Hello Everyone, As I mentioned during the monthly Library Directors meeting last week Friday, the Michigan High Speed Internet Office (MiHI) is asking all public libraries to make a printed copy as well as a link to the draft Digital Equity Plan available to the public. The Library of Michigan has been involved in various roundtable discussions and individual meetings about the need for affordable access to high-quality broadband internet along with appropriate digital literacy skills for over 2 years now. The team at MiHI is well aware of and appreciative of the role libraries have and continue to play in their respective communities. Public libraries are mentioned throughout the draft plan and are considered to be a vital asset to achieving the vision of having a state in which all people have access to affordable internet, devices, and the ability to utilize those tools to ensure a better life for themselves and their families. Here's how you can continue partnering with MIHI on reaching out to your respective communities to ensure digital inclusion and equity in Michigan: 1. Print off a copy of the draft Digital Equity Plan found here<https://www.michigan.gov/leo/-/media/Project/Websites/leo/Documents/MIHI/DE-Plan---DRAFT.pdf?rev=6aedaea1570b4d21921ad1958045aa0c&hash=42BE834EE45E2354DC8C9D317D7D52CD>. Make it available for public viewing within the library and encourage people to read & comment. 2. Post the link of the draft Digital Equity Plan on your website and your social media accounts asking for people to offer public comment. The URL to use is here Digital Equity Plan (Draft) (michigan.gov)<https://www.michigan.gov/leo/-/media/Project/Websites/leo/Documents/MIHI/DE-Plan---DRAFT.pdf?rev=6aedaea1570b4d21921ad1958045aa0c&hash=42BE834EE45E2354DC8C9D317D7D52CD>. 3. The public comment period is being held from now until 5:00 pm on August 15, 2023. Public comment can be submitted here<https://forms.leo.state.mi.us/miosha/mihi-public-comment-form/>. 4. Take some time as a library staff and read through the draft plan and submit comments based on your experiences working with those who don't have reliable or affordable access to broadband internet or have limited digital literacy skills. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I will be attending another larger meeting tomorrow as well as a partnership roundtable next week. If there is something I cannot answer, I can always ask at those times. Thanks everyone, Heather Heather Wood-Gramza Michigan eLibrary Coordinator she l her l hers [cid:image001.png@01D9B8A9.77913890] Library of Michigan 702 West Kalamazoo Street PO Box 30007 Lansing, MI 48909-7507 Office: 517.335.1497 Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan<https://www.michigan.gov/mde/resources/michigan-top-10-strategic-education-plan> provides focused direction to drive educational achievement in support of all learners. [Logo, company name Description automatically generated]
