Northstar Digital Literacy at the Livingston Parish Library
Are you interested in learning more about how to use computers in your daily life? Would you like to improve your computer confidence in a growing digital world?
The Livingston Parish Library is pleased to announce that we are partnering with Literacy Minnesota to bring Northstar Digital Literacy to our community! Northstar Digital Literacy is a national program that provides self-guided training modules and assessments on computer and software basics, and is used by over 2600 adult education programs, colleges, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and workforce centers around the country.
Our patrons can access Northstar’s online resources for free by signing up as a Northstar Learner! With a Learner account, you can explore at your own pace with Northstar’s self-guided training modules and assessments.
Self-guided training modules:
- Computer Basics
- Internet Basics
- Email Basics
- Windows Operating System
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Career Search Skills
Northstar assessments:
- Essential Computer Skills: Basic Computer Skills, Internet Basics, Email, Windows, and Mac OS.
- Essential Software Skills: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and Google Docs.
- Using Technology in Daily Life: Social Media, Information Literacy, Career Search Skills, Your Digital Footprint, K-12 Distance Learning, and Telehealth.
To set up your learner account, select your preferred library branch below, click the “Sign Up as a Learner” button, and enter your name and email in the fields provided.
Albany-Springfield Branch
Denham Springs-Walker Branch
Main Branch in Livingston
South Branch
Watson Branch
Our patrons can also receive Certificates of Completion for their assessments by scheduling a proctored assessment with one of our Digital Navigators. You can schedule a proctored assessment by calling or visiting your local library branch. Proctored assessments can be scheduled beginning Monday, October 3.
Albany-Springfield Branch
Mondays between 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday between 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fridays between 10:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m.
Denham Springs-Walker Branch
Mondays - Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fridays - Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sundays between 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Main Branch in Livingston
Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
South Branch
Mondays between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fridays between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Watson Branch
Mondays - Wednesdays between 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fridays between 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
For those looking for a little more personal guidance, patrons can sign up for our in-house computer classes, either in a group setting or through one-on-one appointments. Patrons can sign up for a computer class through our website or by calling one of our library branches.
Group Computer Classes (Available at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch and Main Branch):
- Computer Basics
- Internet Basics
- Email Basics
- Windows Operating System
One-on-One Computer Class (Available at all Livingston Parish Library Branches):
- Computer Basics
- Internet Basics
- Email Basics
- Windows Operating System
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Career Search Skills
(LIVINGSTON, LA) – Livingston Parish Library (LPL) is pleased to announce its participation in the Louisiana Statewide Digital Inclusion Pilot. The initiative is a partnership between the Louisiana Board of Regents, ConnectLA (Louisiana Office of Broadband Development & Connectivity), LOUIS: the Louisiana Library Network, the State Library of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Department of Education to help bridge the state’s digital divide and increase the digital literacy skills of its residents.
According to ConnectLA, an estimated 462,000 Louisianans lack basic digital literacy skills. Additionally, a 2019 American Community Survey reported that 26.5 percent of households in Livingston Parish do not have a desktop or laptop computer. As one of five digital literacy pilot sites, LPL will seek not only to increase access to high-speed digital resources but also to improve the overall computer and internet literacy in the parish.
"We are extremely honored to be selected to participate in this initiative to help increase the state's digital literacy skills," said LPL Director Giovanni Tairov. "Eliminating the digital divide in our parish has long been a goal of the Library. From the introduction of mobile hotspots in 2018 to increasing the Library's Wi-Fi signal during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to providing exceptional services to positively impact the Livingston Parish community.”
LPL will join the public library systems of East Carroll, Jefferson, Rapides, and West Feliciana to assess the community's needs for digital literacy and provide instructional opportunities such as skills assessment, self-directed online learning, and digital skill building. These activities will be conducted by library staff members who will serve as Digital Navigators. Digital Navigators have completed more than 11 hours of training through the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Northstar Digital Literacy to ensure the success of the digital literacy pilot sites.
Livingston Parish Library’s digital literacy pilot program will officially launch on Monday, October 3. Patrons will be able to schedule proctored assessments with one of the Library’s Digital Navigators at all five branches of the LPL. Proctored assessments for each branch will be offered at the following times:
Albany-Springfield Branch
- Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Denham Springs-Walker Branch
- Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Main Branch in Livingston
- Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
South Branch
- Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Watson Branch
- Mondays through Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In addition to proctored assessments at each branch, patrons will also gain access to free online resources and services through Northstar Digital Literacy, an online learning platform that offers users the ability to explore and increase their skills at their own pace through self-guided training modules and assessments. While online learning through Northstar will be available for all users, only patrons who participate in proctored assessments at a library branch will receive certificates of completion for completing the program.
For more details about the Library's digital literacy pilot program or to learn how to participate, visit us online at www.mylpl.info/northstar-digital-literacy.
Promoting digital equity and inclusivity is one of the many ways Livingston Parish Library strives to serve our growing community. To that end, we are proud to announce our participation in this year's Digital Inclusion Week, an awareness initiative hosted by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, running from October 3rd - 7th.
In addition to our publicly available computers and free accessible Wi-Fi, this year's Digital Inclusion Week will mark the beginning of our new recurring computer classes and proctored digital skills assessments. This is just one of the ways Livingston Parish Library promotes digital equity for all!