Vancouver Library teaches ‘Silver Surfers’ to embrace the internet

WATCH: Seniors are now taking to the internet in greater and greater numbers — becoming the fastest-growing group in Canada. Elaine Yong explains.

It’s a small class of 10 at the Vancouver Public Library, and the teacher is taking it slow.

“The good news is that whatever happens to your computer can be undone, often by turning it off and on,” she calmly says to the class.

“You can always turn it off and on,” she repeats for emphasis. One of the students underlines the point in her notes.

For almost 20 years, the Vancouver Public Library has been proving that you can teach old dogs new tricks when it comes to embracing technology. They hold regular classes for basic and advanced computer classes, and Chief Librarian Sandra Singh says the demand never lets up.

The number of seniors on the internet jumped by 20 per cent between 2010 and 2012, according to Statistics Canada.

“Often times people don’t have other people in their life to show them how to do things,” says Singh.

“At the library, it’s safe to admit you don’t know something.”

Singh said that aside from basic computing skills – for personal archiving, staying in touch with family through Skype, and emailing – the biggest thing seniors are looking for is how to do research properly online.

“They use it to make really big life decisions, for their health especially. It’s really important to know how to critically evaluate it. We call it informational literacy.”

Back in the classroom, one student is taking his time finding the power button under the desk. In these classes, everyone preaches patience.

“We think about technology as anything that has happened after we were born. It’s not that easy to come on board if you’re not used to it.”