Library offers unique ways to talk to family this Holiday Season

WCPL Release:

For most of us, spending time with family and friends is an important part of our holiday celebrations. But in today’s society, coordinating all the family members’ schedules or traveling long distances to visit loved ones can be difficult or next to impossible.

The Wells County Public Library offers a unique way for people in this situation to communicate using in-house netbook computers with wireless internet access, web cameras, and Skype capabilities that allow users to both see and talk to family online.

“The updated netbooks have helped the library keep up with the ever-growing demand for computer access at the library,” Stephanie Davis, Director of the Wells County Public Library, said. “Everything is going online – job searching and application, federal assistance, auto registration, tax filing, and even communication with our families and friends. It seems that the library can never have too many computer stations.”

The sixteen netbooks were purchased thanks to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Anyone can borrow them to use inside the main library or the Ossian branch, as long as they have an active library card and valid driver’s license.

“The portable netbooks are great for those who need a longer time period, a quiet setting or need to work in a group,” Davis said. “Patrons with laptops have always been able to use the wireless connection anywhere in the library; now all adults will have that opportunity.”

In addition to internet access, the netbooks have basic word processing software and will be upgraded in the next few weeks to include Microsoft Office 2010.

According to Christine Will, Systems Administrator at the Wells County Public Library, the netbooks can also be used to watch DVDs and allow users more freedom when looking for information online or performing general tasks.

“Due to network security in the library, certain Web sites and software are restricted on our public access computers,” Will said. “The netbooks connect to a separate wireless network, so patrons who are unable to accomplish certain tasks on our other computers can use the netbooks. The netbooks are then restored to their original configuration once they are rebooted.”

Complete information on how you can borrow a netbook to communicate with family or for general use is available at the front desk at either branch of the Wells County Public Library. For more information about the library, it’s services and programs, visit www.wellscolibrary.org or call 260-824-1612.