Learn at the Library

Throughout the year Tameside Libraries hold a variety of courses, workshops and learning sessions for Adults.

Classes running in Tameside's Libraries during 2012:

• Start IT
• Email and Internet
• Move IT On
• IT Secretarial Qualifications
• Family History for Intermediates Using the Internet
• Using Archives for Family History Research
• History on Your Doorstep
• Overcoming the Hurdles in Family History Research
• Mind Magic (Confidence, Positive Change and Wellbeing)
• Confidence Building
• The Write Read

Other adult learning activities happening in libraries:

• Private tutors often use our community rooms to run one off workshops on a variety of topics. These are advertised in the Library and on the Tameside Events Calendar.
• Adult Learners Week - every May Tameside Libraries hold a focus week that offers free learning taster sessions. Look out for details in Libraries, on the Libraries website and on the Events Calendar.
• Activities for Groups - Tameside Libraries offer a series of talks and events that are aimed at groups of between 10 - 25 people. These can either be organised community, educational and social groups or a number of friends getting together.

Full listing of classes

Start IT (Computing for beginners)

This course is for people who have little knowledge or have never used a computer. We will show you how to perform basic tasks and introduce you to a variety of skills such as word processing, file management, email and the internet.
Course length: 7 weeks
Start dates: More start dates available through 2011/12. Ring to check
Fee: Dependent on your eligibility either £20 or £30/free places available for people receiving some benefits.
Course provider: Tameside Adult Learning
Booking/More information: 0161 343 8899 

Email and Internet

This course is for people who have never used a computer or who have very little knowledge of computing. We will show you how to access the Internet, create and manage an email account and use social networking (Facebook, My Space).
Course length: 7 weeks
Start dates: More start dates available through 2011/12. Ring to check
Fee: Dependent on your eligibility either £20 or £30/free places available for people receiving some benefits.
Course provider: Tameside Adult Learning
Booking/More information: 0161 343 8899

Move IT On

This course is for people who have some basic knowledge of computers and wish to improve there skills in word processing, emailing and the internet. You will receive an entry level qualification from completing this course.
Course Length: 15 weeks
Start dates: Roll on/roll off throughout the year. Ring to check.
Fee: £50 unless you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit in which case it may be £10 or free.
Course provider: Tameside Adult Learning
Booking/More information: 0161 343 8899

Move IT On is a roll on/roll off course and people can start as soon as a space is available

IT Secretarial Qualifications - OCR Level 1 Award in text processing (business professional).

Are you unemployed and wish to gain the necessary skills to get back to work? Did you use IT in your last job? Would you like to update these skills? Would you like to work in an office environment but have poor IT skills? Do you have basic Microsoft Word skills? If so this could be the course for you. You will be able to update your skills and work towards a qualification that may help improve your employability.
Course length: 28 weeks
Fee: £45 / Free places available to people in receipt of job seekers allowance and employment support allowance
Course Provider: Tameside College
Course booking/more information: Contact the Stalybridge Library – come to the meet the tutor session to ensure you get a place.

Family History for Intermediates using the Internet

Learn how the Internet can help you research your family history. All welcome, all you need are basic computer skills and an interest in family history.
Tutor: Colin McInnes
Course length: 10 weeks
Fee: £31 / Free places available to people in receipt of certain benefits and those on a low income
Course Provider: WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Course booking/more information: Contact the individual library

Using Archives for Family History Research

This course will introduce to local studies and archive material and show you how to use it for family history research. There will be many trips to the archive library to put your new knowledge into practice! Please note that this course is only open to those who have completed a Family History beginner’s course or who can provide evidence of having researched their family tree back to the middle of the 19th century.
Tutor: Gay Oliver
Course length: 2 terms of 10 weeks
Fee: £31 per term / Free places available to people in receipt of certain benefits and those on a low income
Course Provider: WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Course booking/more information: Contact Tameside Local Studies & Archives Centre

History on your doorstep: Made in Tameside (not just cotton!)

Join local historians Jill Cronin and Alan Rose to learn about elements of Tameside’s history at this popular class.
Tutors: Jill Cronin and Alan Rose
Course length: 2 terms of 10 weeks
Fee: £35 per term
Course Provider: Private tutors
Course booking/more information: Contact the tutor

Overcoming the Hurdles in Family History Research

This course is designed to develop the skills needed to overcome some of the hurdles you may encounter when researching family history. This course is only open to those who have previously attended the WEA course on Using Archives for Family History Research.
Tutor: Gay Oliver
Course length: 2 terms of 10 weeks
Fee: £31 per term / Free places available to people in receipt of certain benefits and those on a low income
Course Provider: WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Course booking/more information: Contact Tameside Local Studies & Archives Centre

Mind Magic (Confidence, Positive Change and Wellbeing)

Are you interested in learning about techniques for transforming your life, yes? Then this course brings to life Marta Hiatt’s book ‘Mind Magic’ and introduces ways in which you can use self-help techniques to achieve your goals, promote better health, and self-confidence, to achieve inner peace and banish negative thinking. The course includes practical exercises, visualization and meditations.
Tutor: Sylvia Bates
Course length: 2 weeks
Fee: £13.95 / Free places available to people in receipt of certain benefits and those on a low income
Course Provider: WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Course booking/more information: Contact Tameside Libraries Information Service

Confidence Building

How confident are you? Not enough, then together we will look at hints and tips that will boost your confidence for daily life. This course is organised in partnership with, and financially supported, by Tameside Libraries service
Tutor: Maxine Clarke
Course length: 8 weeks
Fee: £24.80 / Free places available to people in receipt of certain benefits and those on a low income
Course Provider: WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Course booking/more information: Contact Tameside Libraries Information Service

The Write Read

Join tutor Chris Smith for 6 informal sessions. At each one you will listen to some readings and discuss a range of books and authors covering different genres, styles and types of writing. Then you will carry out some short writing exercises and if you wish, share your work with other group members.
Tutor: Chris Smith
Course length: 6 weeks
Fee: £18 / £12 unwaged
Course Provider: Private tutor
Course booking/more information: Contact Tameside Libraries Information Service