Digital Literacy Day Announcement

ALBANY, NY (01/31/2012)(readMedia)-- February 1, 2012 will mark the first celebration of Digital Learning Day, a nationwide acknowledgement of the important role technology plays in building the skills necessary for people of all ages to succeed in school, a career, and life. Thirty-six states, including New York, and over 12,700 teachers have signed on to support and participate in this event. More than one and a half million students across the country will participate in activities to support digital learning.

Digital Learning Day is intended to create a national awareness campaign to celebrate innovative teachers and instructional strategies. Technology has changed the way we do everything from grocery shopping, to listening to music, and reading books. More innovative uses of technology in our nation's schools will ensure every student is prepared to be successful in our technology-driven society.

New York State has been a strong supporter of the concept of Digital Literacy. The NYS Broadband Development and Deployment Council was created in 2007 to develop a strategy to increase internet access and adoption throughout the state. A key component to increasing broadband adoption is improving the digital literacy skills of New Yorkers both in and and out of school. The Broadband Council's Digital Literacy Committee created Digital Literacy Standards in 2008 for use by all New Yorkers that covered basic skills sets for using information, technology and the internet.

The New York Library Association is in the process of developing a curriculum for a series of classes that will be offered at public libraries throughout the state. Training for librarians who will teach these classes will begin this spring. This initiative is being funded by a $781,000 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant.

"Libraries are essential partners in digital learning and digital literacy," said NYLA Executive Director Michael Borges. "Digital Learning Day is a great opportunity to gather examples to illustrate our work so that we may more effectively advocate and highlight current practices to stakeholders." In addition, NYLA has introduced legislation that would allow digital literacy courses to be offered in public schools. "Librarians believe that people of all ages should be digitally literate and be able to use technology and the internet to access, share and process information in a safe and secure manner," continued Mr. Borges.

To learn more about how to be a part of Digital Learning Day, sign up at http://www.digitallearningday.org. You can also "like" Digital Learning Day on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NationalDigitalLearningDay and follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #DLDday.

For more information on New York's Digital Literacy Standards and the librarian training program, contact Michael Borges, NYLA Executive Director, director@nyla.org. The project web site is http://www.diglitny.org

About NYLA:

The New York Library Association (NYLA) was established in 1890 by Melvil Dewey and is the oldest state library association in the nation. NYLA represents school, college, special and public libraries, library staff, trustees, and students from around the state.