Senior Techies

SELCO/SELSMinnesota Library Association

St. Cloud 2006

Senior Techies IIGoals

• Boost confidence• Establish email accounts• Introduce digital

photography• Encourage continued use

Supported by an LSTA grant from IMLS

administered through the MDE Library Services and School Technology, the Minnesota state library agency.

14 libraries—70 classes

There were 243 Techies in the classes

Attendance 1,047

• Ages ranged from 47 to 95• Average age—71• More women than men• Many couples

Among them were Mayors

SELCO Board Members

Wives of SELCO Board Members

The Skeptical

The confused

The Studious

And two guys claiming to be the same person!

The Classes● Basic computer● Email 1● Digital Camera● Email 2● Internet

Searching

Everyone learned something● “We (my husband and

I) have been struggling with email, but after these classes, I've made a breakthrough, I'm going to be able to do this.” - LaVerne in LaCrescent

About email, cameras, the Internet

● “I'm glad I came, I learned a lot about email, and I think I can do it now.” -Wanda, Olmsted Historical Center

● “It's falling into place, I'm starting to see how email works.” -Forrest, Rushford

Many positive comments from students

● You make it easy to understand this camera. I know I can get my pictures on the computer now.

● I hope to buy a new camera soon.

What went well• Limiting class size to two

to a computer• Publicity—all the classes

were full with waiting lists • Class topics were what

seniors wanted• Email support by

instructors

Stayconnected@yourlibrary• Email newsletter sent to

all participants– 10 issues– 1 article reviewed class

topic– 1 article expanded on topic– Mystery Links

http://selco.info/resources/srtech/issue5.html

StayConnected Web page• Encourage libraries to link to

page on SELCO Web site• Additional resources for

Techies• Consolidates – Handouts– Newsletter archives

http://selco.info/resources/srtech

/

Why it worked• Funding for equipment,

staff, travel• Planning groups• Staff dedicated to the

project• Publicity• Collaboration with

Community Agencies

Wonderful library staff

What we would do differently

Add a pre-basic class for those who have never touched a mouse

More changes• Re-order

classes: group computer classes and camera classes

Buy laptops to supplement libraries’ computers

What the seniors want next

MORE!

• More Internet• More digital photography• Advanced eBay selling• On-going support and classes• More newsletters

Senior Techies