Appointed to the year-long role of digital programmes co-ordinator for Dunedin Public Libraries last June, librarian Irene Wilson is using every means at her disposal to encourage and educate the public on their digital options.
"The digital divide is a topic of discussion around our libraries, which have traditionally been a bridge between the haves and have-nots," Ms Wilson said.
"Libraries are always going to have books, but now we are also moving to help people who don’t have devices or the internet.
"And we are also working to help people who can buy the devices, but who are struggling to operate them," she said.
Many people found the internet challenging to navigate and were concerned about security.
"People want to take the next step into becoming confident with computers, but are not sure where to start."
Help is at hand with a series of one-off courses, set to start next week, in conjunction with the Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA).
The first is computer basics course Stepping Up, to be held on February 8, from 5.30pm-7.30pm, followed by Digital Banking on February 9, from 10am-noon.
The course Introduction to Smart Phones will be held on February 14, 1pm-3pm, followed by Internet Security and Safety on February 16, 10am-noon.
Each class would be limited to four participants, so that each person received one-to-one attention, Ms Wilson said.
In addition to providing small group sessions for the public, Ms Wilson has been supporting library staff to get up to date with digital resources, and also leading community outreach by speaking with local groups.
"It all helps to get the word out there about the fantastic digital resources that are available through their local libraries.
"There are a lot of different digital options for people to access."
These includes online stories in 46 languages, te reo books set to music, audio books in a range of different accents, tutorials on how to Zoom, a large collection of e-books and audio books, a Press Reader section for international newspapers and magazines, and funding database Generosity.
Digital-only library memberships are also available, for people who wish to access the resources of the website from home.
In terms of helping bridge the digital divide, Dunedin Public Libraries can also provide advice on the Skinny Jump scheme for people unable to access the internet due to financial reasons.
"So far it has been great to be able to help promote all these services at the library that people may not know about — it is important to get the word out," Ms Wilson said.
-For more information, visit www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz and go to Digital Library
