The official launch of the UNESCO/NALIS Tunapuna Public Library Community Information Literacy Skills Project took place on Wednesday 29 November at the Tunapuna Public Library, Freeling Street and Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna at 10:00 a.m. Member of Parliament, the Honourable Edward Hart, Susan Shurland, Secretary General for the Trinidad and Tobago Commission for UNESCO and the Executive Director, NALIS are some of the persons who spoke at the opening.

The Community Information Literacy Skills Project at the Tunapuna Public Library is a joint effort between NALIS and UNESCO. The program aims to empower the local community through access to information and knowledge, and is expected to improve information literacy skills.

Persons of all ages and backgrounds will be taught how to recognize information needs and will be given the opportunity to locate, evaluate and apply information effectively. They will be able to make informed choices in their personal academic and vocational lives. In this way, the Community Information Literacy Skills program will play an important role in making life long learning possible through libraries.

The project which commenced on September 12, and will conclude on December 21, 2006 has three components:

• Computer Literacy Skills
• ‘Lap Sit’ and storytelling programs
• Establishment of an Information Literacy Club

Activity One – Computer Literacy Skills
The target audience is upper primary school and adult persons. Skills to be acquired are:

• Use of keyboard/mouse
• Application of Microsoft Windows
• Use of the Internet and Search engines
• E-mail
• Web Browers
• Database Structure
• Information Retrieval

Activity Two – ‘Lap Sit’ Programs and Storytelling
The ‘Lap Sit’ program is an early introduction to books for babies 0-2 years and mothers/caregivers. It aims to strengthen the bond between babies and parents through nursery rhymes, songs, finger plays and picture books in a fun-filled environment.

The storytelling sessions are for children between ages 3-11. Objectives of the story time are to encourage and improve reading, grammar, speaking and literacy skills.

Activity Three – Information Literacy Club
The Information Literacy Club will sustain and promote transfer of skills achieved in the earlier mentioned (2) activities. Successful participants will be encouraged to train other members of their community in basic information literacy skills with the help of their public library.