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Building on pandemic relief and recovery programs, the federal government is making historic investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in advancing digital equity, literacy, and inclusion for all. The IIJA highlights the important role that community anchor institutions, like libraries, will play in creating a digitally equitable future for all.

ALA advocates with and for libraries to ensure their eligibility and inclusion in federal, state, and local programs. ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ will continue to add to this web page and share policy information, best practices, funding opportunities, and a range of resources from libraries and partner organizations to support your digital equity work. We also encourage you to so we can continue to promote and share the contributions libraries are making to advance digital equity in their community.

Overview

• Featured Resource: What Your Library Needs to Know: Seeking State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Funding
• To connect with fellow library workers, exchange digital equity knowledge, and stay up to date on digital inclusion policy updates, join our !
• Report: Leveraging Libraries to Achieve Historic Progress Towards Digital Equity for All
  • Executive Summary
• Policy Brief: Digital Equity and America's Libraries

Federal Funding for Digital Equity and Inclusion

• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Programs:
  • NTIA:
  • NTIA:
  • NTIA:
  • NTIA:
    • • : Overview of State Digital Equity Capacity Grants
      • : Summaries of State Digital Equity plans
      • : What Libraries Need to Know about the Digital Equity Act
      • of "Gearing Up for the Digital Equity Act With Libraries" webinar, co-presented by national Skills Coalition (NSC), ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ, and PLA
      • : Federal Broadband Funding Guidelines Now Available for States to Begin Planning, Applications
      • : Digital Opportunities Compass: Metrics to Monitor, Evaluate, and Guide Broadband and Digital Equity Policy
        
  • NTIA:
    • SHLB: How Libraries Can Participate in the State BEAD Challenge Process to Upgrade their Broadband Connectivity
    • 
      
  • FCC:
    • • : ACP Adoption and Enrollment Dashboard
      • ALA: Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach Fact Sheet
      • : Libraries Eligible for New Digital Equity Outreach Funding; January 9 Deadline to apply

Resources and Tools for Libraries and Other Advocates

Getting Started

• NEW! ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ: What your Library Needs to Know: Seeking State Digital Equity Capacity Grants
• ALA: ALA to Launch New Digital Inclusion Working Group for Library Workers
• ALA: Ensure State Digital Equity Plans Include Libraries
• ALA: Leverage Federal Funds to Advance Digital Equity in your Community
• ALA: Amplify and Connect Your Assets
• ALA: Federal Funding Resources
• NTIA:
  • : How Libraries and Schools are Partnering on Digital Equity for Students (August 29, 2023)
• NDIA and NYSL:
• Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA): Find the top in your state
• ALA: State E-Rate Coordinators
  

Supporting Home Broadband Adoption

• Next Century Cities:
• FCC:
• PLA:
• Education Superhighway:
• everyoneon:
  

Supporting Digital Skills

• PLA:
• NDIA:
  

Webinars

• Past:
  • . Co-hosted by ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ, Urban Libraries Council (ULC), Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) (April 2024)
  • . Co-hosted by ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ, Common Sense media, and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) (April 2024)
  • (February 2024)
  • (August 29, 2023)
  • "" webinar. Co-presented by National Skills Coalition (NSC), ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ, and PLA (April 2022)

Learn More

• : Digital Divide

See What Other States are Doing

• TSLAC:
• Idaho Commission for Libraries:
• Idaho Commission for Libraries:
• State Library of North Carolina:

More to come! Does your state library have a digital equity resources? Send it our way!

Library Digital Equity Work in the News

• : Emily Drabinski: Will Congress Keep Its Broadband Promise?
• : FCC Announces More Funding Opportunities for ACP Outreach Grants
• : What's New in Digital Equity: WIdely Signed Letter Supports the ACP
• : Tech Advances leaving many in CT locked out of jobs and economy

Staff Contacts

Megan Janicki
mjanicki@alawash.org

Larra Clark
lclark@alawash.org