Digital Literacy- Memories and Stories project
Improving literacy among older people by documenting memories and stories.
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"The digital memories project was well received in Mountmellick. Participants were particularly engaged with being able to record their own stories.”- Facilitator
This project aimed to address digital literacy needs among senior citizens. It helped individuals improve their digital skills by sharing memories, stories and folklore of times past from their local area.
Eight learners attended workshops in Mountmellick Library every Wednesday for eight weeks between September and November 2024.
Participants learnt digital skills like typing, sending emails, setting up online accounts, training on CANVA, saving documents, scanning, and printing.
Learners then progressed to creative writing on library PCs, which involved reminiscing about past events and writing these memories down. They also transcribed old handwritten letters, uploaded and scanned family photographs, and retrieved memorabilia.
The project concluded with a presentation evening and live readings of stories that learners wrote during the course.
Everyone found the storytelling and creative elements of the project very enjoyable. Participants were eager to learn more about Microsoft Word and Canva in particular.
The initiative also introduced learners to library services, such as access to e-books, e-newspapers and e-magazines.
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Tamara Latham, Regional Literacy Coordinator at Laois Offaly ETB, with learners at Mountmellick Library.
This project was a collaboration between Laois County Library Service and Ballycommon Training and Teleworking.
For more information about the project, please contact Tamara Latham, Regional Literacy Coordinator in Laois and Offaly ETB, at tlatham@loetb.ie
The Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports projects for adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs and projects that support organisations to be literacy friendly. The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed but keep an eye out for information on our 2025 fund which will be launched in December.
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