Access to digital: when cities create tailor-made third places

In Agen, Internet access for all

“Fighting against the digital divide” and “creating a network of digital third places”: these are two of the 120 commitments of the mayor of Agen, Jean Dionis du Séjour (MoDem). An impulse marked by a desire for social inclusion on the part of the city councilor of this municipality of more than 30,000 inhabitants. A necessity, too, at a time when the government intends to dematerialize 100% of administrative procedures by the end of the year. “Having access to digital technology is now a public service, just like school,” says Carole Déjean-Simoniti, his assistant delegate for the digital challenge and information systems.

The particularity of the Agen strategy? Adapt its actions to the different districts of the city. “Originally, we had built a common program based on individual support, collective training and partner interventions, with the objective of maintaining the rights of users online. But faced with the heterogeneity of needs, we have adapted our offers”, explains Adelaïde Bourjade, one of the four advisers newly hired for the occasion.

The first two digital spaces in the city, each time attached to a social center, were created in April 2021 in two priority districts. In Montanou, where newcomers often do not speak French very well, the vast majority of requests concern procedures on the Internet. In Barleté, the “employment support” component is more significant. Opened last May, the third, located in the city center in the premises of the Municipal Center for Social Action (CCAS), is more aimed at seniors. “Here, more people take part in the life of the place on a voluntary basis and the proportion of collective training is greater there”, testifies Adelaïde Bourjade. Discover the city’s applications; recognize email scams; Apply for housing allowance online on the website of the Family Allowance Fund: here are some examples of free workshops organized on site.

The flagship project of the municipal team concerns the creation of a third place within the media library. This is to address another target: young people and families. “The objective is to break the received idea according to which digital and books are antinomic. We want, on the contrary, to attract by attractive proposals a public who does not push or no longer pushes the door of libraries”, affirms Carole Déjean-Simoniti. From the start of 2024, young people from Agen will be able to follow coding and digital creativity workshops, play video games or… quite simply read a comic strip.

In Tarare, the Web to weave social ties

In 2021, Tarare (Rhône), 40 kilometers northwest of Lyon, has a new municipal area. Its objective: to bring people together around digital technology. Called La Bobine, this third place installed in a former textile factory includes shared offices, a digital museum, a connected campus, meeting rooms… “We want to mix the population [NDLR : 10 500 habitants] : our municipality is also able to offer this type of innovative offer”, assures Marie Tanguy, director of the economic attractiveness center of the West Rhone agglomeration community. A way, also, to reduce the feeling of relegation.

In Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, a place dedicated

It’s a small upheaval. On the occasion of the renovation of a vast public building in the city center, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (19,500 inhabitants) decided to bring together the media library and the tourist office within a center called La Compass. “This space will also serve to reduce the digital divide in the territory”, assures Catherine Wiart, director of public reading for the Vosges conurbation.

Computer support will indeed be offered there as well as awareness-raising activities on video games, robotics or drones. Fun materials to facilitate the learning of new skills related to these areas. “The goal is to interest different audiences by giving them an experience,” adds Grégory Lacour, digital mediator at the city. The latter cites, for example, the possibility of using a driving simulator or virtual reality helmets. Opening planned for 2023.