MediaSmarts provides digital literacy workshops to libraries in New Brunswick and Manitoba

Ottawa (July 5, 2016) – MediaSmarts, a leading Canadian centre for digital and media literacy, is pleased to announce that francophone libraries in New Brunswick and Manitoba now have free access to its licensed digital literacy program, Web Awareness Workshop Series. This follows a similar partnership with Quebec libraries that launched in May 2015.

All libraries across New Brunswick and 16 library service points in Manitoba will now have access to digital literacy tutorials which address a variety of online issues affecting children and youth. The program also includes a training component to bring librarians up to speed on these issues. This project, in partnership with the Manitoba Public Library Services Branch and New Brunswick Public Library Service, ensures that libraries in both provinces are trained in digital literacy best practices and able to serve their communities well.

Financial support for the Web Awareness Workshop Series licence is provided by Bell under a seven year funding agreement.

“Libraries are one of the natural places to learn about the issues that young people face while navigating the Web,” says Cathy Wing, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. “The Web Awareness Workshop Series offers librarians an opportunity to learn how to address these issues in their libraries through education and awareness.”

“As community spaces where all members of a community can be connected to the digital world, libraries are in an ideal position to bring organizations and individuals together to learn important digital literacy skills that teach us how to navigate the digital world in a safe productive manner.” Says Trevor Surgenor, Director of the Manitoba Public Library Services Branch.

Sylvie Nadeau, Executive Director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service, thanked MediaSmarts for making the resource available to New Brunswick public libraries, noting, ”As librarians, we want New Brunswickers to have access to free information, but we also want to ensure that the information is safe, reliable and accurate. These workshops will help our staff and patrons learn how to use the Internet safely and responsibly as well as how to identify good sources of web-based information.”

The Web Awareness Workshop Series comprises six tutorials (in French and English) that librarians can access online for professional development. Alternatively, they can be presented to the general public in a workshop setting. The program, which is updated annually, examines a range of issues relating to young people’s Internet use including: cyberbullying, online safety, privacy, online marketing and information authentication.

Each library will receive logon credentials, a link to the resource and an email detailing the date and details of a training webinar for the resource. Public libraries can direct any questions about accessing the resource to MediaSmarts at: licences@habilomedias.ca.

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About MediaSmarts

MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. MediaSmarts offers hundreds of digital and media literacy resources for librarians, parents and educators on its website http://mediasmarts.ca. @mediasmarts

Contact:
Alex Hosselet, Marketing and Communications Manager, MediaSmarts
613-224-7721, ext. 231, ahosselet@mediasmarts.ca