<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Urban Libraries Council, ULC, has released a new Leadership Brief,
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanlibraries.org%2Ffiles%2FLeadership-Brief_Digital-Equity.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cdd12a41e339f49efd87208d85beca7ad%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C1%7C637360419270844513&sdata=m91lbIFh6YsMDgput3Gcq9DPlbog97iJq80yZDcS234%3D&reserved=0">
<i>Digital Equity in the Age of COVID-19</i></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">This work was informed by the work and expert guidance of ULC’s <a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanlibraries.org%2Finitiatives%2Fgoing-forward-from-the-pandemic%2Faction-team-digital-inclusion&data=02%7C01%7Cwhites29%40michigan.gov%7Cdd12a41e339f49efd87208d85beca7ad%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C1%7C637360419270844513&sdata=apOpOtcATB6l7afy9p1O4QYh5Jz0o%2BZtV1vuNe1FxsA%3D&reserved=0">Digital
Equity action team</a>, this document spotlights how the pandemic has both intensified the digital divide and created a window for action by raising the visibility of what it means to be unconnected in our hyper-connected world, especially for our most vulnerable
residents.<br>
<br>
Included in the Leadership Brief are action strategies, key messages and background information to empower library leaders to take on a more active and intentional role in advancing digital equity.<span style="color:black;letter-spacing:.15pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Summary – “This Leadership Brief spotlights the urgent need for a new approach to making sure everyone, regardless of income, can participate fully in digital life in the pandemic era and beyond. It calls on library executives to take on
a more active and intentional role in advocating for digital equity through broadband in every household and ensuring community-wide digital literacy."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">sdw<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shannon White<br>
Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48909<br>
<a href="mailto:Whites29@michigan.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">Whites29@michigan.gov</span></a> 517-335-1507 |
<a href="http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>