Thirteen winning projects received their Star Awards at a ceremony held in Dublin on Monday 22 February. Among the 110 nominated projects, two came from the public library service and both were highly commended in their regional categories:
Kilkenny Libraries Six Book Challenge programme was highly commended in the Regional Leinster Section. The Six Book Challenge is an initiative introduced in 2008 by the Reading Agency in the UK. Kilkenny County Library registered to take part in the challenge with the aim of involving reluctant adult readers with their local library.
Dublin City Libraries’ Open Learning Centre was highly commended within the Dublin Regional category. Established in 1986 as part of the Central Library, The Open Learning Centre is a unique learning facility offering access to all regardless, of age, social status or ethnicity. It constitutes a unique, safe, organic learning environment, where people from 124 countries come to learn together. Courses are self learning, so students can learn at their own pace.
The STAR Awards are awarded for outstanding, learner centered adult and community education projects which demonstrate high levels
of collaboration amongst participant groups. The learning involved has included learning for personal fulfillment, social change, active citizenship, skills development, community development and other related fields. The awards have highlighted and supported the collaborative learning approach which is vital to developing healthy and vibrant communities

AONTAS invites libraries around the country to promote adult learning through the Adult Learners Festival 2010. The Festival runs nationwide next year for the fourth time, from February 22nd to February 26th. Events run during the week by a variety of groups involved in adult learning will contribute to a nationwide campaign designed to promote the value and benefits of learning as an adult.

Libraries are now an essential part of community infrastructure – providing up to date information and social contact for people recently made unemployed, facilitating research opportunities on everything from genealogy to Spanish lessons, as well as stocking the latest bestsellers. AONTAS recognises the huge role that libraries play as learning sites, and wants to gain recognition for that role through the participation of the libraries in next year’s Adult Learners’ Festival.

Last year, over 250 events took place around the country. Events locally and nationally were featured in local, regional and national media. A number of libraries hosted events over the week, with local libraries buzzing with the energy of people learning something new. Some of the libraries organised their monthly bookclubs to coincide with the Festival, while others hosted information mornings in conjunction with their Local VEC or organised taster courses in email and internet for older people.

If your library would like to get involved, AONTAS can help you to promote your events locally. AONTAS will provide you with:

• An Event Bag – all you need to organise your event, from posters and balloons to other goodies;
• A sample press release – which you can use to promote your event in local media;
• A toolkit of Ideas – of events that you can organise – simply by planning your existing calendar around the Festival, you can be part of the Festival. In addition AONTAS can advise you how you might collaborate with other local organisations if you want to organise a bigger event;
• Event promotion through our special Festival website www.adultlearnersfestival.com which will act as a unique information portal for people wanting to attend events.

AONTAS wants the festival to be a useful and relevant to organisations taking part. No event is too big or too small for inclusion. Here are a couple of suggestions as to what could take place in your library during the Festival:

• Encourage meetings of groups that use your facilities (eg bookclubs);
• ‘What’s in your local library’? Showcase the facilities and resources that libraries offer to the general public;
• Host a talk or workshop from another organisation. (AONTAS can help match you with another organisation in your area);
• Promote websites such as www.askaboutireland.com through internet access at your library;
• Organise a membership drive for your library, and promote the benefits of being a member!

You can also nominate your group for an adult learning STAR award. Full details are available from www.adultlearnersfestival.com. Nominations must be received by November 27th 2009. The awards ceremony will take place on February 22nd 2010.

For more ideas, contact AONTAS on 01 406 8220, or visit www.adultlearnersfestival.com.

AONTAS, The National Adult Learning Organisation is now inviting nominations for the STAR Awards for adult learning projects that takes place as part of the third annual Adult Learners’ Festival (2nd – 6th February 2009).
The STAR Awards is about showcasing teamwork and awarding recognition – it’s about acknowledging the fantastic work being done by adult learning projects throughout the country. Most of all, it is about celebrating the positive contribution that these projects make to our society, our economy and our local communities.
Fourteen awards in total will be granted to adult learning projects based within the island of Ireland who demonstrate the following criteria:
« A high level of teamwork and partnership amongst participant groups;
« A learner-centred approach to education provision;
« Adult education practice and methodologies;
« Evidence or Outcomes.
Nominated projects can involve initiatives, resources or group work. Projects may come from adult learning organisations, community and voluntary groups, the private sector, government agencies, statutory bodies and non-government organisations. You do not have to be involved in the project you are nominating for a STAR Award. However, we welcome nominations from projects themselves or from people directly involved in the project they are nominating.
The closing date for receipt of nominations is Friday, November 14th at 5pm
For further information on how to nominate visit: www.adultlearnersfestival.com