With cyber threats growing more sophisticated every day, a new initiative is helping ensure no one in the community is left behind. Donegal librarians have successfully completed Munster Technological University’s Cyber Safety e-learning course to become Cyber Safety Supporters. Librarians from across Donegal are now equipped with essential digital safety skills to support the public in navigating the online world more safely and confidently.
The course is free, easy-to-follow and focuses on real-world cybersecurity challenges, from password protection and responding to hacking, to recognising scams. Donegal librarians had the highest completion rate of our course compared to any other county in Ireland.
To celebrate this achievement, a special recognition event was held at the Central Library in Letterkenny, where librarians from across the county received their official Cyber Safety Charters for their library. The event was formally opened by the Mayor of Donegal Town, Anna Gallagher, who delivered a heartfelt speech and shared a touching poem that resonated strongly with attendees.
One of the newly trained librarians, Denzil Browne, admitted he was initially sceptical about what more he could learn from the course after years of helping people manage email accounts and passwords.
“I didn’t think there would be much in the cybersecurity training that I didn’t already know. But you think you know everything, but actually you don’t. There are many gaps in the knowledge you have.”
He found the content on password creation, secure storage, cookies, and overall online safety “extremely useful.”
Librarians from the following branches received their Cyber Safety Charters:
Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Bundoran, Carndonagh, Donegal Town, Gaoth Dobhair, Dungloe (Na Rosann), Lifford, Milford, Moville, Raphoe, and Twin Towns.
Donegal library staff are now equipped to assist anyone in the community seeking advice or support around online safety, from recognising scams to managing personal data securely.
The Cyber Safety e-learning course remains open to the public and is ideal for anyone who wants to make a difference, whether you’re supporting a parent, friend, neighbour, or colleague. The course is free, accessible, and suitable for all levels of digital experience.
Take the course and learn more at www.cybersafety.ie.