Digital Navigators are trained, trusted guides who help with various technology needs. Navigators work in libraries and other community organizations. Applications for the Fall 2024 cohort are now open. This is the final cohort of this cycle. We will continue to support Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley in 2025 and beyond, look for details this winter.
Who: The current program is open to anyone who works at a library or a community-based organization that would like to offer Digital Navigator services to their patrons. Applications are due on September 30, 2024, at 12:00 pm. Applications are open to individuals who work at libraries and nonprofit organizations in the following counties: Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. This cohort is open to both individuals who have previously trained as a Digital Navigator and those who are new to the program.
What: Digital Navigators will train with staff from National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and staff from Southeastern NY Library Resources Council, Ramapo Catskill Library System, Mid-Hudson Library System, and Westchester Library System. This new training will add to your existing knowledge and update you on current programs, services, and resources for clients. Once trained, Navigators will meet with clients and report back on the meetings by submitting intake and session summary forms. We will meet twice a month as a group and maintain an active listserv.
Navigators who meet the requirements by December 31, 2024 will receive a $500 investment incentive that is payable to their organization.
Where: All meetings and training sessions will be held online via Zoom.
When: The time commitment for meetings and training is the following:
- Tuesday, October 1: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (training)
- Wednesday, October 2: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (training)
- Friday, October 4: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (training / office hours)
- Thursday, October 10: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (office hours)
- Thursday, October 24: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (office hours)
- Thursday, November 14: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (office hours)
- Thursday, November 21: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (office hours)*
- Thursday, December 5: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (office hours)
- Thursday, December 19: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (office hours)*
*Office hours on these dates are slightly shifted from the regular cadence to accommodate holiday schedules.
Requirements:
- Watch a one-hour on-demand video created by NDIA.
- Attend the three live training sessions.*
- Attend all the office hour meetings.*
- Dedicate 5 hours of time to research (examples: learning about the resources list, adding to the list, learning about Digital Inclusion, attending NDIA meetings, setting up the program at your organization.)
- Meet with at least 5 unique clients and complete an intake and session summary form for each client.
- Engage with the listserv at least once by asking or answering a question or sharing an anecdote.
* We understand that things come up! If you have an unavoidable conflict on a training session or office hours date, you may be excused if you can catch up on the work. However, if you know that more than one of these dates will be a conflict with your schedule, we ask that you please wait until the next session to apply.
Additionally, Navigators will do ONE of the following:
- Demonstrate using promotional materials with “Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley” – either a press release, event, newsletter, or social media posting.
- Coordinate with an organization outside of yours to promote Digital Navigator service.
- Coordinate with Southeastern, MHLS, or RCLS to meet with an elected official to talk about Digital Navigators
- Represent Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley at NYLA, Net Inclusion, ALA or another related trade conference. (We highly encourage you to submit a proposal for a presentation or lightning round slot!)
- Attend an in-person event if we host one for Digital Navigators.
Once all the requirements have been met, your library or organization will receive an investment incentive of $500 to continue the work of a Digital Navigator. If you do not submit requirements by December 31, 2024, the investment incentive will not be granted.
All participants in the program will receive 5 hours of CE credit for the training sessions and a Certification of Completion at the end of the session.
Questions? Contact:
Carolyn Bennett Glauda, Southeastern NY Library Resources Council
Meaghan Doyle, Ramapo Catskill Library System, meaghan@rcls.org
Kerstin Cruger, Mid-Hudson Library System, kcruger@midhudson.org
Linda Smith, Westchester Library System, lsmith@wlsmail.org
Want to know more? We recorded an Information Session on June 17, 2024 for the Summer Cohort with program details and a Q&A.
APPLY FOR THE COHORT HERE
Funding for this program has been provided in part by the financial support of Southeastern NY Library Resources Council, Ramapo Catskill Library System, Mid-Hudson Library System, and Westchester Library System.