Public libraries are foundational partners in the digital infrastructure of communities nationwide. They are also an important part of the NNLM’s national membership base and user community. Public library workers have been active participants in the work of the NNLM Telehealth Interest Group, whose efforts we feature in this month’s column.

The NNLM Telehealth Interest Group launched in 2021 in recognition of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of telehealth services, which increased access to care for some while also exposing persistent divides in both digital and health equity. NNLM saw a clear opportunity to support library and other health information workers in understanding the potential role of their organizations in the broader digital health landscape. In June 2023, the Telehealth Interest Group launched a free, national online course called Telehealth 101: What Libraries Need to Know. The objectives of this course are for participants to:

• Recognize the different approaches/models libraries may use to provide telehealth services;
• Identify infrastructure-related resources available to libraries interested in providing telehealth services (i.e., partnerships; physical space; technology and connectivity; funding; etc.);
• Understand the role of the library in supporting digital skills training for telehealth; and
• Explore privacy and policy considerations for offering telehealth services within libraries.

Since that time, 88 information professionals from public libraries, academic libraries, health science libraries, hospital libraries and other stakeholder organizations have participated the course. We’ve all benefited from the generous knowledge of library telehealth pioneers like the Pottsboro Area Library in Texas (featured in this video from NNLM),  Delaware Libraries #GetConnectedDE initiative, and Hawai’i State Public Library’s strategic telehealth collaboration. We’ve highlighted emerging research about the telehealth infrastructure capabilities of libraries in Virginia. We’ve learned about programs like Libraries Health Connect supported by the Maine State Library, and Telehealth in Libraries led by the Idaho Commission for Libraries. We know that there are many other library telehealth programs already operating or preparing to operate and are eager to share learning as it emerges.

NNLM’s Telehealth Interest Group is planning a webinar series to continue sharing emerging research and best practices for library workers interested in telehealth. Our first session is scheduled for Thursday, October 12, 2023, and will feature speakers from the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC). NCTRC describes itself as “a collaborative of 12 regional and 2 national Telehealth Resource Centers committed to implementing telehealth programs for rural and underserved communities. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Health Resources and Services Administration, we provide timely and accurate information on telehealth across the nation.”

Experts from the NCTRC have collaborated with libraries and other community anchor institutions on several telehealth projects. Webinar attendees will learn more about resources available from NCTRC; how to identify the Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) serving their community; and strategies for successful collaborations between libraries and TRCs. Registration is currently available at NNLM.gov. For those who are interested in a sneak peek about NCTRC, check out this webinar recording about Innovative Models of Telehealth Access Points (including libraries!)

We will offer additional webinars in this series through the spring of 2024. We also plan to offer our online class (Telehealth 101: What Libraries Need to Know) again after January 2024. For updates on these and other free learning opportunities, be sure to join the NNLM Regional Medical Library serving your community. Membership is free, and the best way to stay connected to free training, funding and outreach resources from NNLM. You can also stay up-to-date on free training opportunities via the NNLM available classes list, or event calendar.

The post Libraries Address the Digital Divide with Telehealth first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The grant application window is open until January 9, 2023, at 11:59 EST. With only an eight-week window to submit applications, libraries must act quickly. Libraries should allow up to four weeks for the application process. Grant recipients will be selected on or before March 10, 2023. Grant recipients must then spend their award within 24 months.   

While over 14 million households nationwide are currently enrolled in the ACP, millions more U.S. residents are eligible. The ACP Outreach Grant Program will provide funding to develop and implement impactful outreach programs to historically underserved and unserved communities—work that many libraries are already doing. The FCC is expected to make 200-400 awards of no less than $50,000 and no more than $1 million for outreach efforts targeted particularly to people of color, persons with disabilities, persons who live in rural or Tribal areas, and others who are or have been historically underserved, marginalized, or adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Eligible activities for the Outreach Grant Program could include virtual and in-person outreach events, in-person ACP application assistance, outreach materials, personnel costs for those working exclusively on ACP outreach, and supplies such as IT hardware and hotspots. Priority will be given to outreach efforts targeting underserved low-income households and communities with low ACP participation. Applicants that have experience in outreach for government programs and resources, trusted community relationships, and experience with multilingual outreach will also be prioritized.

Applications must be submitted through grants.gov – a process that can take up to a month to complete. To set up the Grants.gov account, the applicant will need:

• A valid Employer Identification Number
• A Login.gov account, for a single sign-on registration, to then establish an organization registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov
• A new or updated registration and organization profile in Grants.gov, where applications will be completed and submitted

More information about the ACP Outreach Grant Program is available on the FCC’s ACP resource page. The FCC hosted the first in a series of informational webinars on November 15, and future webinars will be announced. ALA also will hold library-specific informational events on ACP Outreach Grant Program and other new funding opportunities to be announced in the coming weeks.

Funding was allocated for ACP Outreach Grant Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed in November 2021. ALA has actively been advocating on behalf of America’s libraries and filed comments with the FCC during the rulemaking process to ensure libraries are eligible for funding and recognized for their role in digital literacy and digital inclusion. Information about other digital equity resources and funding opportunities available for libraries is available on ALA’s website.

The post Libraries Eligible for New Digital Equity Outreach Funding; January 9 Deadline to Apply first appeared on Public Libraries Online.