  • Presentations: Presentation software for conveying information visually using slides, recordings, and transitions (i.e. Using PowerPoint or Google Slides)
  • Privacy and security: Activities involved in protecting user privacy and confidentiality in online environments. Includes browser safety, encryption, and malware protection (i.e. Library Freedom Project curriculum about Tor, privacy guidelines for public access computers and networks, VPNs)
  • Recycling and refurbishing: Proper disassembly of computer components into raw materials. Includes, re-use, donatiodn, and repair of electronic waste (e-waste) (i.e. Alliance of Technology Refurbishing and Reuse (AFTRR) site locations, guides for DIY computer servicing)
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM): educational skills related to science, technology, engineering, and math (i.e. Lego club public library programming)
  • Small business entrepreneurship: development and management of small businesses and startups
  • Social media: web communication tools for sharing and consuming information (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
  • Spreadsheets: Computer application for analyzing and storing data. May be used for a variety of personal and business purposes, including managing budgets, inventories, and analyzing data (i.e. Excel, Google Sheets, Calc)
  • Web-design: skills involved in the design, production, and maintenance of websites
  • Word processing: text editing software used for composing, editing, and formatting of documents (i.e. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, OpenOffice)
  • Video communication: technology which facilitates real-time video meetings with several correspondents located in different places at once (i.e. What’s app, Skype, using a webcam)

How old the intended participant or audience is

  • Adults: Person 20-65 years old
  • Children under 10
  • Preteens: Children 10-12 years old
  • Teens: Children 13-19 years old
  • Seniors: Person older than 65#

Group or population for whom a program is intended

  • English language learners: students who require instruction in both their native languages and well as the English language while they become proficient in the English language
  • Ex-offenders: someone who has been convicted of a crime; programs for ex-offenders generally focus on their transition from incarceration to living in their communities
  • Homeless: people without housing or a fixed address
  • Immigrants and refugees: people who move to another country, often to become permanent residents; refugees have left their native countries for safety reasons (war or natural disasters, for example)
  • LGBTQIA community: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people
  • Low literacy level: reading and writing abilities below 7th grade level
  • Native communities: group who has descended from original inhabitants of an area or region
  • Parents: people who are caregivers for children
  • People with disabilities: people who have conditions that limit major life activities
  • Trainer: people who are performing training and/or other educational activities
  • Veterans: people who have served in the military

Knowledge level of participant for whom a program is intended

  • Beginner: starting to learn and develop a skill
  • Intermediate: has proficiency but not mastery
  • Advanced: approaching mastery

Methods of communication and tools for implementing projects and services

  • Handouts: collection of information given to participants in a class, program or other event
  • Lesson plans and curriculum: teacher’s guide to a class that usually includes learning objectives and a description of instructional content and classroom activities
  • Video: audio and visual recording of a class, presentation or other event
  • Webinars: a class or presentation presented over the Internet
  • Promotional material: publicity issued on behalf of an organization, company or person
  • Publication: a printed work (report, book or article, for example) for wide distribution#

Content areas covered in policy materials at the Federal, State or Local level

  • Digital Literacy: programs that foster the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills
  • Funding: monies provided with the explicit purpose of expanding broadband access and promoting digital inclusion
  • Home broadband (or broadband adoption): The use of broadband in places where it is available, measured as the percentage of households that use broadband in such areas
  • Infrastructure: hardware and software components of a network that provide network connectivity and allow the network to function.
  • Lifeline: program of the Universal Service Fund that provides a discount on phone and broadband service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that these services brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services.
  • Planning: The process of establishing and documenting a community’s vision for a broadband initiative, the anticipated benefits and the strategy and action plan necessary to carry out that vision.#

Methods of assessing programs and activities to document outcomes, track effectiveness, and determine best practices

  • Assessments: instrument for self-evaluation (e.g. a self test of computer knowledge) or assessment of a program or initiative
  • Evaluation reports: assessment of a program that includes an overview, findings, and recommendations
  • Focus group guide: guidance for successful facilitation of focus groups, including scripts and recommendations about process
  • Interview guide: guidance for conducting successful interviews, including scripts and recommendations about process
  • Metrics-computer usage: quantitative measures of hardware use
  • Metrics-participation: quantitative measures of engagement
  • Observations: procedures for monitoring with the intent to gain specific information
  • Questionnaires: collections of questions used to collect information; answers not aggregated or analyzed
  • Reports and studies: detailed analysis of a specific topic or issue
  • Surveys: collections of questions used to gauge opinions or experiences of a target audience; results analyzed to draw conclusions
Terms of Service

Last updated: November 30, 2018

These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between you and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (“NDIA”, “us”, “we”, or “our”), and your use and contributions to the Digital Inclusion Library (the “Library”). 

