Library investment pays off with job successes and increased literacy.
Library investment pays off with job successes and increased literacy. This time last year a new suite of computers was installed in Petone Library heralding “fantastic results for locals”, says Lower Hutt Library’s senior customer service manager Ros Booker. Besides Facebook and Bebo, customers are creating CVs and setting up email accounts for the first time, with some great success stories. “We had a women come in who was unemployed and not even computer literate. “After several months she had everything down and was rattling off job applications. “She found employment in the end, and that’s not an isolated case,” says Mrs Booker. The library has 16 computers for public use and since the upgrade customer figures have skyrocketed. Helping the popularity was the opening up social networking sites and the availability of the Word Programme. “It’s absolutely wonderful for the community, there are really good things happening. “There are around six people using them at the moment, that is not bad for a Monday morning,” she says. Accompanying the upgrade was a drop in charges to $1 per half-hour, helping open up community accessibility. Tawa, Johnsonville and Khandallah libraries received new computers last year and the response has been positive. All libraries report a high demand for computer services and in Tawa lunchtime is especially busy. “People really appreciate the service because there is no internet café in Tawa,” says Wellington Library coach Wendy Jacobs. She says all three libraries are well patronised and the headcount at Tawa has shown a large increase over the past four months. “But over the same time period library issuing has decreased – the increase if in computer usage. “We have a lot of people setting up email accounts and searching for jobs is popular,” she says The benefit of having more people through the door helps keep local libraries vibrant, because the community value them as a gathering place, she says. “A lot more people can now use the internet,” Mrs Jacobs says. Six computers are installed in both Tawa and Johnsonville and two in Khandallah. Library staff are trained to assist customers, but are often not needed. She says children often use the service to play games, but are generally cordial when asked to take a pause for another customer.
