How can you promote digital citizenship in your library?

1 Create policies

One of the first steps to promote digital citizenship in your library is to create clear and consistent policies that guide the use of technology and the internet in your library. These policies should cover topics such as privacy, security, access, behavior, and communication. They should also outline the consequences of violating the policies and the procedures for reporting and resolving issues. You can involve your patrons, staff, and stakeholders in developing and reviewing these policies to ensure that they reflect your library's values and goals.

3 Facilitate activities

A third way to promote digital citizenship in your library is to facilitate activities that engage your patrons in learning and practicing digital citizenship skills. These activities can be part of your regular programs, such as storytime, book club, or maker space, or they can be special events, such as workshops, webinars, or contests. Some examples of activities are creating digital stories, playing digital citizenship games, taking online quizzes, making digital posters, or participating in online discussions. You can also invite guest speakers, such as experts, authors, or peers, to share their insights and experiences on digital citizenship.

4 Collaborate with others

A fourth way to promote digital citizenship in your library is to collaborate with others who share your vision and mission. You can partner with other librarians, educators, parents, community organizations, or online platforms to exchange ideas, resources, and best practices on digital citizenship. You can also join or create networks, groups, or communities of practice that focus on digital citizenship issues and initiatives. By collaborating with others, you can expand your reach, impact, and influence on digital citizenship education and advocacy.

5 Evaluate and improve

A fifth way to promote digital citizenship in your library is to evaluate and improve your efforts and outcomes. You can use various methods and tools, such as surveys, feedback forms, analytics, or portfolios, to measure and monitor the effectiveness and impact of your policies, resources, activities, and collaborations on digital citizenship. You can also solicit and incorporate suggestions, comments, or testimonials from your patrons, staff, and partners to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Based on your evaluation results, you can make adjustments, improvements, or innovations to your digital citizenship practices and strategies.

6 Celebrate and share

A sixth way to promote digital citizenship in your library is to celebrate and share your achievements and successes. You can recognize and reward your patrons, staff, and partners who demonstrate or contribute to digital citizenship in your library. You can also showcase and share your digital citizenship projects, products, or stories with your library community or beyond. You can use various channels and formats, such as newsletters, blogs, social media, podcasts, or webinars, to communicate and disseminate your digital citizenship work and impact. By celebrating and sharing, you can inspire and motivate others to join and support your digital citizenship efforts and goals.