Spark Jump opportunity - first sign up!

Hi Everyone

Spark Foundation has partnered with 2020 Trust of offer a new pre-pay internet service for families with school-aged children.  It has some significant benefits but does not replace contracted services offering around 100GB which the average family now uses each month, so Jump Start is not intended for people who want to download movies a lot etc but has been created to support internet access for families for their children's education.

• It costs $15 for a 30 GB data pack (which expires after 30 days, so must be topped up monthly)
• Top ups can be made using Skinny vouchers, or using a debit or credit card
• It uses the 4G and 4G 700 wireless network
• It is quick to set up.

If this sounds like a good fit for you or someone you know, please contact me and we will see if this would work at your home.

Paulette (centre) signing up for Spark Jump at Picton Library
with librarian Helen Devlin and CiH Coordinator Denise Henley

Welcome to Beautiful Kaikoura

A big welcome to families from Hapuku School.

Training is now well underway at Hapuku School thanks to the capable guidance of Principal Ally O'Keefe and tutor MacKenzie Burrows.  Each time I visit I get to enjoy the amazing scenery and be welcomed at the door by the resident pet kune pig who likes to be in the thick of things but can be moved on slowly by the temptation of food.  

Participants of the training are sharing their knowledge and skills and offering support to each other. The group is having lots of fun and it is easy to see confidence growing.

  

I am looking forward to the next visit in November to share in Hapuku School's Graduation celebration.

Cheers Denise

Well done Westport North School

It has been a pleasure to work with families from Westport North and Westport South School. 20 hours of training hosted at Westport North School are now complete and after a lovely Graduation, the refurbished computers have been taken home just in time for school holidays.  It was fun to meet all of the children during Graduation and I am sure they are enjoying having a computer in their homes.  We also have some keen people who are going to continue with their IT learning by completing the online KiwiSkills programme.

Westport North School

Westport South School

  

Graduation at Westport North School on PhotoPeach

Stepping UP courses coming up at Motueka and Richmond Libraries - free to the public

Stepping UP - Free Computer Courses

Let us help you unravel the mysteries of using a computer - and it won't cost you a cent.

Stepping UP is a national digital literacy initiative developed by the 2020 Communications Trust.

The programme provides a number of modules of computer and internet training using standard software applications to build partipants' skills and confidence. Each module takes two hours to complete and is designed to stand alone.

All classes are free.

Classes may be cancelled if minimum registrations are not reached.

If you are interested in any of the courses below and the dates and times don't work for you, please contact us.

Registering for courses:

You can register at http://steppingup.org.nz/ or ask a library staff member next time you visit the library.

When registering, select Courses - Nelson Marlborough - Upcoming courses Nelson-Marlborough region.

You'll see that courses are being offered at Marlborough and Nelson Libraries as well as Tasman District Libraries. Make sure you only register for the courses being run in Tasman District.

• Motueka Library
• Richmond Library

Motueka Library                                  

Course	Details	Dates
Ancestry.com	This course will focus on tips for effective searching on Ancestry, as well as an overview of records available for the UK and New Zealand to help you trace your ancestors. This course includes: Search tips for using Ancestry Record collections for New Zealand Record collections for the UK Viewing Public Member Trees How to send records home from the library Prerequisites: Basic computer skills are essential	Tuesday 1 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Digital photos	This course will help you manage and share your photos from your camera and/or Smartphone. Learn how to : Transfer photos from your digital camera to a computer Share your digital photos with family and friends Prerequisites: participants need to bring to this course Digital camera and USB cable USB memory stick Facebook login details (not essential)	Tuesday 22 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Email	Learn how to set-up and use an email account. This course includes: Creating a free email account (Gmail) Navigating around your email account Adding an address to your contacts lists Sending, receiving, replying and forwarding emails Sending, receiving and saving attachments Creating folders and groups Recognising SPAM and other potentially harmful email Prerequisites: Participants must bring a cell phone to set-up an email account Participants with an existing email account - don't forget to bring your email username and password This class will be focused around Gmail email accounts	Tuesday 6 December 10.00am-12.00 noon
Employment - Part 1 (Preparation)	Learn how to use digital tools to help you prepare for employment. This course includes: Creating and formatting a CV Creating and formatting a cover letter Prerequisites: Please bring information about your work and any voluntary experience (with dates) to include in your CV	Tuesday 8 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Online Newspapers	Learn how to access New Zealand, international and historic New Zealand newspapers. This course includes: Using PapersPast - discover what life was like in 19th and early 20th century New Zealand with these historic newspapers Using Press Display - read full digital replicas of local, national and international newspapers Accessing newspaper and magazine articles from the 1990s onward through various e-resources, i.e. Australia/NZ Reference Centre	Tuesday 29 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Pinterest	Learn how to use Pinterest.  Find inspiration for hobbies, arts and crafts, parties, parades and much more. Pinterest is a smorgasbord of creative ideas. This course includes: Creating a Pinterest account Creating a board Searching for ideas Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with using a computer Email address and password	Tuesday 13 December 10.00am-12.00 noon
Skype	You will learn how to use Skype and its basic functions. This class includes: Create an account Search, request and add contacts Video and telephone calls Webcams	Tuesday 11 October 10.00am-12.00 noon
Word processing using Word 2010	This course includes: Entering, selecting and formatting text Creating and saving documents Page layout Copy, cut and paste Inserting pictures	Tuesday 18 October 10.00am-12.00 noon
YouTube	This course includes: Sign up for a YouTube account Searching and favourites Uploading and downloading	Tuesday 15 November 10.00am-12.00 noon

