Dillon Heath works with customers at the Headquarters Branch of the Cumberland County Public Library. (David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal) 

Library grant to provide online access throughout community

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Cumberland County Commissioners accepted a State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) grant in the amount of $95,846 that will be used to pay for two digital navigators at the Cumberland County Public Library.

Faith Phillips, the Cumberland County Public Library director, said the one full-time and one part-time position represents the next phase in a series of moves she hopes will provide community access to an ever growing digital world.

“At the library we’ve had a number of customers who need help with these types of items — and of course we help them, always — but oftentimes the library staff member is on the desk helping other people,” Phillips said.

The two digital navigator positions will provide the needed help both in the public library, but also throughout the community wherever digital access is needed.

“Navigators will go into the community and help people who cannot come to the library,” Phillips said. “Navigators will be able to instill in community members the skills and confidence needed to be successful in the digital sphere so they can have truly equitable access.”

The grant, which is part of the $1.6 million SLNC Adapts Library Services and Technology Act, is one of 45 grants doled out by the state library. The state library grants were made possible by funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, Public Law 117-2 (ARPA).

According to information provided by the SLNC, the money was earmarked to “support local library projects that target high-need communities to address digital inclusion, expand digital network access, purchase internet-accessible devices, provide related technical support in response to the coronavirus, and support community needs.”

Locally, the two new positions will be used to connect “the last mile digital inclusion and navigation at the Cumberland County Public Library,” according to the commissioners’ agenda item.

Phillips said the grant will pay for the two new positions for one budget cycle, but she said she hopes to include the positions in the next fiscal year’s budget, planning of which begins in September.

Regarding boots-on-the-ground applications, the grant includes funding for 15 laptop computers that will be used at planned outreach events throughout the community.

Ideally, Phillips said she hopes to partner with local businesses to provide access in visible areas such as business parking lots, schools, community centers, public spaces, even laundromats or other places where people naturally gather.

According to Phillips, the recent acquisition of mobile hotspots represented the first phase of the library’s digital access plan. The library’s new navigators will provide the needed help for library customers searching an array of information such as seeking job information, resume coaching or even help with launching a business.

Looking forward, Phillips said she hopes to apply the “Bookmobile” model to remote internet access — which would include a mobile bus-like vehicle that can be set up on school campuses, veteran service centers or job fairs throughout the county.

“This is crucial in ensuring equal access to the digital world,” Phillips said. “While providing access to technology like hotspots and computers as well as the internet. It’s crucial for our community, but that access means nothing if a community member does not know how to access the digital ecosystem.”