While technology continues to evolve, transforming how we go about our daily lives, one institution remains steadfast throughout it all: the library.
Widely recognized as centers of knowledge consumption, the traditionally book-lined institutions are increasingly filled with more computers, tablets, and projectors, becoming hubs for digital access.
“Everything is about computers right now, so it’s very helpful,” says 47-year-old library patron Luis M. “And people don’t have money—you have to pay for it, [but] this is free.”
Luis is referring to the TechConnect classes provided by the New York Public Library (NYPL) system. Just last week, he participated in his first Microsoft Excel lesson, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), where he learned the basics of the program. He said that without the library, he doubts he would have managed to learn the software on his own.
“I want to get a little more [smarter] about computers, and I think this is a good way to—the library is excellent,” he said.
The NYPL system, which encompasses 88 neighborhood branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, offers a variety of resources and activities, including educational classes, community events, and exhibitions.
Their TechConnect classes, offered several times a week, both online and in person, allow adult patrons to develop computer skills. With more than 100 technology classes available at no cost, the program attracts people from all walks of life.
“I would say that our demographic profile is pretty varied, so either it reflects the community that we’re teaching in at that moment [or] if it’s online, we literally have all five boroughs, pretty much, so I’ve had such a wide variety in my classes,” said NYPL instructor Richard Jones.
Data indicates that communities of color are among the hardest hit by the digital divide.
According to a 2021 study by the Urban Institute, Black and Hispanic youth exhibit lower digital skill levels than their white counterparts. Black youth are three times more likely than white youth to have no or limited independent digital skills, while Hispanic youth are nearly twice as likely as white youth to lack these skills.
A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that Black (69 percent) and Hispanic (67 percent) adults were less likely to report owning a desktop or laptop computer than white adults (80 percent). Black and Hispanic adults were also less likely to report having high-speed internet at home than white adults.
Although only a glimpse into the larger issue, institutions like the NYPL actively bridge the gap with their inclusive, student-centered approaches to technology.
“We try to meet patrons where they’re at,” said TJ Woods, associate director of Technology Training Programs at the NYPL. She said instructors are trained in their soft skills and outlined the various classes and resources available to meet the varying technological needs of patrons.
“We have classes that focus on digital literacy basics—[for] people [who] are just interested in engaging with the technology,” she said. “We also try to move people toward more advanced programs if they’re interested in that.”
She mentioned a recording studio available to visitors at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation library for recording podcasts or similar projects: “Maybe they even want to lay down a track. It’s their dream to create music in New York, but it’s prohibitively expensive. They can record in our studio and use the software outside of our studio to continue editing and producing stuff.”
Jones has been with the NYPL for five years, starting as a librarian before becoming manager of the TechConnect team and an instructor. He develops the Office Readiness Series curriculum, a 12-week program focused on the Microsoft Office suite. Participants receive a certification upon completion.
He said they strive to tailor their programming to the goals and intentions of each student, whether “they are looking for jobs [or] they are just trying to upskill for their own personal benefit.”
Jones said he has had people graduate from the [Office Readiness Series] and immediately use those skills to get employment. “I’ve also had people graduate or take the course, and they were taking it purely to benefit themselves, develop their own tech skills, [and] develop their own digital literacy. A lot of them use it for communications with their families, creating photo albums in PowerPoint, writing letters, and doing things like that.”
Jones said the NYPL also makes a concerted effort to make the program available to patrons whose first language isn’t English, further ensuring equitable access to these digital tools.
“We also do try to hire instructors who are multilingual,” Jones said. “Those instructors don’t just teach—they also help translate our materials. When we can’t have them translate materials, or if we don’t have an instructor who speaks the language of one of our students, then we will pay externals and outsource so that we can get those materials translated.”
Beyond the Office Readiness Series, the library also provides one-on-one open computer lab sessions, coding lessons, digital design classes, and more, catering to individuals of all skill levels.
When it comes to bridging the digital divide, libraries are undervalued champions of equity, providing tools to communities in places that may otherwise be inaccessible.
“Always promote and support libraries in your local community,” said Jones. “We are here for you. We are a space of access, and access is not determined by privilege. It’s access for everybody.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.