Friday, January 21, 2011
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Amy Neral, teen librarian and computer instructor at Hubbard Public Library, 436 W. Liberty St., Hubbard, helps Bill Crawford of Youngstown set up an e-mail account during a free computer class offered at the library. Older residents are taking the classes to learn how to use a computer and access library services online.
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Penny Gunter concentrates in a computer class at Hubbard Public Library. The Hubbard resident is taking the free instruction so she can use e-mail to communicate with a sister in Denver and access the library’s card catalog from her home.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Revamped and revitalized. That’s how Sherry Ault, director of the Hubbard Public Library, describes the staff, programs and atmosphere at the library.
The credit goes to community residents who supported and passed a 1.9-mill continuing levy in May, she said. The levy will yield about $400,000 annually and is based on property taxes.
Ault said the library’s projected 2011 funding from Ohio is $693,000, which comes from the state’s public-library fund. “But we’ve already been told to expect 15 percent less because of the state’s financial situation,” she said.
When the library faced the financial crisis, staff, hours and programs were reduced, Ault said. The director also recognized the support of volunteers and Friends of the Library.
Ault said Amy Neral has been hired as a teen librarian and also is teaching computer classes.
The director also said the library is looking forward to March 1, when e-books will be available to be downloaded from the library’s website, www.hubbard.lib.oh.us.
“Patrons will be able to download to Nooks [a Barnes & Noble product] and e-readers,” she said, adding that Kindles can’t be used.
Ault said having the teen librarian on staff will boost activities and resources for the “tween” group of age 10 to 12 and youths age 13 to 18.
Overall, Ault said, there has been an “uptick” of patrons. The feedback has been positive about the library’s restored hours and programs, she said.
“Get to Know Us” computer classes, which are under way, are among the programs. These sessions teach participants how to use their computers to access library services and provide instruction on computer use. The free classes are limited to 10 participants, and registration is required.
At a recent session, Neral worked with participants, all older adults, on how to set up e-mail. Comments such as “Did I break it?” “What happened here?” and “Oh, look, I did it” were heard.
“Humor helps in the class,” Neral said.
She said for one reason or another, the participants hadn’t learned how to use a computer. In these sessions, everyone is a beginner, and those who catch on quicker in turn help someone else. Participants are learning the basics of the Internet, e-mail and programs such as Word, Publisher and PowerPoint.
Neral said the computer sessions will enable participants who are library-card holders to access the library’s website from their home computer and take advantage of what’s available online. That includes searching databases and card catalogs and requesting books and other materials online.
Bill Crawford of Youngstown is in the class. “I only played the games on the computer before,” he said. “I wanted to further my education and know what I’m doing on the computer.” He admitted he was feeling more comfortable” and learning the fundamentals. “The word games are a lot of fun.”
Penny Gunter of Hubbard said she has a computer at home but didn’t know anything about it.
“This is a good place to come so they can teach me,” she said. One of her priorities was to master e-mail to be able to correspond with a sister in Denver and another was to know enough to use the card catalog online.
“This is the information highway,” said Art Scissum of Youngstown, who frequents the Hubbard library. He said he’s registered for the computer classes to help him be more adept at using the technology in business, taxes and banking. “It helps you find out literally everything,” he said.
Doris Almasy of Campbell said she also is a library patron and learned about the class. She also took it to become more at ease using a computer. “I can order books, tapes from home,” she said.
Paul Fluent of Hubbard said he took the class so he could use e-mail to correspond with his doctors and “look up information on line.”
Hubbard Public Library, 436 W. Liberty St., Hubbard, has restored hours and programs because a library levy was passed in 2010. For information, call the library at 330-534-3512 or visit www.hubbard.lib.oh.us.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The library is closed Sundays.
Babytime: This early-literacy program is for children up to age 24 months and caregivers. Programs set at 10:30 a.m. next Friday, Feb. 12 and Feb. 25. Call extension 4 to register.
B.F.F. (Book for Fun book club): The club will meet at 3 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Feb. 28.
Career Kickoff: The session from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 was developed by Eastern Gateway Community College for job seekers who want to define their aptitudes, develop career goals and investigate local job markets. Call extension 3.
Computer class: The “Get to Know Us” computer classes help participants learn to use a computer. Class size is limited to 10. Registration is required. Sessions on the Internet, e-mail, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word are planned.
Crafters Circle: The group will meet the first and third Mondays at the library. First sessions will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 7 and 21. The first program will be an oven-door towel.
Family Night: A stuffed animal sleepover is planned at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Registration begins Feb.10 at extension 4.
Fortnightly Crafters: The group, which does crafts and knitting, meets every other Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a session set for next week. Sandra Horforth will be available for continuing beginners’ knitting education. Ongoing sessions include Feb. 9 and 23.
Paws to Read: Children in kindergarten and older may sign up for a 20- minute session of reading aloud to a registered therapy dog during the program set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Dogs are provided by K-9s for Compassion. Registration begins Feb. 5; call extension 4.
S.O.S. (Something on Saturday): A three-week series for kindergarten through fourth grade is planned at 10:30 a.m. this weekend, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5.
Sock-puppet workshop: A session will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 26. Participants will make puppets to be sent to the Dominican Republic in March. Supplies will be furnished.
TAG: Tween Activity Group is for 10- to 12-year-olds and will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday for movies and munchies. Also planned are a minijournal session at 3 p.m. Feb. 8 and movies and munchies at 3 p.m. Feb. 22.
Young Adult Council: This activity is geared to 13- to 18-year-olds who will help increase the young-adult section, suggest teen programming and incorporate ideas in the new teen room. Amy Neral is teen librarian.