Purchase at AlphaPlus!

by Monika Jankowska, Marketing and Distribution Coordinator, Centre AlphaPlus Centre

Centre AlphaPlus Centre is well known in the literacy field for the support we provide to Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) agencies in Ontario, our library collection of literacy materials, and many other projects that we undertake. But for some time now we have also been selling learning resources across Canada and beyond.

Obtaining a good book or a computer program can be a cumbersome task not only for learners but also for teachers and organizations. Finding distributors, comparing prices, and reviewing content can be overwhelming. That is why we, at AlphaPlus, with the support of our librarians and feedback from our users, are trying to simplify this process. Our goal is to provide learners with information and easy access to sound, practical learning materials.

We currently offer more than 30 computer software titles and more than 20 book titles to improve reading, writing, speaking, and numeracy skills in English and our list is growing longer as our users produce or recommend new materials. But we are not limited to only books and software! We have recently added a new type of resource to our list: access to on-line training.

Our involvement in marketing and distribution activities gives us opportunities to develop partnerships with other literacy organizations. We distribute resources published by organizations such as Preparatory Training Programs, Ningwakwe Learning Press, and Literacy Education and Training Services. We have recently added to our list of partners Dryden Literacy Association, a non-profit, community-based organization that works to improve the language communication skills of adults. They developed a collection of eight thematic units designed to provide practitioners with a variety of lesson plans and activities. This series includes the following titles: Obtaining a Driver’s Licence, Oh Yeah! Mind Your Own Business, Making Sense Out of Cents, Putting Your Best Self Forward, Good Day! How May I Help You?, Let’s Get Metric, Hey Ma! Where Did I Come From?, and All About Me and Those Important to Me.

Some of the resources available for purchase from AlphaPlus have been developed and produced here. One of our most successful projects involved the development of a series of nine on-line training manuals called On-line access for success! The manuals provide technical skills and information on how to use AlphaPlus’ on-line resources effectively and easily, building technical skills in general as a result. They include information on AlphaCom, the AlphaPlus Help Desk, the AlphaPlus Web site, AlphaRoute, Centra, the Directory of Literacy Services, the Index to Web resources, the Library Catalogue – AlphaCat, and Tech skills – general. A copy of the series was distributed free of charge to every LBS agency in Ontario and additional copies can be purchased from AlphaPlus.

As e-learning is becoming a popular trend, we also help provide access to on-line training courses. Organizations interested in helping literacy learners obtain a certificate in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) can purchase access to Practical WHMIS through AlphaPlus. This course is an online program that provides information and guidelines on how to properly and safely handle, use, store, and dispose of hazardous materials in the workplace. WHMIS is a Canada-wide standard designed to ensure that employees who work in contact with hazardous materials have the proper training, skills, and knowledge to work safely

To know more about the wide range of resources that you can purchase from AlphaPlus, visit our Web site at http://alphaplus.ca and go to our Purchase section. You can browse through and read about books, software, and online training tools that you can purchase from AlphaPlus. You can order resources or request a free demonstration CD-ROM directly on-line!

We trust that our services will help practitioners and learners gain improved, simplified access to learning resources. But we need your feedback to ensure that our distribution services provide you with what you need. If you have any ideas or suggestions, or know of any resources that you think should be available for purchase from AlphaPlus, please contact me at mjankowska@alphaplus.ca.