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Buncombe County Public Libraries are partnering with state government agencies to provide access to Digital Navigators for the months of October and November. Digital Navigators will guide community members to address their needs around home connectivity, devices, and digital skills. This temporary service is part of larger efforts to close the digital divide in North Carolina.
Many North Carolinians are affected by the digital divide: the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet and digital literacy training and those who do not. The State Library of North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office and Buncombe County Public Libraries are partnering to help community members overcome those barriers with this Digital Navigator helpline.
Anyone who would like to talk to a Digital Navigator about their needs related to internet access, devices, or digital skills can text or call (919) 714-9471 or fill out the online form here to receive a call back. Common topics include home internet connectivity, email, online video call platforms like Zoom, online education, the Emergency Broadband Benefit, and devices like Chromebooks. This temporary service will inform future digital inclusion initiatives.
This project is made possible in part with funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LG-70-18-0116-18).