The Library

Times are tough all over. You can’t help but hear about another business closing on the evening news or read in the paper about people losing their jobs due to the struggling economy. Many of our friends and neighbors right here in the Ozarks have found themselves in the same position and are looking to improve their skill set or change careers entirely.

If you’re dealing with these types of issues, or perhaps looking to broaden your computer skills for another reason, don’t despair. The library is here to help. For the past seven years, thousands of adults have taken advantage of the wide variety of computer training resources available at the Edge Community Technology Center at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library.

Beginning this week, thanks to a Library Services and Technology Act grant administered by the Missouri State Library, Edge staff will bring free computer and employment readiness training classes to six library branches in a new program series, The Edge to the Rescue.

“These classes are not just for the unemployed or those seeking to change careers, although there is a definite need for that right now,” said Edge Coordinator Jazy Mihalik. “There are a lot of people who want to build on their basic computer skills and learn how to do more in Word or on the Internet. Our goal is to make these classes more available to those who can’t commute to the center of Springfield.”

Using a mobile technology lab, Training Coordinator Krissy Sinor will offer the classes at the Ash Grove, Brentwood, Fair Grove, Republic, Strafford and Willard Branch Libraries. Complete class descriptions and a schedule of courses are listed in the fall issues of Bookends, the library’s calendar of events.

Sarah Jane Rosendahl, copywriter for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at sarahr@thelibrary.org.

Vickie Hicks is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at vickieh@thelibrary.org.