[Baynet] Infopeople has added five sessions of the FREE Public Access Computers workshop

[Linda Rodenspiel]

We have scheduled five more sessions of this FREE workshop.

Since some people who may be interested in this workshop might not receive 
this notice directly, we would appreciate it if you would print and post or 
route this announcement to staff and colleagues. Thanks!

Title:  Helping the Public Use Public Access Computers

A FREE Infopeople Workshop supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Dates and locations:

Monday, February 6, Cerritos Public Library
Tuesday, February 7, San Diego County Library Headquarters
Tuesday, March 21, Chico Branch Library
Thursday, April 20, Fresno County Public Library
Friday, April 21, Cabrillo College Library - Aptos

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Workshop/229

Fee: Free to California Public Library staff members.

Is part of your job providing assistance to public library customers who 
use public access computers? If so, you probably get asked over and over 
again to explain why the computer "won't let them" open a file, or access a 
web site, or save/print their work the way they'd like to. This workshop is 
designed to help non-technical public service staff understand and resolve 
the most common problems faced while helping the public.

You will learn how to:

--Perform basic computer troubleshooting steps,
--Explain important computer concepts - such as file types, file 
attachments, printing, types of software, security, and privacy - to 
library customers,
--Change basic computer settings to accommodate users with special needs 
(low vision, poor motor control),
--Use online Help to answer application-specific questions, and
--Communicate problems to tech support using appropriate terminology.

This workshop will enable you to reduce frustration and provide better 
service to library customers. It will also improve your ability to enlist 
the aid of technical staff when needed.

Workshop Description: Through a pre-workshop assignment, hands-on 
exercises, and group discussion, students will learn basic computer skills 
and will practice communicating their knowledge to both library customers 
and tech support personnel. Cheat sheets will be provided to help with 
basic settings and workarounds to the most common customer problems. There 
will be ample opportunity to share creative solutions with your peers.

Pre-workshop assignment: Before coming to the class, students will be 
required to complete a questionnaire about how their library's public 
access computers are set up. The questionnaire will be emailed to students 
one month prior to the workshop.

Preliminary Course Outline:

Tips for Customizing and Using Applications
--Word menus and toolbars
--Using My Computer to change what users see
--Understanding file types

Issues with Quicktime, RealPlayer, iTunes, graphics programs
--Printing

Understanding Public Access Computers
--Layers of protection offered by software
--What do all those software programs do
--Vocabulary and your public access computer

Troubleshooting
--Basic troubleshooting steps
--How to talk with Tech Support
--Capturing error messages
--Privacy issues

Getting Help and Communicating with Users
--Using Help inside the application (Word, Excel)
--Online help resources
--How to communicate effectively with library customers

Workshop Instructor: Cheryl Gould.  Cheryl is the Infopeople Training 
Director. Since 1996, she has delivered workshops on a wide range of topics 
from basic computer and searching skills through, Training the Trainer, 
Word, Powerpoint, Libris Design and Mastering Tough Public Service 
Situations. In her role as Training Director, she has worked with over 80 
different instructors to create workshops on more than 120 different topics 
of interest to California libraries. Her current role as Training Director 
for Infopeople keeps her involved in all of the Infopeople workshops and 
allows her to not only spread the gospel of strong training techniques, but 
to keep current on what's going on in libraries around the state.

Who Should Attend: This hands-on workshop is designed for non-technical 
public library staff who are called upon to help customers use their 
libraries' computers. The assumption is that the student does not have the 
knowledge or ability to change security settings and does not have the 
authority to alter permissions.

Prerequisites: Students must be able and willing to complete the 
pre-workshop assignment and should have some experience working with 
customers using their libraries' public access computers. This course 
requires that students be comfortable with basic computer skills, including 
using a mouse, navigating the web, and basic keyboarding. For help with 
these basic skills, we recommend the New Computer Users section of the 
Infopeople Resources Guides, at infopeople.org/resources.

Other Logistics:

*On-site check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM;  instruction is from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM.

*Maps, directions, and parking information are available on the Infopeople 
Web site at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Directions.  Infopeople does 
not validate or pay for parking.

*Infopeople does not provide refreshments or lunch.  Since some training 
locations do not have in-house or convenient food service, Infopeople 
recommends that participants bring a sack lunch.

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information 
about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople 
Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please 
contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at 
assist at infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.