Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Tea Tree Gully takes up information society

When Tea Tree Gully City Council's library service set out to develop its Internet training scheme, it was faced with the task of meeting high demand with limited resources.

Library staff recognised that the community's Internet training needs were not being met by other sources so they aimed to develop a program which would be both cost effective and reach the largest possible audience.

The result is an ongoing program of training sessions and presentations conducted by qualified staff. All members of the team are also able to carry out on the spot training as it is needed.

"Since our submission we achieved our objectives by training over 1,200 individuals in the last financial year," said Librarian Abby Dickson.

"We are also about to launch our training manual online, which will provide self help Internet training guides for patrons to use at home as well as within the Library."

Abby Dickson said the manuals will serve two purposes. Firstly, they provide patrons who have attended the Internet training course with self help guides to continue developing their Internet skills. Secondly, they provide training tools for patrons who prefer to learn independently rather than attending training sessions.

"Self help online Internet training guides are a cost effective way of providing training to a large Local Government area," she said.

"With Council's funding of a part time level three Electronic Information Officer, the Library has also been able to develop further the Library's web pages, with recent developments including provision of useful informational links, and providing residents with pathways to the wide range of Internet resources available.

"We have developed homework help pages which provide school students with links to useful Internet resources which have been evaluated by library staff.

"And we have also developed a business and employment web page that provides links to information on topics such as training and development, finding employment on the Internet, information on the GST, and so forth."

The library's integrated approach to Internet training services means staff are able to provide both general and specific training sessions suitable for individuals and groups such as local CWA, employment and writers' groups.

"Through a combination of regular hands on training courses, data show presentations and ongoing user education the Library is contributing socially and economically to the community by providing individuals with the necessary skills to be able to participate in the information society," Abby Dickson said.

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