broadband@yourlibrary

New Rochelle Public Computer Center:

Broadbandexpress@yourlibrary

New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) is the recipient of a two-year grant, ending September 1, 2012, to create a Public Computer Center. The funding was provided through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP)

• All aspects of NRPL’s PCC became fully operational by December 1, 2010.         

Purpose

• The NRPL PCC provides free public access computing services to the general public with a focus on services for the unemployed and underemployed and other vulnerable populations, including individuals in need of social services, including the physically disabled, seniors, individuals with little or no English language proficiency, and others.
• Services include, but not be limited to: digital literacy training; workforce training to help job seekers with locating employment opportunities, resume preparation,
• test preparation, interviewing skills, teleconferencing, job research, completion of online applications etc; assistance for small businesses; and access to
• essential e-government and other online resources for healthcare, education, social services and citizenship.

Computer Lab (3rd Floor)
An enhanced Computer Lab on the library’s third floor is used
for training classes instructed by NRPL trained librarians and contracted instructors.

Training Sessions include:

• Internet for Beginners. Internet for Beginners –
  Spanish Speakers,
• Intermediate Internet,
• Microsoft Word (four two-hour sessions),
• Microsoft Excel (four two-hour sessions),
• Microsoft Excel (four two-hour sessions),
• E-Mail Basics, and How to Scan and Upload Documents.
• Computer Basics (in English and in Spanish and possibly
  other languages.)
• Keyboarding, In-depth Microsoft Office, Creating PowerPoint Presentation, etc…
• Resume writing,, Cover Letters, interview skills
• Test-taking such as Learning Express
• GED

BTOP Help Center
Located on the library’s 2nd floor conference room, the center is equipped with three computer stations and easy to read
resource guides.

The activities of the Help Center include these
one-on-one services:

• job readiness sessions (drop-in until appointments are required) with a trained coach/advisor (two days per week);
• assistance with completing e-forms for food stamps and other benefits,
• on-line job applications, immigration papers, etc... by appointment with a librarian on dedicated time (three sessions a week);
• help with navigating social service agencies and benefit opportunities, provided by a bilingual social worker employed by one of New Rochelle’s
  local social service agencies (two sessions a week.)
• small business counseling provided by SCORE volunteers will continue meeting in this room on Monday evenings.

Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing capabilities will be introduced in the future
and will be available for free use by New Rochelle municipal departments, organizations and local businesses, when the Help Center is not in session;

Learning Center
A Computer Learning Center in the library’s basement, adjacent to a classroom used by ESL classes conducted by Westchester Community College (WCC).

This facility has Seven workstations with complete Microsft Office suite. Four times a week (a weekday afternoon, two evenings a week, and Sunday afternoon), the Computer Learning Center will be open for computer neophytes and novices to hone their typing and technology skills, with on-site guidance provided by a computer assistant.

2nd Floor Computer Center
A New Bank of Individual Computer Stationsserve on the 2nd Floor serve the computer needs needs of job-seekers.

One-session seminars:
NRPL will continues to bring in speakers to address topics in financial literacy, affording a home or college, maintaining good health and energy while seeking or changing jobs, and other related topics.

Classes focusing on job-readiness skills are provided by by partners such as Community Capital Resources, Women’s Economic Development Center, WEBS Career & Educational Counseling Service, Small Business Association, and other library partners.

Technology Instructions
NRPL librarians and a technology instructors offer instructions for these training sessions:

• Internet for Beginners. Internet for Beginners –
  (English & Spanish),
• Intermediate Internet,
• Microsoft Word (four two-hour sessions),
• Microsoft Excel (four two-hour sessions),
  Microsoft PowerPoint (four two-hour sessions)
• E-Mail Basics (English & Spanish)
• How to Scan and Upload Documents.
• Computer Basics (in English and in Spanish)
• Mouse & Keyboarding, (in English and in Spanish)
• Resume writing,, Cover Letters, interview skills
• Test-taking such as Learning Express
• GED
• Online Job Searching

The New York State Library, a unit of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department (NYSED), has been awarded $9.5 million in a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to expand computer access
in public libraries across New York State. The funding is being provided through the American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunity Program.