Richmond Library                                 

Course	Details	Dates
Ancestry.com	This course will focus on tips for effective searching on Ancestry, as well as an overview of records available for the UK and New Zealand to help you trace your ancestors. This course includes: Search tips for using Ancestry Record collections for New Zealand Record collections for the UK Viewing Public Member Trees How to send records home from the library Prerequisites: Basic computer skills are essential	Thursday 8 December 10.00am-12.30 pm
Digital photos	This course will help you manage and share your photos from your camera and/or Smartphone. Learn how to: Transfer photos from your digital camera to a computer Share your digital photos with family and friends Prerequisites: participants need to bring to this course Digital camera and USB cable USB memory stick Facebook login details (not essential)	Thursday 13 October 10.00am-12 noon Tuesday 22 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Discover your library online	Learn how to access and use the Library catalogue and e-Resources. This course includes: The library catalogue - searching, accessing My Account, renewing and placing holds online How to find and access the library's e-Resources A quick look at Books and Authors, New Zealand Geographic, Who Else Writes Like and World Book Online Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with using a computer Participants need a Tasman District Libraries membership to access online resources. You'll need your membership card number and PIN	Thursday 17 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Facebook	Learn how to create and use a Facebook account. This course includes: Creating a Facebook account Posting to your wall Accepting and sending friend requests Sending private messages Privacy Prerequisites: Participants must have a current email account to participate in this class. Don't forget to bring your email username and password.	Wednesday 16 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Historic New Zealand Newspapers	Papers Past contains digitised pages from 19th and 20th century New Zealand newspapers. They include newspapers for the Nelson area from 1842 to 1922 and are an excellent source of information for local researchers and family historians. Learn how to: Navigate the Papers Past website Search for specific people, places or events Learn to narrow down your search results Learn to use keywords and phrase searching effectively Prerequisites: Basic computer skills	Thursday 24 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Internet Basics	Learn how to access the web and how to use the Google search engine for finding information on the Internet. This course includes: Understanding common terms on the Internet Using the Google search engine Understanding links Using Google Images Google searching tips and tricks Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with using a computer	Thursday 10 November 10.00am-12.00 noon
Tracing Your Ancestors Through Military Records	In this course you will learn how to locate online military records for New Zealand, UK and Australia, using free genealogy websites and subscription databases. The course will mainly concentrate on military records for the South African (Boer) War, World War I, and World War II. The course includes locating: Military service records/personnel files Records of the war dead War memorials and war graves Probates and wills Prerequisites: Basic computer skills are essential	Thursday 1 December 10.00am-12.30 pm
Photo editing	Learn how to crop, edit and colour your digital photos. In this class we will be using PIXLR editor (free online picture editing software) to edit and fix digital photos. Most of the skills learnt in class can be used with other photo editing software such as Paint or Photoshop. Learn how to: Crop and resize your photos Remove minor marks, dirt and other damage Customize colour Prerequisites: Basic computer skills What to bring (optional): USB flashdrive/memory stick to save your work to A digital copy of a photo you want to edit (on a USB stick)	Thursday 27 October 10.00am-12.00 noon
TradeMe	Learn how to buy and sell goods using TradeMe. This course includes: Creating a TradeMe account Browsing TradeMe to locate items of interest for sale Saving auctions to your watchlist Sending questions to sellers Reserve prices and auto-bidding Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with using a computer Participants must have a current email account to participate in this class - don't forget to bring your email username and password	Thursday 3 November 10.00am-12.00 noon

The Warehouse Bags For Good Partnership

Hi

I visited The Warehouse in Blenheim recently and met the very helpful manager there to thank him for the opportunity to partner with them.  Here is a photo of our token progress at this stage.

Welcome Buller

Buller is now a part of my region and I am excited to welcome Westport North School aboard.  Training started in August with everyone busy setting up their computers for the first time.

The Warehouse "Bags for Good Neighbourhood Partnership" -Nelson, Blenheim and Motueka

Hi Everyone

Exciting News!!!

I wanted to share with you a great opportunity which Computers in Homes has received.  We have been accepted in The Warehouse "Bags for Good Neighbourhood Partnership" where customers to The Warehouse can put a token in to support a community group and Computers in Homes is in this position from August to January 2017.

When you visit The Warehouse, please consider adding your token to Computers in Homes collection so that any funds raised can go directly to supporting families in your area to become digitally connected.

Many thanks.

Cheers Denise

Queen Charlotte College Celebrates

Families from Picton recently celebrated the completion of their Computers in Homes training hosted by Queen Charlotte College and held at Waikawa Marae,

Queen Charlotte College's kapa haka group gave us all a wonderful welcome on to the school grounds to begin our Graduation celebration and then certificates were presented to those successful participants.

And after sharing some kai, the last order of the day was taking home the computer suites and setting them up at home just in time for the school holidays!!!

.

Queen Charlotte College Graduation on PhotoPeach

Training hosted by Queen Charlotte College at Waikawa Marae

Queen Charlotte College, Picton

Training is well underway for families from Queen Charlotte College and neighbouring schools.  Two classes are being held at Waikawa Marae - Wednesday morning and Thursday evening.

Simon Schmidt

Diane St Clair, at Waikawa Marae

Thanks to Principal Betty Whyte and Diane St Clair, Manager of Waikawa
Marae for this collaboration, and for the work of tutor/tech Simon Schmidt and the technical company which supports Queen Charlotte College for finding solutions to have internet available in the training room. They found a last minute solution and it is working very well!!!

Here are some first session pics!