Digital Navigator Cohort

Happy New Year! 

We recently hired additional Digital Navigators for our PLA grant and held an orientation last night with four Navigators (non-library staff). I have a few questions as we move forward with scheduling and using their services effectively. 

My initial plan was to offer one-on-one sessions at the library (and possibly local community centers) during set days and times. Learners would make appointments within those windows, and both I and the hired Navigators would work with them. However, one Navigator suggested contacting learners directly to arrange sessions at mutually convenient times and locations. 

- Is anyone allowing hired Navigators to independently schedule and conduct sessions? 

- How do you balance flexibility for Navigators and learners with grant requirements and logistical considerations? 

We're considering paying Navigators $20–$25/hour, with an estimated 4 hours/month per Navigator, using approximately half of the grant funds for compensation. 

- If you've hired Digital Navigators, how many hours do they work per week or month? 

- What are you paying them? 

Our HR department conducted background checks on the Navigators. 

- Is it permissible to share learner (patron) contact information with hired Navigators? 

- If sessions occur without library staff present, how do you manage the use of learning materials outside DigitalLearn.org? 

I'd greatly appreciate insights into how other libraries are handling these aspects of the grant. 

Thank you, 

Erin Chapman 

Adult Services Librarian 

Trenton Veterans Memorial Library 

EChapman@trenton-mi.com 

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Erin Chapman
Adult Services Librarian
Trenton Veterans Memorial Library
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Hello fellow Digital Navigators,

Our library is planning to offer a DN session outside of the library with a hired Digital Navigator, who will work alongside a library staff member. From my experience, outreach efforts are most effective and safe when done in pairs. Over the next three months, our Digital Navigators will conduct up to ten 2-hour sessions at the library, at a rate of $30 per hour. 

Appointments for Tech Help/DN sessions (available in both English and Spanish) can scheduled through a Google form on our website or by phone. These forms are shared with our Digital Navigators, along with their contact information and is similar to our client intake form. Patrons make appointments on specific dates on the form, according to the DN's availability. All of our Digital Navigators are very familiar with the Digital Learn platform and but may also utilize other digital learning resources available on our website.  Background checks are important when hiring DN's,  but are not much of a concern for our library since we are using part-time library staff as Digital Navigators.  The one-on-one Digital Navigator sessions are becoming increasingly popular and proving to be effective for our library patrons.

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Denise Link
Community Support Specialist
New Rochelle Public Library
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