Wary of wi-fi? Befuddled by broadband? Don’t know your tablet from your laptop? Well, help is on hand in the form of free, impartial advice at Fakenham Library, in north Norfolk. Warren and the team at our Fakenham branch have teamed up with the library to help the local community get ‘Switched On’ to the latest technology and features in laptops and tablet devices.
The Switched On campaign came about after we offered to lend Apple and Android tablets to the library’s ‘Switched On’ volunteers and give practical demonstrations to those wishing to learn how to get the most out of their tablets.
The fortnightly sessions have become so popular that they will now be held weekly.
“The scheme has been a resounding success and enhanced the services we can offer people from Fakenham library,” said community librarian Alan Leventhall. “Initially it was on a ‘drop-in’ basis, but it quickly became so popular that people had to book an appointment. I am delighted to say from February 1st the sessions will be every Monday between 2.30pm and 3.30pm to enable us to meet the growing demand.
“We are also planning a big ‘drop-in’ event on March 25 between 2pm and 4pm where there will be a full range of tablets and laptops on hand, and we are delighted Hughes will be sending some of its experts along to give advice.”
Warren commented: “When we originally offered to assist the library, we had no idea it was going to be the success it is and we are of course delighted. As a company, we are committed to help the local communities in which we operate and hope we can repeat the success of this exercise in other parts of East Anglia.”
Fakenham resident Virginia Eade is one of the local residents benefiting from the sessions. After buying an iPad a year ago, she is now getting to grips with all its capabilities with the library’s ‘Switched On’ volunteer Jennifer Reynolds.
“It’s great to be able to help people like Virginia,” said Ms Reynolds. “The most common questions I get asked are about emails – how to I download an attachment or how to send a photograph?”
She added: “Thanks to Hughes, I can now demonstrate the two most popular types of tablets and talk through what will be the best one for them.”
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