Learning how to use technology can be stressful, especially when you’re a senior.
But Humboldt seniors got the chance to come and try out some new gadgets at the Technology Zoo at the Community Gathering Place hosted by the Wapiti Library on Aug. 28.
Lindsay Baker, from the Wapiti headquarters in Prince Albert, not only introduced seniors to your typical laptops and tablets, but also showed off a new breed of accessible technology.
The audiobook players are the same ones used by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and are, “Easier to manipulate than an iPod and allows you to download or use discs to listen to your own audiobooks.” Baker said.
Baker was a reference librarian for the Medicine Hat Public Library before joining Wapiti saw the need for technology help in the 60 plus demographic. Classes on computer use as well as one-on-one help was dominated by the senior demographic.
Bringing someone into the community from the library is a new program and Baker will be going to communities all across the province to provide help to seniors. Along with Humboldt, she also visited Tisdale to provide technological help and will be going to Nipawin next week and Hudson Bay in October.
Rose Ward with the Reid-Thompson Public Library said she has always seen an interest in seniors learning new technology but the need for help grew with the popularity with Facebook.
“The more Facebook became popular, the more seniors wanted to connect with their family,” she says.
Ward has also seen more success with one-on-one help so seniors can go at their own pace.
Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers with the Community Gathering Place sees the same thing.
Back in July, they requested the library intern for four Monday sessions from July to August to come in and answer technology questions. Ternier-Gommers say she hardly saw the same person on more than one Monday.
With the focus being on seniors, the intern did not prepare a formal presentation but went off the questions presented to him.
“Seniors just could drop in, either using our equipment, our laptops or bring their own tablets and laptops and pose any questions they have...there was no such thing as a dumb question,” says Ternier-Gommers.
