Communities

digitalLIFT helps a rural Texas library in Martindale, in Caldwell County, is helping seniors learn digital skills.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

June 30, 2026 — In Caldwell County, a rural area between Austin and San Antonio, about 10% of residents lack broadband access, leaving many older citizens struggling to keep pace with an increasingly online world.

To bridge this gap, the Martindale Community Library has launched a digital navigator program with assistance from digitalLIFT, The Daily Yonder reports. The free, six-month course teaches local seniors essential technology skills, ranging from setting up email accounts to managing online insurance and medical portals.

To ensure participants can practice, the library also provides students with Samsung tablets to use and keep, alongside mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for home use.

Because the target audience lacks internet access, library staff bypassed social media outreach. Instead, they relied on physical flyers and posters to spread the word. Participants say the class has provided a vital peer-support network as they learn to navigate modern digital tools together, according to The Daily Yonder.

On their website, digitalLIFT describes Martindale as a community with significant access gaps.

“digitalLIFT’s current work in Texas reflects a commitment to locally rooted, relationship-driven programming,” the non-profit’s website states.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

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