If you're a senior, you might think a 'Toolbar' is something used by a carpenter, and a "Mouse"? That's simple! It's a furry little rodent. To most of us, those are simple computer terms, but to many seniors, those are two words they would likely never associate with a computer. Not at first, anyway.
As one senior succinctly put it, "I used to stare at those machines and wonder how they could possibly help me."
Later, we will see how 'those machines' did just that for one patron, plus a few more senior anecdotes.
In the fall of 1999, two neighboring libraries in the northwest suburban corridor, began developing an idea that would help both serve an under served segment of the population, seniors. As a bonus, the plan would help the staff in each library develop training skills. The collaborative effort between the two was made possible by a grant provided by the Illinois State Library. The two libraries, Lake Villa District Library in Lake Villa and the Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee, although separated by a highway, serve many of the same patrons with similar goals. The Library Services Technology Act LSTA grant for $13,615, was a natural.
The two libraries pooled the talents of the staff of each library in addressing a common need and goal. Seniors need computer/Internet training and staff needs to know how to do the training. Senior centers in the area are also in short supply with none in Lake Villa.
The two libraries, incorporating these facts and the results of what some recent surveys on senior needs, hired consultants to prepare a curriculum that librarians could use to train seniors on the Internet. But before bringing in the seniors, staff was trained in modules. The first module consisted of exposure to the unique learning styles of seniors and successful training methods for reaching seniors. The second module focused on the wealth of Internet sites that could be of help to seniors. Seniors would also be trained on how to use the free databases that the Illinois State Library provides member libraries.
The grant was obtained in June 2000. Curriculum was prepared over the summer and the staff was trained in August and September 2000. In October 2000, the first classes were offered. They consisted of four sessions built on one another. The first was a basic introduction to computers. The second and third included an introduction to general Internet sites and some key senior sites. The fourth session focused on the Illinois State Library databases while also teaching some of the basics of e-mail.
Paul Kaplan, Public Services Coordinator of the Lake Villa Library District and one of two project directors, said the program was a great success and far exceeded expectations. This is not to say there were no apprehensions by some participants.
"Many seniors are afraid to leap into cyberspace," Kaplan says, "they feel inhibited because they might lack basic keyboarding skills. They are afraid of breaking things. Our program sought to gently coax them along without fear. Humor was one of the main ingredients imbedded in the teaching program. But, the results we sought were very serious indeed. We felt that the information found on the Internet, especially government information, is indispensable," he said.
Humor, the training staff found, was a great help in setting aside any sense of intimidation seniors might feel in learning new skills. Humor is conducive to a fun, non-threatening atmosphere
Eventually having fun on the computer brings us to one of Kaplan's students. Her name is Fran. Fran, a retired teacher loves to travel. She was looking for discount travel excursions targeting seniors and the magazines and brochures just weren't cutting it. Fran found just what she wanted through the Elderhostel Catalog website, that documents inexpensive travel packages.
Now, rather than 'stare at those machines and wonder how they could possibly help me,' Fran jumps right in.
"Now I know how to use them. I have had such fun searching the Internet that I help others now too."
Kaplan's counterpart at the Warren-Newport Public Library is Lynne Jacobson. She said that both libraries have been offering senior classes beyond the grant period and, "we will continue as long as there is a demand. The curriculum is easily adaptable to other libraries. We currently offer classes to seniors every month now. These sessions do not need to be promoted. They fill up right away. Now I'm getting calls from all over the state wanting to do similar programs."
One of Jacobson's trainers relates a story of a woman who had suffered a stroke, and because of it, had a great deal of difficulty with that 'little furry rodent', the mouse. She went through Basic Computers twice before moving on to Basic Internet. By the time she reached Basic Internet, she was able to navigate web pages with very little difficulty. Once they get over the fear of breaking something, these seniors seem to display a degree of tenacity that even this woman somehow managed to find a way around the physical ravages of a stroke to accomplish her goal.
Finally, a retired woman who had never used a computer, took the class at Warren-Newport. She quickly excelled but was convinced it was just luck. Staff has since convinced her it was her own perseverance. Luck, they insisted, had nothing to do with it. The classes have helped many other seniors. The alumni, numbering more than a thousand, also include a man named 'Chuck' who now gets needed Social Security information through the Social Security Administrations web site, that is more up to date than any printed material.
The 'mouse,' 'toolbar' and even the 'paintbrush' now have a broader meaning to these seniors whose curiosity is keeping their minds young and their talents 'word perfect'.
(For further information regarding this program contact either: Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Public Library, 847-356-7711 e-mail: pkaplan@lvdl.org or Lynne Jacobson, Warren-Newport Public Library, Gurnee, Il. 847-244-5150.)
|
