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Survey highlights Learning Outcomes from public library use

Survey highlights Learning Outcomes from public library use

Bunclody library readers get what they need from their book selections.  Readers said that  they benefit very significantly in areas of entertainment, learning new facts, challenging attitudes and motivational support.  Not surprisingly learning new facts was more significant for non-fiction books as was the challenge to their established attitudes, but the entertainment factor was high for both categories of reading.  Every fourth non-fiction reader said their reading helped them develop new skills and every fourth reader also said their reading helped them plan for the future.  These are some of the findings from a survey of adult readers where the contributors assessed their own general learning outcomes from use of the collections in Bunclody library.  It provided important qualitative comment to complement the number-counting traditionally used to measure library performance.  The survey was adapted from a project developed in Devon, UK, in 2005.  It will be extended now to investigate the impact of non-fiction reading across all the public libraries in County Wexford.  The full report is available on the Wexford Public Libraries website at www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/LibraryReports/ and you can talk with Bunclody library staff, Trish Keenan and Aoife o’Rourke at tel: 053 93 75466.

 

Local Memories collected for 11th Storytelling Festival (PDF Document, 50 KB)

Mind Yourself: Mental health and well-being:
Information and self-help scheme

press release    press release     press release     press release

Mind Yourself! is a scheme to promote mental health and well-being of individuals and families in County Wexford .  Popular self-help books & DVDs in the public libraries help people to help themselves. The scheme was launched on Wednesday, 30^th September 2009 and is available from all of County Wexford ’s public libraries.

Books cover areas such as stress, d epression, anxiety and low self-esteem.  Parenting difficulties such as sibling rivalry & bullying are covered also. Books for children as well as adults are provided.

Borrowing from the library is free. All the books & DVDs are recommended by the staff of the HSE’s Wexford Psychology Unit. 

“The Mind Yourself scheme is useful to everyone looking for assistance for themselves or a family member, as well as for people working in the community with people in need”, said Pauline Bryan from the HSE. “So the number of potential users of the scheme is vast.  It also includes doctors, other health professionals, community workers, voluntary groups, teachers, employers and the clergy.”

Approximately a quarter of all patients attending GPs’ surgeries in Ireland have concerns about emotional or mental health issues, the most prevalent being anxiety and depression. GPs manage the care of many of these patients with limited resources.  Even when people are referred, the waiting time to be seen by a psychologist is lengthy. Access to quality self-help materials means that referred individuals can actively engage in improving their mental health during this waiting time. 

Also, for all the people who have not yet sought help and who are struggling alone with depression, anxiety or other issues covered by the Mind Yourself scheme, there are now excellent materials available for free from local public libraries.

Wexford Library Service is providing several copies of all the books, and there are over 100 titles recommended. 

Launching the project, which is a shared initiative of the public library service and the HSE, Wexford County Council Chairman, Councillor Anna Fenlon noted how the Mind Yourself scheme feeds off the sometimes un-stated strengths of the public library service. “People trust their local public library.  It is responsive, accessible and a safe place,” said Fenlon. “The public library is a perfect partner for a project such as Mind Yourself which needs privacy, discretion and a non-judgemental support for people and their families who are managing in difficult times at present.”

The Mind Yourself mental health and well-being support scheme has been developed over the past 12 months.  It is modelled on international best practice.  It will be monitored by the HSE and the library service and will be developed further in response to public need.

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More information from

• Wexford Libraries : Fionnuala Hanrahan 087 2070551 : Hazel Percival 053 91 21637

• HSE, Wexford Adult Mental Health Service  Sheila Kissane 0876297087 and  Tanya Harris  087 9128968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn online at Wexford libraries

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

                

LEARN ONLINE AT WEXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Wexford Library Service and FAS are collaborating to offer online courses free of charge for those who would like to improve their computer and administrative skills. A range of courses will be offered in 4 libraries in Co. Wexford from late September including ECDL, Microsoft Word and Excel and finance fundamentals.

FAS recognises that using the public library network opens up access to more participants and provides a welcoming and open environment where people can learn at their own pace. The ELearning at the Library project which is supported by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, is now ongoing in over 60 libraries all over Ireland .

Introductory computer classes will allow participants to set up an e-mail account, navigate the internet and learn the basics of computing with a FAS trainer. More advance e-learners can complete certified Microsoft Office and ECDL courses. Further online courses include introductions to Accounting, Business Maths, Digital Media and Project Management

 

Learn Online at Wexford Libraries (Word Document, 21 KB)

New County Library Build Begins