Rockford Library’s Digilibrary van delivers tech access on the go

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Public Library’s “DigiLibrary” van launched in March, bringing computer classes to the community.

“Everybody is kind of expected to have access to technology, a smartphone, computer access, the ability to use all of those things. And if they don’t, there’s a lot that you can’t really do,” said RPL’s Digital Librarian Tiffany Hayes.

Hayes said the DigiLibrary has helped a broad spectrum of Rockford residents. On Tuesday, it visited the Brooke Road United Methodist Church, at 404 Brooke Road.

“Monday’s hour rotating staff of the senior residences, and they get books and also can ask for help with their devices, laptops, computers, that kind of thing,” Hayes said. “And Monday afternoons, we have a stop at the Irving Avenue Strong community house, and that’s like an after-school program. So the kids get computers, books, STEM activities, that kind of thing.”

Hayes said the staff also help at Carpenter’s Place, the nonprofit homeless advocacy group, on Wednesdays, creating resumes.

Seniors, like Sandy McCallum, said they have seen the biggest impact.

“People need to be able to come in and learn how to use computers, learn word processing, learn how to make an application, learn how to fax something, how to copy something,” she said. “They are amazed that they can come here and get all that. And it doesn’t cost anything. In this day and age, we all need to learn to use computers because that’s where we get our information so much of the time.”

Hayes added, “It definitely has room to grow, but it’s had a really positive response so far and really successful kind of rollout to the places that we’re able to be. We consistently get questions of do we have computer classes? Can I get there? You know, how do I get on a computer, that kind of thing. So, yeah, I definitely think it’s going to grow.”

A schedule of the DigiLibrary stops is listed on the Rockford Public Library website.