These Terms and Conditions are a legally binding document between you and NDIA. By accessing or using the Library you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you do not have permission to access the Library.

Content

Our Library allows you to post, link, store, share and otherwise make available certain information, text, graphics, videos, or other material (“Content”). You are responsible for the Content that you post on or through the Library, including its legality, reliability, and appropriateness.

By posting Content on or through the Library, You represent and warrant that: (i) the Content is yours (you own it) and/or you have the right to use it and the right to grant us the rights and license as provided in these Terms, and (ii) that the posting of your Content on or through the Library does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights of any person or entity. We reserve the right to terminate the account of anyone found to be infringing on a copyright.

You retain any and all of your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through the Library and you are responsible for protecting those rights. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for Content you or any third party posts on or through the Library. However, by posting Content using the Library you grant us the right and license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content on and through the Library. You agree that this license includes the right for us to make your Content available to other users of the Library, who may also use your Content subject to these Terms.

National Digital Inclusion Alliance has the right but not the obligation to monitor and edit all Content provided by users. In addition, Content found on or through this Library are the property of National Digital Inclusion Alliance or used with permission. You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, download, repost, copy, or use said Content, whether in whole or in part, for commercial purposes or for personal gain, without express advance written permission from us.

Copyright Policy

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. It is our policy to respond to any claim that Content posted on the Library infringes on the copyright or other intellectual property rights (“Infringement”) of any person or entity.

If you are a copyright owner, or authorized on behalf of one, and you believe that the copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please submit your claim via email to [email protected], with the subject line: “Copyright Infringement” and include in your claim a detailed description of the alleged Infringement as detailed below, under “DMCA Notice and Procedure for Copyright Infringement Claims” You may be held accountable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) for misrepresentation or bad-faith claims on the infringement of any Content found on and/or through the Library on your copyright.

DMCA Notice and Procedure for Copyright Infringement Claims

You may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by providing our Copyright Agent with the following information in writing (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail): an electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright’s interest; a description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed, including the URL (i.e., web page address) of the location where the copyrighted work exists or a copy of the copyrighted work; identification of the URL or other specific location on the Library where the material that you claim is infringing is located; your address, telephone number, and email address; a statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.

You can contact the Copyright Agent via email at [email protected]

Intellectual Property

The Library and its original content (excluding Content provided by users), features and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of National Digital Inclusion Alliance and its licensors. The Library is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the United States and foreign countries. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or Library without the prior written consent of National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

Links To Other Web Sites

Our Library may contain links to third party web sites or services that are not owned or controlled by National Digital Inclusion Alliance

National Digital Inclusion Alliance has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. We do not warrant the offerings of any of these entities/individuals or their websites. You acknowledge and agree that National Digital Inclusion Alliance shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such third party web sites or services.

We strongly advise you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third party web sites or services that you visit.

Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and bar access to the Library immediately, without prior notice or liability, under our sole discretion, for any reason whatsoever and without limitation, including but not limited to a breach of the Terms. If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply discontinue using the Library. All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless National Digital Inclusion Alliance and its licensee and licensors, and their employees, contractors, agents, officers and directors, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees), resulting from or arising out of a) your use and access of the Library, by you or any person using your account and password; b) a breach of these Terms, or c) Content posted on the Library.

Limitation Of Liability

In no event shall National Digital Inclusion Alliance, nor its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates, be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (i) your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Library; (ii) any conduct or content of any third party on the Library; (iii) any content obtained from the Library; and (iv) unauthorized access, use or alteration of your transmissions or content, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence) or any other legal theory, whether or not we have been informed of the possibility of such damage, and even if a remedy set forth herein is found to have failed of its essential purpose.

Disclaimer

Your use of the Library is at your sole risk. The Library is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. The Library is provided without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement or course of performance. National Digital Inclusion Alliance its subsidiaries, affiliates, and its licensors do not warrant that a) the Library will function uninterrupted, secure or available at any particular time or location; b) any errors or defects will be corrected; c) the Library is free of viruses or other harmful components; or d) the results of using the Library will meet your requirements.

Exclusions

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the limitations above may not apply to you.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Ohio, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us regarding our Library, and supersede and replace any prior agreements we might have had between us regarding the Library.

Changes

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material we will provide at least 30 days notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use our Library after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you are no longer authorized to use the Library.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at [email protected]

institute for museum and library servicesThis project was made possible in part by a cooperative agreement between the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA),  the PAST Foundation, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grant #MG-00-17-0002-17.