It stands for Technology
aNd Training, using technology products to provide information services
to library patrons. The WoW! unit of the Fresno County Public Library is participating
in a TNT grant, providing computer classes to rural communities, focusing on
skills that would help adults in job-searching. Librarian-instructors and
translators make it happen.
Monthly classes take place in Parlier and Firebaugh, communities
with great needs for computer training and job-search help. The venues used are non-library buildings
(Parlier Youth Center and Firebaugh’s First Baptist Church), with morning and
afternoon sessions. January's classes taught basic computer terms, mouse skills, and how
and why to get an e-mail account; that set will be repeated in February. March is
resume-writing, and April is on-line job-hunting techniques. The resume and
job-hunting classes repeat in May and June.
The WoW!-mobiles contain the supplies for a pop-up
classroom, with laptop computers, projection equipment for visual
presentations, and other needful things. Translation is provided for
Spanish-speakers by Sonia Bautista and Carlos Estrada of the FCPL staff. After January's
first sets of classes, a dozen adult students left with their own e-mail accounts that
they could use for communicating with friends, shopping online, and filling out
job applications. Information literacy--being able to use computers with
confidence and without fear--is a major need for people in the 21st
century. According to Shannon Morrison, one of the teachers, class members
“enhanced a skill they might not have had otherwise.”
If you are interested in building your skills at these
classes, contact the Firebaugh branch library at (599) 600-9274, the Parlier branch library at (559) 646-3835,
or the WoW! Library unit at (559) 600-9699.
