WebJunction

We seem to have an ongoing debate at our library about whether or not we should training on "applications" or just stick with training sessions that help people access information.

Some feel that they can go to many places to get training on Excel, Word, etc.. and we should stick to teaching search engines and so forth.

Others feel that we should offer training on Word and Excel since they are so crucial and we have them on our public access machines.

I would like to take a survey:

What do you teach at your library?

Hi there,

This is an interesting question. When I worked at a public library, we only taught classes about the Internet, the online databases, and the library catalog. I think it would have been a good idea to teach classes about general computer literacy, word processing, basic web page creation, and maybe presentation software, too.

I remember that patrons would want to learn those skills and we would often have to refer them to a local technical college. I always felt sort of funny about it, because the technical college classes were not cheap and they required a semester long investment of time and energy.

I wonder if the trick is to tie the applications skills to information skills. Rather than marketing classes that feature a particular software program, offer classes that focus on specific populations and needs, and teach a variety of tools within that format. For example, a 1/2 day job search class might include an overview of resources available to help the job hunter, an introduction to useful web sites, and then a review of Word and resume writing.

Even if other organizations and places teach classes, I think the library is in a great position to tie together the various aspects of technology to help people become both computer and information literate. Where possible, partnerships and collaborations might be a creative way to deal with the work load this would require.

Again, I think this is an interesting topic, and I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say.

Brenda

At my library we offer introductory courses in computers (turning on, using the mouse--surprisingly, this is still fairly well attended), Word, Excel, the Internet, and email. I've added an advanced email class, an ebay class, instruction in Internet safety, a basic web page class and I'm going to be adding an intro to blogging component to the web page class and gearing it toward teens. There are a few other classes I'm thinking of offering but have to get approval from the director first.

I don't know what we're obligated to offer, but I figure that if we have staff with knowledge in an area and the public have been asking about it--why not offer it?

We've been throwing around the idea of having special topics for those taking the learning center courses, or those interested in training in general, and I'd like to know what you all think. I posted here because I thought this topic might be attracting the learning/training folks.

Thanks everyone for the responses. It definitely gives me some food for thought as I devise the training plan for our library's new building that is due to open next spring. When we move back in, I will finally have a proper lab to teach in and I want to make the most of it...

At Everett Public Library, we teach most of the classes listed above. We have a wireless laptop lab also provided by LSTA funds. Our interests are in teaching whatever our patrons are coming to the library to learn or use--that can be very diverse. We've taught popular classes in genealogy using HeritageQuest, the Internet and library resources. Other popular classes are Financial and Investment Searching, Searching for Seniors, Email, Internet Searching for Spanish Speakers, and searching our databases. Our classes are always 1 to 1-1/2 hours in length, so they are considered introductory.

I love the ideas of an Ebay class, blogging and keeping your home computer safe & secure (what with the blaster and all the other junk going around out there).

I'm also interested in what names people use for their classes. For instance, I'm thinking that the title "essentials" is more descriptive than calling a class "introduction." The name alone can sell a class. Our classes are free, but I'm hoping to propose a minimal fee, refundable upon attendance, so people show up and to make it worth our while.

Wow. That's pretty cool. Maybe we should highlight them as a library of the month. Let me know if you can dig up their name, and I'll do some checking myself.

Hello all,

just wanted to let you know that in response to numerous requests via email, and topics like this one elsewhere on All Aboard, we're launching a new forum for "training & learning" issues in the library. Check us out after December 1, and if you're interested in helping us get it off the ground and running, just email [url mailto:community@webjunction.org ]community@webjunction.org[/url]

Thanks!