Soon, a new computer training lab will be set up at the West New York Public Library thanks to a more than $50,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation was able to provide the library with two grants through its United States Library Program.
This program is designed to work with public libraries to provide access to computers, the Internet and digital information to patrons in low-income communities.
Estela Longo, the library’s reference librarian, said that the library received two grants, one for $33,240, to set up a training lab within the library, and one for $20,981 to provide the computers and software needed for the new computer training lab.
The foundation was started in January 2000 by Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and has an endowment of approximately $23.8 billion.
Adding on
The computer training program already in place at the library is in such demand that the grant couldn’t have come at a better time.
Longo said that the month-long training programs already in place, which hold classes on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, are already filled through October.
"People want to learn how to use the computers," said Longo, adding that many people do not only ask for recreational purposes. "They need these skills in order to get jobs."
"When you go on a job interview, the first thing they ask you is if you are computer literate," added Longo.
"If you aren’t [computer literate] then you are out of luck."
The computer program began in 2000 with a class for senior citizens.
"It doesn’t matter what age you are," said Longo, who said that the library had to add classes for all patrons. "Young people as well as old come in seeking these skills."
These grants will allow the library to build on the computer lab already in place on the second floor of the library.
Longo said that the computer lab already has 15 computers. With the grant, the library will purchase about 15 more computers and set up two labs, one for adults and one for children.
"This is something that will be ongoing," said Longo, adding that the grant money will also allow the library to hire additional instructors. "We are not just going to have the lab for one or two years. As long as we have people who want to learn to use computers, they will be able to come to the library."
Longo also said that many of the people who use the computers at the library do not have their own computers at home.
Longo hopes that the new training lab will be running by October.
Providing everything
Along with the money given to the library, the foundation will also provide the library’s staff with training and the equipment maintenance for the library.
"They think of everything," said Longo about the added training and services that the foundation is providing.
Library Director Weiliang Lai will have to attend a workshop on how to implement the lab in his library. Longo and one other staff member will also attend one week of training in Seattle. Staff members from the foundation will also come to West New York to train the library’s staff in the new software installed in the new computers.
Longo said that the foundation will also install the equipment for the library and continue to upgrade and maintain the equipment.