Advanced Digital Literacy Skill Building

Awarded by the National Association of Counties

Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) sought to modernize its services and meet the needs of jobseekers with advanced digital literacy and skill-building classes in its Digital Media Labs. HCPL opened its first Digital Media Lab at the Libbie Mill Library in 2015 after piloting the concept at its Twin Hickory location. Library staff created curricula to develop digital literacy skills in applications like Adobe Creative Suite software, 3D modeling and printing, and coding while continuing to offer traditional computer classes like Microsoft Office and Internet Basics. The Varina Area Library opened in 2016 with a Digital Media Lab, and staff created applied concept classes like 3D printed crafting, video game programming, and other engaging subjects that offered an accessible entry point to learning digital skills for patrons of all ages. The new Fairfield Area Library opened in 2019 with a Digital Media Lab, and HCPL updated the Twin Hickory and Tuckahoe Area Libraries’ labs with comparable technology to the existing labs. Now all five Area Libraries, one in each magisterial district in Henrico County, provide free access to high-tech digital literacy education and digital content creation tools, removing barriers to developing digital skills.