Izzy Oneiric is the New Orleans Public Library's Digital Literacy Librarian.
Once considered a luxury, the internet is now a basic utility and devices to access it are necessities. But, not everyone has access to the internet and internet-enabled devices, or the skills to use them successfully. During the pandemic, lack of access to high-speed internet, devices, and the skills to use them made it difficult –– if not impossible –– to participate in school, work, civic engagement, and socialization, and highlighted just how many facets of daily life have migrated online.
To bring awareness of the critical need for “digital equity,” the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), hosts Digital Inclusion Week every year. The occasion was designed to highlight individual communities’ work on digital inclusion in order to raise awareness of solutions addressing home internet access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs. This year’s Digital Inclusion Week’s theme is Turning Our Moment into Movement and is held from October 3-7.
The New Orleans Public Library is proud to join NDIA in promoting awareness of digital equity and inclusion.
Digital equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.
Digital Inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
This includes five elements:
Digital Inclusion must evolve as technology advances and it requires intentional strategies and investments to reduce and eliminate historical, institutional and structural barriers to access and use technology.
Parts of Orleans Parish have the highest rates of digital inequality in Louisiana, according to census data, which shows that more than 80 percent of households in some Algiers neighborhoods do not have a desktop or laptop computer, and 79 percent not having any internet access at all. Parishwide, more than 33 percent of households do not have a computer, 26 percent do not have internet subscriptions, and 59 percent are not using internet at broadband speed.
Because technology evolves so quickly, it can be difficult to keep up, but here at the Library, we’re working hard to ensure all New Orleans residents have access to technology and skills to participate fully online.
Through our Take Home Tablet program, patrons can check out a Samsung A7 Lite tablet with an unlimited data plan from T-Mobile. Tablets can be checked out for up to six months, and double as Wi-Fi hotspots for up to 10 devices.
If you can’t attend a class or want additional support, we also offer individual, hour-long technology instruction and resume/job help through our Book a Librarian service. Patrons can request up to two sessions each month at the Library location closest to them. For more information about any of these programs, please contact the Adult Learning and Education Department at 504-224-8720, or email digilit@nolalibrary.org.
The Library is dedicated to closing the digital gap in our communities and is always looking for new ways to promote, teach, and expand digital literacy and access.
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