Atwater Library and Computer Centre

Thanks to a $15,000 capacity-building grant from Fondation du Grand Montréal, the Atwater Library is now offering our members eBook loans. We've contracted with the leading supplier of digital books to libraries in North America, OverDrive. Dan Volpo, our eBooks Project Coordinator, is giving information about eReaders and eBooks. To see a schedule of workshops and drop-in sessions, click on the headline. For more information on our eBook program, contact Dan at ebooks@atwaterlibrary.ca.

To download eBooks you will need:

• your Atwater Library membership number which begins with M0 (the second digit is a zero)
• your eReader device (the Kindle is not compatible with Canadian libraries)
• the USB cable or cord that connects your eReader to a computer
• a computer with free Adobe Digital Editions software installed and authorized (exceptions exist)

Thanks to funding from the New Horizons for Seniors program of the Government of Canada, we've developed a series of fun digital literacy workshops "by seniors for seniors". Most of the initial offerings are fully booked, but we'll soon be adding sessions.

FRIDAY, February 10 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm – fully booked
THURSDAY, March 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm – fully booked
Picture Sharing – Learn how to scan and email photos to family and friends.

TUESDAY, February 21 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Online Book Clubs – Become a part of the online book club world and listen to famous authors' readings.

TUESDAY, February 28 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon – fully booked
Sharing Information with Google Docs – Create, edit and share documents online.

FRIDAY, March 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Play Online – Explore the world of online games such as Scrabble and crosswords.

TUESDAY, March 6 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon – fully booked
Skype – Learn how to keep in touch with friends and loved ones abroad.

Free admission but the number of places is limited and advance registration is required. Seniors are welcome to register for one or two sessions – a maximum of two – by contacting Beth Symansky at  514-935-7344 ext. 206 or beth@atwaterlibrary.ca.

We can help you keep that New Year's resolution to upgrade your computer skills. Our for-fee course schedule for the winter and early spring is now on our website. For more information and to register, contact Zile Ozols at zile@atwaterlibrary.ca or 514-935-7344.

Thanks to funding from the Government of Quebec, we're offering more free workshops on Online Government Services for Seniors. Here are the next two times:

FRIDAY, February 17, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
FRIDAY, March 23, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Topics include getting information on health services, housing, retirement income and rights.

During the winter of 2012 we'll be conducting new-media workshops with the following community groups:

• Verdun Elementary School
• Parc Ex Historical Society
• Bienvenue à NDG
• Young Parent's Program at Head & Hands
• Ressources ethnoculturelles contre l'abus envers les aînés (RECAA)
  
• Jeunes en Action.

We're continuing to support the Inter-Tribal Youth Center with a digital audio recording and internet music promotion workshop.

For information, contact Project Coordinator Eric Craven at dlp@atwaterlibrary.ca.