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Library tech learning team expands hotspots, pop‑up labs and readies AI course
Summary
Supervisor of digital inclusion Karen Moore briefed the board on hotspot lending, pop‑up lab outreach, Northstar Digital Literacy usage and an AI course planned for early next year.
Karen Moore, supervisor of digital inclusion and leader of the library’s Tech Learning Team, told trustees the library is expanding digital access and skills programming while preparing targeted new courses on artificial intelligence.
Moore said the team manages a hotspot lending program with roughly 174 devices currently in circulation across 16 branches; hotspots have logged more than 1,600 checkouts year‑to‑date, and staff target branches in areas with high digital‑divide indicators. “Though we have very little hotspots, when the need is there, it is met,” Moore said, recounting a patron who could get groceries only because a hotspot enabled an online order.
The tech learning team runs pop‑up labs (20 laptops with accessibility tools) that bring digital classes to branches without fixed computer labs. Moore reported more than 1,600 attendees to tech‑learning classes during the 12‑month period she cited and nearly 500 unique users of Northstar Digital Literacy who logged more than 1,200 hours of learning since rollout. Moore also described an active outreach program with partners including Goodwill of Central Indiana, CenterWell and Community Alliance of the Far East Side.
Hotspots and funding: Moore said the library continues hotspot lending after an earlier federal subsidy (the Affordable Connectivity Program) ended. She said a federal grant application is in limbo and staff are pursuing alternate funding sources; the board asked about grant timing and staff said they were hopeful but did not have a confirmed award.
AI course and curriculum development: Asked about teaching about generative AI and prompt engineering, Moore said the team is “developing and finalizing an AI course to launch the first quarter of next year,” focusing on how AI is used and how to recognize AI‑enabled scams and deepfakes while also exploring beneficial uses.
Why it matters: The program mix addresses both short‑term access (hotspots, public PC sessions) and longer‑term digital resiliency (Northstar certificates, STEAM, digital creativity and workforce skills). Moore emphasized that digital inclusion requires ongoing training because platforms and interfaces change over time.
Ending: Moore said the tech learning team will continue expansion of pop‑up offerings, language‑tailored classes and partnerships to reach patrons at multiple branches and community locations. Trustees asked for updates on grant outcomes and on pilot programs such as VR/AR and accessibility tools.
