LAKELAND, Fla. - To reach adults who need Internet training, Verizon Information Services-a unit of telecommunications company Verizon Communications is sponsoring a free Internet Learning Day in Lakeland on Saturday, January 13, 2001. Held on Polk Community College's Lakeland Campus, the event is the 21st program in a nationwide series started in 1998.
Supported by local non-profit organizations across the country, the Verizon program has helped more than 4,000 Internet novices navigate the World Wide Web with free one-hour, instructor-led training sessions.
"As a leader in the community, Verizon strives to provide comprehensive and accurate information so residents and businesses can be better connected," said Kathy Harless, Verizon Information Services president. "The Internet Learning Day series addresses our community's changing needs in an Internet-focused economy."
Saturday's Internet Learning Day is co-sponsored by The Ledger. Community organizations such as the Lakeland Family YMCA, the Polk County Workforce Development Board, the Lakeland Public Library and One Stop Career Center are supporting the event by promoting attendance to their members.
"The Internet Learning Day gives our residents an introduction to the World Wide Web and its resources," said Brenda Patterson, Lakeland Public Library outreach associate. "The Lakeland Public Library is proud to participate in this educational event."
The Internet Learning Day consists of seven one-hour sessions, the first starting at 9 a.m. and the last at 3 p.m. To ensure that each individual has a computer, it is necessary to make reservations at 1.877.707.7685. Participants will learn how the Internet works, its history and frequently used vocabulary. In addition to visiting a number of community-focused Web sites, participants will also receive information on local places they can access the Internet for free and ways to acquire a personal computer at a reduced cost.
Each participant receives a free copy of the Verizon Internet Learning Disc (ILDisc). The ILDisc is an educational CD-ROM developed by Verizon Information Services that helps novice Internet users navigate the Web. And, at the end of the session, attendees may also register to win a free personal computer. The Internet Learning Day is a complement to Verizon Information Services' electronic offerings including Verizon's SuperPages.com, the Internet's leading online directory and shopping resource.