National Digital Literacy Exchange – Application

Application Support

The Canadian Urban Libraries Council / Conseil des bibliothèques urbaines du Canada (www.culc.ca) is submitting a national strategy as an application for public libraries for the recently announced Digital Literacy Exchange Program. It will be a partner-based application that will work with library organizations that can ensure all libraries, regardless of whether they are CULC/CBUC members or not, have access to this program.

The program is here: www.ic.gc.ca

CULC/CBUC needs your help with completing the application for the Digital Literacy Exchange program. We are looking for data, anecdotes, and specific examples of the programs your library is involved with to share with the government.

Fundamental Digital Literacy Skills
Fundamental digital literacy skills are skills needed to engage with computers and the Internet. These skills include: the ability to use computer programs such as word processors, web browsers, email and other communication tools; the ability to access and use knowledge resources such as search engines and online databases; and the ability to access emerging technologies such as cloud computing.

Analytical skills to comprehend, contextualize and critically evaluate digital media are also important to couple with these basic technical skills (e.g. analytical skills to help make informed decisions on sharing personal information).

Under-represented Groups in the Digital Economy

Persons with disabilities
Indigenous people
Individuals who have not completed high school
Residents of rural and remote areas *
Language Minorities**
Persons who have low-income
Individuals aged 65 and older
Newcomers to Canada

*Rural and remote areas are non-metro localities (i.e., with a population density less than 100,000 inhabitants and with a distance that is outside the commuting zone of these metro centres).

** Individuals whose first language is not English.

Program Objectives

Increase the number of Canadians using the Internet in their day-to-day lives and increase overall participation by Canadians in the digital economy.
Ensure that all Canadians have the necessary skills to use the Internet safely and effectively.
Improve the confidence and skills of under-represented groups in using the Internet.

By committing to this single application for public libraries in no way is a guarantee that funding will be awarded now or in the future. It is an effort to demonstrate a united public library community for the DLE program.

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* 1. Institution Name

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* 2. Contact Name

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* 3. Email Address

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* 4. What is the total population you serve?

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* 5. Number of Registered Borrowers/Active Users

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* 6. Does you library currently use Project Outcome (projectoutcome.org)?

Yes

Comments

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* 7. Is your website available in different languages?

Yes, we have translated some/all of the text

Yes, we have installed and provide a link to a Google Translate Widget

No, we only provide content in one language

Languages available on your website:

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* 8. Does your library provide any programming in different languages?

Yes

Type of program and the language it is provided in:

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* 9. Do you provide services in different languages?

Yes, we have hired staff who speak different languages

Yes, we use a translation service we can call into for support

Not officially, but we do have staff who speak more than one language

Comments

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* 10. Does your library have partnerships in your community with the following groups?

	Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	No	We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Persons with Disabilities	Persons with Disabilities Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Persons with Disabilities Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Persons with Disabilities No	Persons with Disabilities We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Indigenous people	Indigenous people Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Indigenous people Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Indigenous people No	Indigenous people We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Individuals who have not completed high school	Individuals who have not completed high school Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Individuals who have not completed high school Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Individuals who have not completed high school No	Individuals who have not completed high school We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities)	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) No	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Language minorities (first language is not English)	Language minorities (first language is not English) Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Language minorities (first language is not English) Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Language minorities (first language is not English) No	Language minorities (first language is not English) We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Persons who have low-income	Persons who have low-income Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Persons who have low-income Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Persons who have low-income No	Persons who have low-income We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Individuals aged 65 and older	Individuals aged 65 and older Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Individuals aged 65 and older Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Individuals aged 65 and older No	Individuals aged 65 and older We would use the funding to establish a partnership
Newcomers to Canada	Newcomers to Canada Yes, we have a formal partnership with a written agreement for shared resources	Newcomers to Canada Yes, they use library resources/space for activities	Newcomers to Canada No	Newcomers to Canada We would use the funding to establish a partnership

Please name some of the organizations you partner with.

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* 11. Does your library provide digital literacy programming/services directed to the following groups?

	Yes	No
Persons with Disabilities	Persons with Disabilities Yes	Persons with Disabilities No
Indigenous people	Indigenous people Yes	Indigenous people No
Individuals who have not completed high school	Individuals who have not completed high school Yes	Individuals who have not completed high school No
Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities)	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) Yes	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) No
Language minorities (first language is not English)	Language minorities (first language is not English) Yes	Language minorities (first language is not English) No
Persons who have low-income	Persons who have low-income Yes	Persons who have low-income No
Individuals aged 65 and older	Individuals aged 65 and older Yes	Individuals aged 65 and older No
Newcomers to Canada	Newcomers to Canada Yes	Newcomers to Canada No
All library users, anyone can participate	All library users, anyone can participate Yes	All library users, anyone can participate No

Comments

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* 12. Does your library collect statistics about digital literacy programming/services directed to the following groups?

	Yes	No
Persons with Disabilities	Persons with Disabilities Yes	Persons with Disabilities No
Indigenous people	Indigenous people Yes	Indigenous people No
Individuals who have not completed high school	Individuals who have not completed high school Yes	Individuals who have not completed high school No
Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities)	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) Yes	Residents of rural and remote areas (non-metro localities) No
Language minorities (first language is not English)	Language minorities (first language is not English) Yes	Language minorities (first language is not English) No
Persons who have low-income	Persons who have low-income Yes	Persons who have low-income No
Individuals aged 65 and older	Individuals aged 65 and older Yes	Individuals aged 65 and older No
Newcomers to Canada	Newcomers to Canada Yes	Newcomers to Canada No
We just collect statistics based on all participants	We just collect statistics based on all participants Yes	We just collect statistics based on all participants No

Comments

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* 13. For the programs referenced above do you collect participant information?

Yes, we collect library card information

Yes, we have names and contact information

No, but we could

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* 14. Please provide a short description of a digital literacy program or activity at your library that targets at least one of the under represented groups.