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February 28, 2005 |
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In December 2004, Norris Arm became the first community in Newfoundland and Labrador to benefit from Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Program. Broadband, or high capacity Internet, is used to send or view large amounts of information, including live video and audio, via the Internet. In a world that is becoming more dependent on the Internet, faster access will give both businesses and local residents thesame benefits of people living in urban areas. Norris Arm is only one of 12 communities that will benefit from the Broadband initiative in the Exploits Valley, where the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Exploits Center for Information Technology Excellence spearheaded the project. Similar projects are currently underway in many other areas of the province. Soon many rural areas, and the CAP Sites in them, will say goodbye to dial-up and enjoy the benefits of high speed Internet. |
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| The December 26th tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia has left many people searching for the latest information on relief efforts. In response to public interest and requests, librarian Diane Carr and youth intern Colleen Norman assembled information centres for patrons. Maps, articles and pictures were downloaded from the Internet and used to form an entire display on tsunamis and tidal waves. Children were encouraged to locate affected areas on the maps and learn more about Southeast Asia through quick facts posted throughout the CAP site. Patrons were encouraged to use the CAP site to do their own Internet research on relief efforts and organizations. In order to make the topic more relevant to local patrons, library books and other available reference materials on Newfoundland’s 1929 tidal wave disaster were also provided. The public response was very positive and patrons acquired a new perspective on a global issue. | |||
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| CAP is now in the process of utilizing the E-learning and web conferencing tool, Elluminate Live! (E-Live), provided by The Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI) to orient and train Youth Interns across the province. E-Live will bring together all interns, regardless of their geographic location, to participate in an online interactive forum that allows participants to share programs, view presentations, carry on audio conversations and message each other all in real time! Fifteen (15) interns volunteered to participate in a test run of E-Live on February 23, 2005. In the future, CAP will use this tool to provide training and guidance to youth interns throughout their internship. | |||
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The Gander Public Library CAP site is a very active and innovative one with many individuals and community groups partaking in the computer training currently being offered. Over the last three months, this site has seen a huge increase in training participation. During this time, the CAP site has held over 150 sessions to 50 recurring clients. The CAP site has received up to 5 requests a day for training and currently holds a wait list of 15. Many have gained the necessary computer training to use e-mail, surf the web, improve their chances of keeping or locating a job, and advancing their overall technical knowledge.
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| It has been just two months since the CAP site opened at Christ the King School in Rushoon, but already the success stories are pouring in from the small Burin Peninsula community. They have already reported over 200 users at their site, with a large percentage of their patrons being adults users who previously couldn't access the Internet or computers. Already, they have hosted training sessions that were conducted by the Community Services Council. In addition, they have people using the site to complete online university courses, a patron who has begun researching and writing a novel, and others who have quickly taken advantage of the many government services that are online. | |||
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