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Older members of the Singleton Community will have the opportunity to learn how to digitise and manipulate treasured family photographs, as part of Singleton Public Library’s Transforming Memories project.

Singleton’s more senior citizens are invited to contact the Library on 6578 7500 to take part in the project, which is a partnership between the Library and the Singleton Christian School, with funding provided by a NSW State Government Positive Ageing Grant.

According to Jennifer Blythe, Manager of Community & Cultural Services with Singleton Council, the project is exciting in that participants learn to use new technology, and also because it helps connect community members from different generations.

“The project involves older people being assisted, one-on-one, by high school students from Singleton Christian School to digitise and manipulate their family photographs,” she said.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for older people to learn how technology can be used to convert treasured photographs to a secure and protected format,” she said. “Participants will also learn to transform pictures into greeting cards and use them to connect with loved ones in a unique way.”

The project came about through the library securing funding through a Positive Ageing Grant. These grants are offered to projects that strengthen communities and maximise opportunities for older people to remain active and socially connected. The Library’s project promotes intergenerational linkage, to the benefit of people both older and younger.

The project has similar aims to a previously successful project facilitated by the Singleton Community College and Singleton Youth Venue, in which younger people coached older people in using new technologies including cameras, mobile phones, ATMs and the Internet.

Once older people have registered to participate in the project, they will be invited to bring up to 5 pictures, up to A4 size, to the Library, and work one-on-one with the high school students during the week of 21 – 25 May 2012.

Bookings are essential, with anyone interested in taking part in the Transforming Memories project asked to call the library on 6578 7500.

For more information please contact

Jennifer Blythe

Manager Community & Cultural Services

Singleton Council

02 6578 7510

0409 657 430

library@singleton.nsw.gov.au

Alexander Mills

Library Coordinator

Singleton Public Library

02 6578 7535

0427 432 402

library@singleton.nsw.gov.au

Notes on image: The girl in the photos is Naomi Moriarty, age 15, in year 10 at Singleton Christian College. The woman is Shirley Green who is holding a photo of her grandmother.