Charleston Co. Public Libraries focuses on digital literacy in community

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – The Charleston County Library System wants to better teach the community how to use the internet, which plays an important and growing role in many people’s daily lives.

Libraries are active resource centers for visitors who need internet access. The internet plays important roles in people’s daily lives, from telehealth to entering the workforce.

Charleston County Public Library, along with systems in Chicago and Delaware, was chosen to look at adult and family literacy needs. This two-year program comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. The Institute awarded $400,000 to the American Library Association and the Adult Literacy Impact Network through a National Leadership Grants Award to focus on literacy gaps in communities nationwide.

The National Center for Education Statistics A study from 2011 to 2014 found that one in five adults have difficulty completing tasks in English. This means that 43 million people nationwide have low literacy skills.

The Charleston County Library System focuses on digital literacy with about $30,000 in funding for the program. Digital literacy is important because it is the ability to use technology to find and communicate information.

The first year of the program will focus on looking at the existing resources the library system offers. The goal is to find better ways to deliver these support services and provide broader community outreach.

Adults can take technology classes offered by the library system. These classes range from basic computer skills, such as turning on a computer, to advanced topics such as artificial intelligence, including applications such as ChatGPT.

Andrew Dombrowski, Technology Coordinator for the Charleston County Library System, says the course has helped many adult students understand internet concepts that many people take for granted.

“Our classes … some of them are very hands-on,” Dombrowski says. “We’ll put you in a classroom with a computer or a laptop and work on a program like Microsoft Excel. We’ll give you step-by-step instructions. Other classes are more conversational, where we talk about the problems you’re having with your phone.”

During his time at the main library on Calhoun Street, Dombrowski saw a great need for technological support from visitors.

“One of the really frustrating things is that a lot of jobs require online applications,” Dombrowski says. “Even if the last job didn’t actually use a computer, there’s a barrier or a barrier to getting a job because you have to use a computer to apply.”

Library leaders say some locations, like the Edisto branch, don’t offer technology support. That gap will be addressed in the program’s second year, when instructors come in and teach library staff how to provide support. The ultimate goal is to improve support efforts that will expand nationally, with Chicago and Delaware also taking place.

Adults wishing to join the available support classes can visit their website.