MediaSmarts and Ontario Library Association Partner to Make Digital Literacy Workshops Available Across the Province

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 24, 2012) - MediaSmarts (formerly known as Media Awareness Network) is today announcing that all public library members of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) will now have access to its Web Awareness Workshop Series through a one-year licence agreement funded by a grant through Google Canada.

"Parents and educators are eager to better understand the issues that young people face while navigating the Web," says Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. "Our Web Awareness Workshops Series is popular with educators and parents because it offers a unique opportunity to learn how to address these issues through a self-directed, Web-based learning experience."

The Web Awareness Workshop Series includes six professional development workshops that provide a comprehensive program to help librarians understand and address issues relating to cyberbullying, online safety, online marketing, privacy and information authentication.

"We are so pleased to partner with MediaSmarts to provide these outstanding resources to our public library members. Parents have well-founded concerns about how their children use online sites and resources," says Karen McGrath, OLA President. "Ontario public library staff are well-positioned to help their communities understand how to use digital media. This wonderful partnership with MediaSmarts equips public libraries with tools and training opportunities."

MediaSmarts offers hundreds of digital and media literacy resources for librarians, parents and educators on its website www.mediasmarts.ca. To inquire about licensing the Web Awareness Workshop Series, contact licensing@mediasmarts.ca.

MediaSmarts (formerly known as Media Awareness Network) is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. MediaSmarts' programs are supported by: TELUS, CIRA, Google, Bell, Shaw, Bell Media, and the National Film Board of Canada. www.mediasmarts.ca

The Ontario Library Association is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada. With more than 5,000 members, the OLA is the largest library association in the country. We provide an opportunity for the people in our field to associate, meet, share experience and expertise, and create innovative solutions in a constantly changing environment.