Tech Coach – It’s All About Choices!
Barrie Public Library, Ont.
Innovation Synopsis
Many people with low digital literacy skills feel left behind in a society that is reliant on tech usage. Since a classroom setting for learning tech does not suit all learning styles, Barrie Public Library has been offering in-person one-on-one Tech Coach sessions for many years. But how do we keep doing this during a pandemic?
Challenge/Opportunity
As with all public libraries, Barrie Public Library closed their buildings following emergency pandemic orders. Knowing that many patrons would struggle to connect with e-books and resources in our Digital Library we needed to find a way to help them adapt to a new, unfamiliar way of using the library.
Key Elements of Innovation
So that patrons with low tech skills remained connected when our buildings were closed, we offered Tech Coach sessions by teleconference and Zoom. This gave them the option of learning in the way that was comfortable for them. Our next challenge was to provide a safe option for in-person Tech Coach, when we reopened. To ensure physical distancing, we are making use of a document camera to magnify a patron’s device onto a Samsung Flip, so staff can instruct how to use library resources on a patron’s mobile device from a distance.
Achieved Outcomes
The pandemic has been a challenge for everyone, but a very positive effect has been that our library has developed many innovative ways to continue providing a high level of service excellence for patrons, even though they may not be able to come into our buildings. We will continue to offer Tech Coach sessions via teleconference, Zoom and with in-person distancing protocols using the document camera. It is all about giving our community choices in the way they want to use the library!
