In Hudson Valley, Scaling a Digital Navigator Model with a Regional Approach Is Key to Success
“Thank you for helping people like us answer some very basic questions—most of the time we have to pay people to do this for us,” said one grateful library patron after meeting with a digital navigator.
Across New York’s Hudson Valley, libraries are doing far more than lending books—they’re helping people navigate job applications, communicate with loved ones, and participate in everyday digital life. That’s the power of the digital navigators of the Hudson Valley program, a regional initiative led by Southeastern New York Library Resources Council (Southeastern) in partnership with the Mid-Hudson Library System, Ramapo Catskill Library System and the Westchester Library System. The program trains library staff and other community-based professionals to become trusted guides—digital navigators—who help local residents tackle a wide range of tech-related needs, from printing to password recovery to applying for a job online.
Beginning in 2022 with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the program’s strength comes from its regional design. By working across four library systems and nine counties, and supporting over 50 organizations—including libraries and community groups—it has built a powerful ecosystem of support for residents seeking to build digital confidence.