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thelibrary.org Springfield-Greene County Library District Springfield, Missouri

Library Has Additional Resources to Help You Build Computer Skills

November 6, 2009 — Talk about great timing.
 
The Springfield-Greene County Library District is making more new computers available just in time to help patrons participate in a new Microsoft e-learning and certification program announced last week.
 
Gov. Jay Nixon said Missourians will have free access to e-learning and certification programs through a partnership with Microsoft. The training programs will help Missourians gain new technology skills for today’s job market.

Through “Microsoft Elevate America,” Missouri will receive vouchers that will give residents access to specialized  e-learning programs and certification tests for Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word and other Microsoft programs and platforms.

Job seekers or those needing Microsoft Office skills can apply for and receive vouchers through the Missouri Career Center (1-888-5627).

However, Missouri Career Center may not enough computers to meet demand.

That’s where the Library District comes in. Thanks to a Library Services and Technology Act grant, the EDGE Community Technology Center at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library can now accommodate 10 more people during its regularly scheduled tutorial sessions.

“This means we can also provide access for those participating in the Microsoft project,” said Jazy Mihalik, the library’s district training coordinator.

The grant also provided new resume software and the addition of a job search Web site.

Anyone interested can call The Edge at 837-5011 to register for a tutorial time slot. The EDGE staff can help you apply for the Microsoft program or if you’ve already applied, you can use the computers and broadband to take the courses right there.
            
If the Midtown Branch Library isn’t convenient, the EDGE to the Rescue program offers similar services at the Ash Grove, Brentwood, Fair Grove, Republic, Strafford and Willard branch libraries. This series is also available through a Library Services and Technology Act grant.

The EDGE and EDGE to the Rescue also have a variety of high-quality, computer-based instructional software including Microsoft Office skills (2003 and 2007), QuickBooks, Windows, Website Design and others.

“And it’s all free,” Mihalik said. “So even if  they don’t get into, or don’t want to participate in, the Microsoft initiative, we also have tutorials that can teach them all those skills and more. And if they don’t have basic computer skills, we also have instructor-led classes to help beginning computer users.”
 
Check out thelibrary.org/edge, pick up The EDGE schedule at any branch library, or call 837-5011.
 
Kathleen O’Dell is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at kathleeno@thelibrary.org.


PRESS CONTACTS

Vickie Hicks
Community Relations Director
vickieh@thelibrary.org
(417) 616-0564
Morgan Shannon
Copywriter
morgans@thelibrary.org
(417) 616-0566

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