Welcome to another episode of Connecticut Latino News Opinion+, where we talk about major issues local Latinx and underrepresented communities face.

This week we spoke with Dawn La Valle, Director of the Division of Library Development for the Connecticut State Library. 

“We basically help and support our libraries to enhance their services that they provide to the community,” La Valle explained. The Division of Library Development offers all academic, public school, and special libraries a wide variety of funding, education, and leadership services. 

In this month’s episode, La Valle discussed the importance of digital equity across Connecticut’s diverse communities and shared about other inclusive efforts by the CT State Library, including the Connecticut State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH). 

“Digital Equity is about everyone having access, everyone being able to use a device to do their homework, to do their work,” she said. “The work that we’re doing with these libraries and educating communities is that the libraries are a wonderful place to go, many libraries offer devices, many libraries offer digital literacy classes.” 

Everyone is invited to Digital Inclusion Week, which will take place from October 3 – 7. The CT Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity have planned a full range of activities to showcase their efforts this past year and engage with residents. American Library Association Executive Director Tracie Hall, who has worked within digital equity for decades, will be featured as a keynote speaker. 

“We are going to highlight the work, the data, and the outcomes from the four libraries that received funding for digital navigator pilot projects,” La Valle said. “We’re going to hear from the digital navigators that have been working with these communities and allow them to tell their stories…telling the story of how this has impacted their lives [and] how this has impacted the communities.

For more information about equity and educational efforts by the CT State Library’s Division of Library Development, be sure to watch this full episode of Connecticut Latino News Opinion+.

“It’s so important for people in our communities to know that if they have a question, if they need accessibility if they need to learn to use a device—go to your library. We can help you,” La Valle said. 

SUGGESTION: CT Public Library Initiative Seeks To Close Local Digital Divide

Resources: 

Main CT State Library website: 

https://ctstatelibrary.org/

Learn more about CT Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity (CTLPDE):

https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld/CTLPDE

For more information on the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped:

https://ctstatelibrary.org/lbph/

View specific programs, services, and guides the Division of Library Development offers at:

https://bit.ly/3oQo1LI

Publisher’s Notes: CTLN is a proud partner of the Connecticut State Public Libraries.