A Geelong library digital-safety plan for scams, AI and misinformation

Use this guide when your household needs a practical digital-safety reset rather than another general technology article. The current Greater Geelong event set has a useful sequence of Geelong Regional Libraries sessions covering scams, AI-generated media, cyber safety and online claim-checking, with enough detail to build a low-pressure plan around real library visits.

Start with the problem you most want to solve. If scams are the immediate concern, the reviewed GRLC listing for Let's Talk Scams places a one-hour session at Geelong West Library, 153A Pakington Street, on 14 July 2026 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The event details say it is about understanding different scams and strategies to avoid being scammed, so it is the most direct choice for older relatives, small-business owners, or anyone who has recently received suspicious calls, messages or emails.

If the concern is AI images and manipulated media, use the Geelong West follow-up as the anchor. The official GRLC record for Is That Real? AI Images and Deepfakes lists a digital-literacy session at the same library on 22 July 2026 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, focused on identifying AI-generated images, deepfakes and misinformation online. Pairing that with the scams session makes sense because many everyday scams now use convincing images, fake profiles or edited media.

Newcomb Library then gives the plan a broader safety layer. The current snapshot lists Introduction to Cybersafety at Newcomb Library on 27 July 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, described as an adult digital-skills session on online risks, safer online habits and practical cyber-safety strategies. A later Newcomb session, Is That True? Verifying Claims Online, is listed for 25 August 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and focuses on fact-checking public claims and navigating mis- and disinformation online.

Do not try to attend every session unless the topic genuinely matters to you. A sensible plan is to choose one Geelong West session for immediate risk, then add one Newcomb session if you want a broader digital-literacy follow-up. Bring the examples or questions you actually encounter day to day, but avoid sharing sensitive account details in a public setting.

Before setting out, open the GRLC source links and confirm the current date, location, booking status and suitability. Autips can help choose the sequence, but the library page should decide whether a session still fits your timing and needs.