In 2015, the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois received an American Library Association Publishing Carnegie-Whitney Grant to develop class materials and support resources for those teaching technology in libraries. Over the next two years, the Gail Borden team, with the help of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), developed dozens of templates, using their own staff and contributors from libraries, universities, and other groups across Illinois and beyond. Collected online as Gail’s Toolkit, these resources helped dozens of library staff provide quality computer and technology instruction to thousands of learners nationwide.
As the grant for Gail’s Toolkit ended, Gail Borden staff began working with the Public Library Association (PLA). PLA already provided training tools for libraries through the online modules featured on DigitalLearn.org, which are most often completed solo or through one-on-one help with learners. The PLA Board of Directors approved incorporating Gail’s Toolkit resources into DigitalLearn.org, which was completed in September 2017.
Thanks to Gail Borden Public Library and PLA, the DigitalLearn website is now your “one-stop shop” for computer and technology training. Whether you help learners find and use online training, provide individual instruction, or need to teach a class, our growing collection of topics and tools are here to help you.