The Efficacy of Digital Literacy Training Initiatives Led by Local Community Organizations Brian Detlor McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada detlorb@mcmaster.ca Mona Nasery McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada naserym@mcmaster.ca Heidi Julien SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA heidijul@buffalo.edu ABSTRACT This paper describes an in-progress research study investigating the efficacy of digital literacy training initiatives led by local community organizations, including public libraries. The goal is to generate a theoretical model of factors affecting the efficacy of digital literacy training opportunities led by local community organizations, and to produce recommendations for practice for local community organizations to follow. The study adopts a constructivist grounded theory approach. Data collection is cur- rently underway and involves interviews with administrators of local digital literacy training initiatives and users who participate in the training. As well, observations of the training and a review of documentation regarding the roll-out of the training are being conducted. Preliminary results will be communicated at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting in Melbourne. KEYWORDS Digital Literacy; Training; Grounded Theory; Community Organizations; Public Libraries ASIS&T THESAURUS User Training; Qualitative Analysis INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to understand the factors affecting the efficacy of digital literacy training initiatives run by local community organizations, including public libraries. Digital lit- eracy is defined as “the set of skills, knowledge and attitudes required to access, create, use, and evaluate digital information effectively, efficiently, and ethically” (Julien, 2018). In this sense, digital literacy refers to the skills and know-how required by citizens to function and participate fully in today’s digital soci- ety. Nowadays, people are surrounded by many different types of digital devices such as laptops and smartphones. As such, peo- ple need sufficient digital skills in order to: i) operate and utilize these digital devices; and ii) access and critically assess the infor- mation provided through these technologies. People who possess such skills are considered to be digital literate. Such a study is important. People need to be digital literate today in order to fully participate and thrive in today’s soci- ety. How best to offer such training is crucial to understand. This is especially true of local community organizations, such as public libraries, who wish to deliver such training to community members who may have no others means by which to receive such instruction. This training includes dig- ital storytelling workshops, coding clubs for youth, and iPad training sessions for seniors, for example. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The overarching research question guiding this study is: “What factors affect the efficacy of digital literacy training led by local community organizations?” Lower-level research questions include: • What constitutes a successful digital literacy training initia- tive within the local community context? • What organizational factors (e.g., administrative factors) foster or challenge digital literacy training initiatives offered to local communities? • What user considerations concerning digital literacy train- ing initiatives influence community member uptake, lead to gains in digital literacy skills development, and foster greater digital literacy appreciation among community members? • What design elements of a digital literacy training initiative foster or challenge digital literacy training initiatives offered to local communities? The goal is to generate a theoretical model and produce rec- ommendations for practice about how to run successful digi- tal literacy training events for local communities. METHODOLOGY To investigate the phenomenon under study, semi-structured interviews are underway in the community in which the research team is based with administrators of local digital liter- acy training initiatives and users from the general public who participate in these training opportunities. Community organi- zations who have confirmed participation to-date include two local public libraries. Other local community organizations who deliver digital literacy initiatives and have expressed interest in learning how best to deliver such training include 82nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology | Melbourne, Australia | 19–23 October, 2019 Author(s) retain copyright, but ASIS&T receives an exclusive publication license DOI: 10.1002/pra2.00115 ASIS&T Annual Meeting 2019 634 Posters