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Points North Newsletter
Febuary 2000
What People Are Saying About The DPEC Courses"This is an excellent opportunity." "I'm enjoying them." These are just a couple of the comments library staff members have made in regards to the DPEC on-line courses being offered free of charge to library personnel through the North Country Reference and Research Resources Council. The program is being supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institution of Museum and Library Services. "I think it's excellent," said Law Librarian Patricia Donaldson from the New York State Supreme Court Law Library in Watertown. Ms. Donaldson has taken several DPEC courses. As she has progressed and now looks back, she said she wishes she would have printed out materials from the first few courses she took - something she has started doing. She said the information she is learning through the courses is something she is able to apply to her work duties. "I think it's great. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone using a computer," Ms. Donaldson said. "I am finding some information is a review, and some is new. "I'm learning lots of little tricks that I didn't know. I knew they were there, but I didn't know how to do them," she added. She said the material is easy to move through, and she likes being able to stop working when she wants and bookmarking her spot. The law librarian said this is something people should consider taking. "It's free," she chuckled. "I'm getting more out of this than a three or four hour college course. "It's very convenient. I can work on it nights and weekends," Ms. Donaldson said. Cecelia Cunningham, assistant director at the MacSherry Library in Alexandria Bay, noted she took some college courses quite some time ago, and she is now taking DPEC courses to fill in the course work she didn't take before. "Good information is provided. I am the computer person for the library and I help people on the computers," she stated, noting what she is learning is able to help her assist library patrons. She pointed out this type of course work may not be for everyone, but she believes it is an excellent opportunity. Ms. Cunningham said she was trying to work on a form for the library, and found that what she had learned in the DPEC courses was helping her complete the project. "Light bulbs were going off when I took more of the course," she laughed. "I'm enjoying the convenience. It's much better than having to drive somewhere in sub-zero weather," Cunningham said. Betsy Brooks, automation librarian for the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, said she has been enjoying the course work. "I think it is very good. I am gaining more of an understanding of (computer) words. This is helpful with my current and future projects. It breaks the language barriers," she said. Before beginning a DPEC course, students have the opportunity to take a self-assessment test. Brooks and Cunningham had mixed reviews on this portion of the course work. Cunningham said it can be a bit intimidating because it's asking questions about information you haven't yet learned. Brooks agreed, stating she couldn't possibly know some of the questions asked. "With the second course, I skipped the pre-test and was much happier," Brooks said. She said she is, however, enjoying the flexibility of the courses. "I can do it any time. I can stop and go back when I have a spare 15 minutes." Any library staff member who is interested in taking one of the DPEC on-line courses, free of charge, is encouraged to contact Pam Ouimet at the Council office by emailing her at pouimet@northnet.org If you would like to check out the DPEC courses, go to www.dpec.com and click on "Course Catalog." |