But now, a program backed by the Connecticut State Library and a national grant program will work to extend digital skills to residents in Hamden, New Haven, Bridgeport, West Haven, Derby, Naugatuck and Woodbridge.
It's all about using libraries to help connect people who may not be tech-savvy to the services available to them online.
The initiative, funded through a $250,000 national leadership grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will run through May.
Navigators will be shared regionally among the seven participating public libraries, including the Bridgeport Public Library, Derby Neck Public Library, Hamden Public Library, Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck, New Haven Free Public Library, West Haven Public Library and the Woodbridge Town Library.
"This grant comes at a critical time both in Connecticut and in our country," said State Librarian Deborah Schander.
"We continue to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which laid bare how vast the divide is between those who have ready access to technology and digital tools" and those who don't, Schander said.
"Without these tools, students are unable to learn, parents are unable to work, seniors are unable to attend medical appointments, and everybody struggles to pay taxes, to communicate with family, friends and government services," Schander said.
She said libraries will be critical in narrowing the divide, helping residents build the technical and digital literacy skills needed to participate fully in today's world.
According to New Haven City Librarian Maria Bernhey, "Breaking the digital divide is not just about affordable connectivity. Helping them understand how to navigate the Internet is an important part of the puzzle.
"We are very grateful for our navigators who work at this library," Bernhey said.
Through the program, residents will be able to make appointments with trained bilingual digital navigators to receive individualized guidance and support in using their computers, tablets, smartphones and other household digital devices, officials said in a news release.
They'll also be able to learn new skills to increase their digital skills and technological fluency.
"Computers and technology are complicated and tough to figure out," said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker , pointing out that "everything we do connects in some way to technology."
Hamden Public Library Director Melissa Canham-Clyne, whose library will serve as a "hub" for the new program, said, "It is my joy to steward such a fine library system."
Then Canham-Clyne made an admission. "During COVID, I broke library policies. I snuck people into the library who needed to use the computers," Canham-Clyne said. "Some of them needed it to file their taxes. Some of them just wanted to shop online. Some of them felt that they needed to connect with the doctor and didn't know how."
"That is when I discovered digital navigation," she said. "One of the things that grew out of that was this grant program."
Even before the program went regional, Lucia Luchetti, activities director for Hamden's Davenport-Dunbar Residence, was using navigators to help residents get what they needed online.
"The digital divide is a real thing," Luchetti said. "I have residents who have worked for years without the ability to advance as society has advanced. Some residents don't even know what they can ask for because they don't know the capabilities that they have."
Elaine Braithwaite, director of the Bridgeport Public Library, said the idea of a digital divide "was definitely catching the ear of many people." Bridgeport had a pilot project that lasted about 10 months, she said.
She said Bridgeport will contribute its expertise to the project. In turn, in Bridgeport, where 44 percent of households speak a language other than English as their first language, residents will be able to do more on the Internet, she said.
New Haven officials said the effort complements the ongoing work of the city and New Haven Free Public Library to expand digital access and literacy to residents, including free computer access, hotspots, classes, tech support and other resources and initiatives.
Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Ives Main Library in New Haven, there will be an introduction to the Digital Navigator program for residents followed by a cyber safety workshop at 12:30 p.m. More information can be found at nhfpl.org.
New Haven residents can make an appointment with New Haven's digital navigator, Hugh-John Dunkley, by calling 203-584-3517 or asking to make an appointment with him at any of the city's five libraries. Dunkley speaks Spanish as well as English.
For other tech-related resources and services, visit the New Haven Free Public Library's website at nhfpl.org or stop by any local branch.
©2024 the New Haven Register, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
