Ready To Learn a New Skill?

Looking to learn a new skill? This month, we are offering a wide range of computer classes.

• Basic Computer Skills  Tuesday, April 1, 10:00 am
• Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint  Wednesday, April 2, 6:00 pm
• Advanced 3-D Modeling  Saturday, April 5, 2:00 pm
• Introduction to Microsoft Excel  Wednesday, April 9, 6:00 pm
• More Basic Skills  Thursday, April 10, 10:00 am
• Internet 1  Tuesday, April 15, 10:00 am
• Web 2.0 What is it?  Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 pm
  

All the classes are held in the Computer Lab on the first floor of the library. No sign-up is necessary; there are 8 computers and the first 8 people will be able to join the class. So come on down and learn something new, you’ll have fun, stretch your brain a little and meet some new people!

Janice

 

Savings Calculator

I saw something interesting on the Martin County Public Library site and thought I would pass it on to all of you! It is a Savings Calculator showing how much your library saves you each month. It is provided through the State Library of Florida and is really pretty darn interesting. Go ahead and give it a try!

Did you even know that we had a state library? We do and it actually is a wonderful archival source as well as providing a variety of services for the people of Florida.

 

Websites and tv?

Have you noticed that more and more websites are being advertised on tv and radio? I was recently in Colorado and saw a cute ad for a website called DexKnows. I didn’t know if the site only provided info for Colorado, but checked it out when I got home. It is actually a pretty cool site which I passed on to our reference librarians. So what does Dex know? Dex provides white and yellow page information, compares business profiles side by side, provides maps and directions, saves your favorite businesses and locations, and plans itineraries for you. Yes, there are other sites that do similar things, but I think Dex deserves a look!

Since coming home to Florida, I have heard another website advertised on the radio: EmployFlorida. Once again, this is a site you should check out if you are job searching or pass on to someone who is. Employ Florida links all of Florida’s workforce services—state and local—to each other. The state partners are Workforce Florida, the state policy and oversight board, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the state agency which administers workforce funds. At the local level there are twenty-four regional workforce boards that administer close to 100 “one-stop centers.” Together these organizations represent the Employ Florida network of workforce services and resources. The state and local boards are composed of educational, governmental and private business resources to address local workforce needs. Definitely, a website worth checking out!

 

Upcoming Computer Classes

FYI

We have three computer classes coming up in the next couple of weeks.

1. Internet 1: Thursday, October 29 10:00 - 11:30 am
2. Beginning PowerPoint: Monday, October 29 6:00 - 8:00 pm
3. Internet 2: Tuesday, October 30 10:00 - 11:30 am

I do not have a lot of classes planned for November and December as I have found from experience that people are not interested during the holidays. I am planning a couple of things though. I have a wonderful volunteer who will be doing a “Get that Job” class on Saturday, November 10. It’s a great class which will include learning how to not only put your resume online, but what you need to include to create a resume that will stand out. To see what else is being offered the next few months, check our website or our events calendar.

 

Pew Internet and Hobbies

Have you heard of the Pew Internet and American Life Project? According to their website, “The Pew Internet & American Life Project produces reports that explore the impact of the internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. The Project aims to be an authoritative source on the evolution of the internet through collection of data and analysis of real-world developments as they affect the virtual world.”

This week they released a report showing that “fully 83% of online Americans say they have used the internet to seek information about their hobbies and 29% do so on a typical day.” Looking for information about hobbies is among the most popular online activities, along with shopping, surfing the web for fun, and getting news.

After thinking about this a little, I realized that I use the Internet on a regular basis to get information about my hobbies. I have looked for crochet patterns for a particular project, found earring and necklace patterns for beading projects and done major research on my family genealogy…all without leaving home!

How my life has changed over the last 10 years or so… all because of the Internet!!! If you are reading this, you can probably relate! One of my jobs here at the library is teaching computer classes and I love to introduce the internet to newcomers! Newbies are always amazed at what they can do! Whether it is the weather, directions or information about a hobby…they are fascinated.