A Year in Review Brings Positive Feedback to the Carthage Free Library Public Computing Center
The Carthage Free Library and Public Computing Center Staff would like to wish its community a happy, healthy and successful new year! As 2012 starts, the PCC staff would like to take the opportunity to share with the community some of the statistical data that will be forwarded to Albany in accordance with our annual reporting along with feedback provided by our students and patrons.
Anyone that has taken a computer class at the library knows that we ask each student to take the time to fill out a post class survey. We do our best in explaining what the purpose of the survey is, but now hopefully, our students and the community will have a better sense of just how important their feedback is. From the PCC’s start in December 2010, we have serviced 917 people with class or one on one instruction either at the library or at one of our outreach locations, Westside Terrace and Long Falls High Rise. Out of the 917, we have gathered 880 surveys that contain feedback on the course instruction, the value of the content to each student and other information related to the BTOP Grant such as internet accessibility.
So just how important are we to the community? Just ask our students! They had a lot to say about our services. Out of the 880 surveyed students, 653 students or 74% reported that the PCC offers a necessary service that is not otherwise available to the local community. 94% or 827 reported that our class material raised awareness and they learned something new. Not only did our class content raise student awareness, 83% of our surveyed students reported an increase in confidence level as well.
When it comes to actual learning outcomes for our students, we had 755 people report that they had learned a digital literacy skill useful in some way. This is truly a significant result because teaching computer skills is the driving force behind all of our classes. We started the program with not only the mandate from the state, but the personal desire to spread digital literary in our local community. We are also very excited to proclaim that over all 90% of our surveyed students found our staff and services to be a valuable resource.
“I will highly recommend these classes because I didn’t grow up with computers and most employers require computer use” states one of our students who has taken our work force readiness computer classes offered at the Lowville WorkPlace. One of our library patrons provided feedback stating: “I will highly recommend this service. Definitely worthwhile for job seekers in our economy. This is an asset to our library and community". We appreciate all of the positive feedback from our students and patrons. All feedback is valuable in helping assess our effectiveness as educators as well as the quality of the class content. We want to ensure satisfaction from all of our students and patrons.
This new year also brings new educational opportunities to our students and patrons. For the month of February, the PCC will be starting a new program that will help patrons learn how to use the latest in technological devices such as e-readers, ipods, laptops, and digital cameras. Starting February 13th, every second Monday of each month, staff from the North Country Library System will be available from 1:00-5:00pm to assist people on a walk-in basis with their electronic gadgets. This is the perfect opportunity to come in a learn how to use your new kindle or other electronic gadget you may have received over the holidays.
At the library, we have noticed that e-readers have been growing in popularity over the last few months. Many Kindle, Nook, and other e-reader users don’t realize that the library has an e-media library. Patrons can now check out e-books from the system just like a regular book. There are, however, a few more steps involved in the process. Any e-mobile device such as an iPod, iPad, and other tablets can be used with the correct software. The Public Computing Center holds classes on downloading e-books. If you are interested in learning how to set up your e-reader to check out e-books, come in and one of our knowledgeable staff will assist you.
Looking ahead to March, The PCC is in the midst of putting together a new pilot program that would help our patrons enhance their computer office skills. Currently the PCC is working together with the Ogdensburg Attain Lab to offer Microsoft Certification computer courses. The series of classes are slated to start next month. The classes will be held via teleconference with the Attain Lab staff facilitating. PCC staff will be on hand in each class to help students with the class content. To achieve a certificate from Microsoft, students will have to complete the classes and then take the certification test at the Attain Lab in Ogdensburg. We are very excited to be offering this type of program for the first time at the library. Both PCC staff received Microsoft Certifications in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel through the Ogdensburg Attain Lab.
Our classes are continuing to grow in popularity and seats are filling up! Please call the library if you would like to sign up for a class or if you have questions about an upcoming class. With winter weather upon us, we ask our students to continually check the local news stations for class cancellations. If there are no afterschool activities for the Carthage School District, the PCC will not be holding evening classes. If you are unsure if the class you signed up for is cancelled or not, please call the library to check, 493-2620.
