Digital literacy workshops made available to all libraries across Quebec

OTTAWA, May 25, 2015 /CNW/ - MediaSmarts, a leading Canadian centre for digital and media literacy, is pleased to announce that all public libraries in Quebec now have free access to its licensed digital literacy program, Web Awareness Workshop Series.

Working with the Association des bibiliothèques publiques du Québec, the Réseau Biblio du Québec and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, MediaSmarts will ensure that every library in the province has access to this comprehensive program to support librarians in their role as digital literacy experts in their communities.

Financial support for the Web Awareness Workshop Series licence is provided by Bell under a seven year funding agreement.

"Libraries are the natural place to learn about the issues that young people face while navigating the Web," says Cathy Wing, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. "The Web Awareness Workshop Series offers librarians an opportunity to learn how to address these issues in their libraries through education and awareness."

"The training of young people for a safe and wise Internet use is part of the everyday activities of public libraries", says Stéphane Legault, President of the Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec. "The partnership developed with MediaSmarts allows us to be better equipped in the implementation of our mission to facilitate basic digital literacy skills."

"Between the fiction and reality of the Web, any youngster can develop their critical thinking skills when confronted with the barrage of information that hits us every day. In order to know what is true and what is not, whatever their living environment, young people come in contact with diversified and reliable sources from our public libraries. That's why we are happy to partner with MediaSmarts", says Carole Chassé, president of Quebec's Réseau BIBLIO.

Christiane Barbe, BAnQ's Chair and CEO, adds: ''BAnQ puts together a series of activities focused on the e-skills development of its patrons. The Web Awareness Workshop Series is an outstanding resource that will support the implementation of these activities.''

The Web Awareness Workshop Series comprises six tutorials (in French and English) that librarians can access online for professional development. Alternatively, they can be presented to the general public in a workshop setting. The program, which is updated annually, examines a range of issues relating to young people's Internet use including: cyberbullying, online safety, privacy, online marketing and information authentication.

Each library will receive logon credentials, a link to the resource and an email detailing the date and details of a training webinar for the resource. Public libraries can direct any question about accessing the resource to MediaSmarts at: [email protected].

About MediaSmarts
MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. MediaSmarts offers hundreds of digital and media literacy resources for librarians, parents and educators on its website http://mediasmarts.ca. @mediasmarts

SOURCE MediaSmarts