Library hosting digital events for islanders

DigiFest will be a week-long festival on events at the Guille-Allès Library

Residents of Guernsey have the chance to improve their digital skills with a week-long series of events being held in the island.

DigiFest begins at the Guille-Allès Library begins on Monday 14 October and ties in with Get Online Week, the UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign.

The events include talks on data protection and computer programming, as well as workshops for parents and grandparents about keeping children safe online.

Abi Paine, the library’s marketing and communications officer, said: "We’re pleased to offer a really exciting programme of events touching on some of the challenges people face online, like digital safety, as well as opportunities to learn new digital skills."

As part of the week Laura Simpson, digital safety development officer for Guernsey Police, will run two workshops on keeping children safe online.

One course is designed for parents with the other for grandparents.

She said: "I look forward to being able to support lots of parents and grandparents in helping their families to be safer and more responsible online, at a time when online harms are more prevalent than ever."

A talk on data protection from Rachel Masterton, deputy commissioner of the office of the data protection authority, and a computer programming talk by Dr Patrizia Kaye are also due to take place.

There would also be drop-in sessions to help the public get started with the Library’s eBooks, digital magazines, and other online services and the chance to use a 3D printer.

The events are run between Monday and Friday.