The Digital Inclusion Team of the IFLA North America Regional Division is pleased to invite you all to its first webinar entitled “Digital Inclusion and Libraries in North America: Prospects and Challenges” to be held on Thursday, October 20th from 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm EST (1.00 pm Central Time and 11:00 am Pacific Time – see what time this is for you). 

*** RECORDING IS NOW AVAILABLE ***

Digital Inclusion is defined as “the ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies.” Although some significant progress has been made in the areas of digital inclusion in North America, there is still a long way to go before we can include everyone to be part of the digital world (e.g., more than 1 in 5 Americans still lack broadband internet at home). As the research suggests, public libraries in North America are playing a pivotal role in reducing the digital divide and taking initiatives to improve ICT accessibility among individuals and groups, including newcomers, seniors, and children.

In this webinar, four public library digital inclusion experts and speakers from Canada and the USA will share some exciting digital inclusion initiatives and the challenges they are facing in managing them. This timely and exciting webinar will benefit library professionals, educators, and students interested in digital inclusion programs in North America. Registration is required. Please register here, and feel free to share the link with your networks.

List of speakers

Canada

  1. Mark Williams, Chief Librarian & CEO, Milton Public Library

Presentation title: Virtual Reality with Seniors: Its use for Preventing Isolation and Further Decline into Alzheimers

  1. Sepideh Mckensy, Joseph Lalonde, and Shawn Mitchell, Toronto Public Library (TPL)

Presentation title: Driving Digital Inclusion and Data Informed Decisions – Bridge Technology Assessment Toolkit, Toronto Public Library

USA

  1. Julie Walker, State Librarian and Associate Vice Chancellor for Libraries, Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS)

Presentation title: Seizing the Moment:  Digital Equity and Inclusion in Georgia

  1. Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, CEO, Baltimore County Public Library

Presentation title: The Journey Towards Digital Equity and Inclusion in Baltimore County, MD

Please send your questions for the speakers in advance to Nafiz Zaman Shuva, PhD (Team Lead, Digital Inclusion) at nafiz.shuva@qc.cuny.edu. We look forward to seeing you at our webinar soon!