Library helps keep residents connected
Fairview Village residents have enjoyed increased access to technology and more opportunities to engage with the outside world in this time of COVID thanks to an initiative developed by West Gippsland Library Corporation.
At the end of 2019 West Gippsland Libraries completed a computer upgrade which left the corporation with a number of surplus PCs and laptops. As coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns hit it occurred to the Warragul Libraries executive headed by CEO Leanne Williams and Deputy CEO Linda Fowler that there was an opportunity to roll out the reconditioned computers to those who were going to need it most.
“We tend to upgrade computers about every five years,” said Leanne. “And with a number of laptops sitting around about the time COVID struck, we thought it was an opportunity to donate them to aged care facilities such as Fairview Village.”
West Gippsland Libraries has already provided three laptops to Fairview and is providing another nine repurposed machines to aged care facilities across West and South Gippsland.
Executive lifestyle officer at Fairview Village, Lois Tarrant said the introduction of the computers has been a welcome development for the facility and she had been pleasantly surprised by some of the savvy shown by some users.
“Some of our residents have been using Zoom to stay in contact with family and friends,” said Lois. “We even have one resident originally from Russia who has used the laptop and Zoom to communicate overseas.”
One pioneer of personal computing at Fairview has been Bertha Miles. “I play Mahjong and Solitaire, says Bertha, and they keep me occupied,” she says.
Bertha’s enthusiasm for using the laptop has piqued the interest of a number of other residents with many using the PCs to look up hobbies and craft on YouTube as well as accessing other services that West Gippsland Libraries provide such as book clubs and other offerings.
The library also provides some training online to help residents get up to speed.
Lois has observed how important the use of computers and the connection it has allowed the residents during times when visits from the outside world are difficult.
“Residents are eternally grateful for the program and it just shows what community organisations supporting each other can achieve. It’s been a wonderful initiative,” she said.
The roll out of PCs to aged care facilities is just one of the services that West Gippsland Libraries provides. In addition to providing click and collect and delivery services for those without access to the internet, the corporation’s emphasis has been on the mental health of the communities it serves.
More than half of library staff are Mental Health First Aiders allowing the public access to a “first responder” in every branch. These staff have been completing 200 “caring calls” a week to members to help them stay connected and engaged.
West Gippsland Libraries have also partnered with Mental Health Australia for World Mental Health Day as well as providing a Mental Health Blog on its webpage which is shared nationally via Mental Health Australia.
As well as this, the corporation has worked with GBS Recruitment on a number of videos providing advice for Gippsland residents to obtain employment. It has also collaborated with noted psychologist Alison Fonsesca on a video series for parents and teens across Gippsland.
In something of a coup, the library has also arranged via Torrens University access to free online short courses for members until the end of 2020.
Ms Williams, said the emphasis in 2020 has been about maintaining relationships within the community despite the difficult circumstances. “We are about connection with our communities and trying to help combat loneliness and isolation during these times,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know the wide array of services we provide, especially given it is completely free, so we are focused on telling a bit more of these stories.
To find out more about all the services that West Gippsland Libraries provides go to https://www.wgrlc.vic.gov.au for more information.