Olean Public Library Schedules Fall Computer Classes

OLEAN — The Olean Public Library, along with public libraries in Jamestown and Dunkirk, will offer area residents several opportunities this fall to learn basic computer skills.

Classes will be offered in cooperation with Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES with support from the New York State Library’s Adult Literacy Library Services grant program.

Students will meet for six two-hour sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The first introductory course runs Sept. 9 – 20.

Other six-part courses covering the same material will start on Oct. 16 and Nov. 4. More classes will also be available early in 2014.

“This will be helpful if you are wondering about the most basic computer questions,” according to Library Director Lance Chaffee.

The course covers computer terms, turning terminals on and off, using a mouse, navigating the Windows operating system, creating letters and resumes with Microsoft Word, and saving to different computer drives. Students also learn how to set up, send and receive email and use the Internet for purposes such as job searching.

Classes, which are free and open to the public, will be offered through videoconferencing in Olean and Dunkirk and in person in Jamestown. As the grant recipient, the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System has opted to deliver instruction through these libraries’ public computer centers.

For information or registration in Olean, visit the library at 134 N. 2nd St., or call 372-0200.

To sign up at the other locations, call the Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, at 484-7135, or the Dunkirk Free Library, 536 Central Ave., at 366-2511.

May 2012 Calendar of Events

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A Very Busy Week For the Olean Public Library

The patrons of the Olean Public Library shouldn’t be bored this week!  There are many programs available if they need something to do.

All this week, during normal library hours, the library is hosting the ARVAS Aquarium and Tropical Fish show.  Please come and take a look at all the entries and then vote for your favorite ones.  Winners will be announced at the end of the week.

Tuesday from 12:30-1:30pm join us for our Brown Bag Book Club.  This month’s selection is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.  Bring your lunch and come and discuss the book. Beverages and dessert provided by Friends of the Olean Library, Inc.

Tuesday at 6:30pm, join us at the JCC’s Magnano Room (adjacent to the Cutco Theater) for Give “Peas” a Chance: Food as a Global Commodity with Bill Meiers.  Mr Meiers is an English and Humanities instructor at Arcadia University and this is part of the Community Reads series sponsored by JCC Olean and the Olean Public Library.  Mr. Meiers’ visit sponsored, in part, by the Katharine Jackson Carnahan Endowment for the Humanities.

Join librarian Michelle LaVoie at 11am on Wednesday for a class on using Hotmail.  In this class, participants will learn how to sign up for a Hotmail e-mail account, and to compose, edit, and send messages.  Please call the Reference Desk to sign up.

Then Wednesday at noon, join us once again at JCC’s Magnano for a panel discussion entitled Organic Food and Farming, Agricultural Subsidies, and the Farm Bill – How Can Local Farmers and Local Food Economies Succeed?  A panel of local farmers will share their experiences and knowledge. Bill Meiers will facilitate the discussion.

Wednesday evening is the library’s monthly Board Meeting.  The public is welcome to attend.

Join Anna Bush for a workshop entitled Supporting Your Children In Transition to the Workforce Wednesday evening at 7pm.  In this workshop, you will explore the changing constructs of our culture that have made the transition into adulthood and the workforce very different for our children than it was for you when you graduated from high school. By understanding these differences, you can make better choices as you guide our children into adulthood.  Please call the Reference Desk to reserve your spot!

Finally, on Thursday at 7pm, join Christina Lopez for a Windows Foundations class.  This class will familiarize beginners with the Windows operating system. Participants will learn Windows basics such as how to open a program, size and move windows, and use scroll bars. Files and drives will also be covered.  Please call the Reference Desk to sign up.

All events are free and open to the public.

The library is located at 134 N. 2nd St., Olean, NY 14760.  Our phone number is (716) 372-0200.

Hope to see you at these events!

 

April 2012 PCC Classes

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Public Computing Center Turns a Year Old!

On January 22, 2011 the Olean Public Library held the official grand opening of their Public Computing Center and in February started offering computer & employment classes along with one on one computer tutoring.  In one year the library has been able to offer 43 classes on computer or employment related subjects for a total of 80 class sessions.  559 people have attended the classes.  239 people have utilized the one on one computer tutoring also offered by the library.

The library has also been able to expand its collection of materials (both paper and electronic) with regards to the subjects of computers, job searching/resume creation, small business creation, and employment testing.  Several electronic databases are available to help with skills building, resume creation, job search, and interview preparation.  These databases can be accessed with a valid library card from the comfort of a patron’s home from the library’s web page (www.oleanlibrary.org).

The Public Computing Center is made possible by a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) award.  The Olean Public Library is one of thirty libraries across New York State participating in this grant.

As the Public Computing Center enters its second year, the Olean Public Library would like to invite everyone to take advantage of its offerings.  Join our mailing list by going to www.oleanlibrary.org and click on the link on the left hand side or call us at (716) 372-0200 to sign up for a class or one on one tutoring.

Classes and tutoring are free and open to the public.  The Olean Public Library is located at 134 North Second Street, Olean, NY.