Clayton Community Spotlight: Q&A with Shelley Gleave, Mid-County Branch digital navigator

Shelley Gleave sees learning as a lifelong process. As a digital navigator at the Mid-County and Oak Bend branches of the St. Louis County Library, Gleave helps visitors build confidence with technology through free, hands-on classes. The classes cover programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Canva, as well as devices including Apple and Android. “It’s never too early—or too late—to get started,” she says.

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Organization: St. Louis County Library

Title: Digital Navigator – Mid-County and Oak Bend Branches of the St. Louis County Library

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Education: BA in Anthropology from Colorado State University; AA in Creative and Applied Arts from MiraCosta College
Interests and Hobbies: Travel, reading, and studying history.

What motivated you to get involved in this work/community/activity? While I was working on my degree in Anthropology a theme that kept presenting itself was access to knowledge and educational resources within communities. I spent a lot of time studying how impactful education is to individuals and to communities at large, as well as how people all over share knowledge. Knowing how education can change lives for the better, as well as understanding that not everyone has the same access to education, inspired me to get involved with making resources more widely available to as many communities as I can. Working at St. Louis County Library, especially as an instructor, I have the opportunity to be a part of an organization whose mission is to provide resources and access to information to everyone in our communities.

What values or principles guide how you show up in this role/community? There are two guiding principles that I follow in my role as a Digital Navigator: learning is a lifelong process, and everyone is capable of learning new skills. There are always new things to learn, especially when it comes to computers and technology. It can feel daunting at times, but if we approach learning as a journey it can make the process feel
less overwhelming. Every one of us is capable of learning new skills! It is never too early, or too late, to get started. Sometimes it may take trying a different approach, or a new teacher, or some repetition to get an understanding of the material, and that is absolutely okay! Struggling while learning does not mean you aren’t smart, it just means you haven’t figured it out yet.

What’s the most enjoyable aspect? I love teaching our computer classes to our community members! Each class brings new questions to explore, problems to solve, and goals to reach. I enjoy the time I get to spend with the students as we play with computers and build community.

Can you briefly share a few standout memories? Trying to think of some standout memories makes me realize how much I enjoy the work I get to do. A memory that really touched my heart was when one patron brought me a copy of the finished children’s book I helped her learn how to format. It was a very heartfelt project, and I was honored to be remembered when she was finished. Another favorite memory was while teaching our Design with Canva class, the class had a few small business owners wanting to learn how to make their own branding materials and logos for their companies. As a class we ended up helping with logo design ideas as we worked our way through using the various design tools. It was a very fun and supportive group to work with!

Can you share an insight about this role that most people don’t know? That the St. Louis County Library offers free computer and technology classes! We have classes in computer programs like Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Canva; as well as personal device classes for Android and Apple. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to join. The Digital Navigator team is full of wonderful instructors who love sharing all of their cool
tech knowledge with our patrons!

What’s one key piece of advice you’ve embraced? There are no stupid questions. I always heard this growing up, but as an instructor it has a whole new meaning for me. A lot of times people are afraid to ask questions, thinking they should already know how to do something and will be seen as stupid for not. But you can’t know what you have never learned! And there is too much out there to know for anyone to have all of the answers. Stay curious and ask questions.

What’s the greatest challenge? Helping patrons overcome the feeling that they aren’t smart enough to learn. I have not come
across a person who is incapable of learning. A lot of times a lack of support or access to resources can create a feeling of inadequacy when it comes to understanding new concepts. Finding the right learning environment for you can make a world of difference.

Where do you find inspiration? From the community that comes in for help. Every class I teach I walk away with a new idea or question to find an answer for, that I can then share with the next class. Inspiration also comes from my coworkers. Everyone is consistently looking for ways to better serve our community. They are a fantastically supportive group of individuals, and that is absolutely priceless.

What are your future plans or ambitions? A major goal of mine, both in the library and out, is to create easier access to educational resources for everyone. Education can change lives and open minds, everyone should have easy access to this vital resource.