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Kildare Libraries Partner with Vodafone Foundation to Provide Digital Skills to Older People 

Public libraries across Kildare launch tablet loan scheme to support digital skills training for older people through Hi Digital partnership

22 May 2026 – Following World Telecommunication and Information Society Day last Sunday May 17th, the Vodafone Foundation, through its Hi Digital programme, has partnered with Kildare County Council’s Library Service to make digital skills training more accessible for older people by introducing a tablet loan scheme.

As Ireland becomes increasingly digital, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day highlighted the importance of ensuring no one is left behind. Recent research by the Vodafone Foundation highlights both the challenge and the opportunity facing older people in Ireland. While 91% are open to learning new digital skills, one-in-three feel digitally excluded, and 22% say they have no one to turn to when they encounter digital difficulties.

The tablet loan scheme is the latest initiative by the Vodafone Foundation to help address this by providing library members access to ready-to-use tablets preloaded with the free Hi Digital course, in a familiar and supportive environment. 

Hi Digital, in partnership with ALONE, is Vodafone Foundation’s free digital skills course for older people, designed to help them use technology with confidence. The course involves short, easy‑to‑follow online lessons and practical modules such as using smartphones, avoiding scams, and using WhatsApp, alongside other supports such as quick tip videos. Through Hi Digital, learners can also access in‑person support, with free Drop‑In Fridays at Vodafone stores every week, regular workshops and classes delivered by Hi Digital partners across the country, and now through the tablet loan scheme at participating public libraries.

The scheme is available in 30 public libraries across seven participating counties, with 200 tablets supplied to date across Dublin, Kildare, Limerick, Monaghan, Waterford, Wicklow, and Wexford. Across Kildare, tablets with the Hi Digital course pre-loaded are now available to borrow from Athy Library, Celbridge Library, Kildare Town Library, Leixlip Library, Maynooth Library, Naas Library and Cultural Centre, and Newbridge Library. The scheme is supported by Vodafone Business, which securely manages the devices behind the scenes – helping libraries roll out and maintain the tablets easily, while ensuring a safe and seamless experience for users.

The scheme is completely free to access, and library members are encouraged to drop in, borrow a tablet, and explore what it can offer, whether that’s completing the Hi Digital course, researching hobbies and interests, listening to music, or getting more comfortable using a digital device in everyday life.

Sabrina Casalta, CEO Vodafone Ireland, said: “Digital inclusion is often about much more than skills — it’s about access, confidence, and feeling supported. By working with libraries to provide tablets with our Hi Digital programme pre‑loaded, we’re removing some of the most practical barriers older people face and making it easier to take that first step towards building digital confidence and skills.”

Dr Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development for the Local Government Management Agency, added: “Libraries have always been places of learning and inclusion at the heart of communities. This partnership allows us to support older people in a very practical way — giving them access to technology they may not otherwise have, and the time and space to learn in a setting they trust. In our libraries, we see how even small digital skills - like making video calls or using online banking - can make a big difference in the lives of older people.”

Sandra Lewis, Kildare Libraries Age Friendly Coordinator, said:“We see how transformative it can be when someone who has been hesitant about technology finally gets a chance to learn at their own pace. The Hi Digital tablets give our older borrowers a gentle, step-by-step way to build digital skills, and it’s incredible to watch their confidence grow with every visit. It makes a real and lasting difference to people’s lives, helping them feel more confident, connected, and capable in a digital world. Libraries are at the heart of our communities, supporting people of all ages to learn and develop.”

By embedding digital access and learning within local libraries, the programme supports older people to stay connected, confident, and independent in an increasingly digital world.

Public libraries in Ireland join charity partners Friends of the Elderly, ALONE, Society of St Vincent de Paul and others as Hi Digital partners in Ireland, with the ambition to support and provide digital skills training to older people. Since its establishment in 2021, over 170,000 older people have benefitted from digital skills training through Hi Digital.

For more information on Hi Digital, or to find your nearest participating library, call 1800 203030 or visit https://hidigital.ie/in-person-support