Overview
Digital inequity is a complex and multi-faceted problem, and closing digital equity gaps requires the coordination, cooperation, and intentional capacity-building of the many organizations supporting digital inclusion across New York. State government is an essential partner in ensuring that New Yorkers have access to affordable, robust broadband internet service and the devices, training, and support they need to fully benefit from the opportunities the internet promises.
NYS Digital Equity Portal
Use this interactive, online data and mapping tool to generate snapshots of connectivity, device access, population/demographics, programming, and other digital equity resources from selected geographies across the state.
Opportunities to Get Involved
Join our email list so you can stay up-to-date on all of the NYS Library's digital equity work, or download our Digital Inclusion Toolkit! The NYS Library, in partnership with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, created this Digital Inclusion Toolkit to provide libraries and other digital equity organizations of all sizes with practical and useful guidance for furthering digital inclusion partnerships and digital literacy initiatives in local communities throughout New York State.
Digital Equity Data and Reports
The NYS Library provides access to several published reports about the state of digital equity in New York and identifiable paths forward. These include:
- Achieving Digital Equity in New York: An Outline for Collaborative Change
- New York's Digital Divide: Examining adoption of internet and computers for the state and its library districts
- The New York State Digital Equity Portal, Final Report, December 2021
History
In 2021, the New York State Education Department and the Board of Regents convened a series of Digital Equity Summits to establish a shared understanding of digital inequity and create a joint vision toward achieving digital equity in New York State. From these discussions, the Department compiled the information shared, using an equity lens for analysis to highlight existing and emerging solutions that can serve as exemplars for digital equity work and identify opportunities for system and policy change.