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The Brown County Library offers free lessons and 16 computers
with Internet access. All you need is a library card and some free time.
Free for all
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By Steve Laux
Dot Com Magazine
Totally free Internet access. Yes, it is possible. No it is not the latest start-up Internet Company whose
3 million-dollar commercial aired during the Super Bowl. It is your local library.
Every day, people of all backgrounds and age groups pull up a seat at their local libraries and travel the world
with their right index finger. The Brown County Central Library at 515 Pine Street in Green Bay is no exception.
"We have many types of people searching for all kinds of information every day," states Rosalie Shier,
Head of Adult Services.
She remembers the day in1995 when David Troupe, founder of Green Bay Online, approached the library with the idea
of providing them access to the Internet. "He expressed an interest in making the possibilities of the Internet
available to everyone," explains Shier.
And so on November 16, 1995, with the help of local businessmen Don Long and Robert Schaefer, the first Internet
terminal was open to the public. By the end of 1997, they boasted 6 terminals that were made possible with funding
from the Nicolet Federated Library System. Today there are 16 Internet terminals throughout the library and they
have a web site at www.browncountylibrary.org.
So how does one log on at the library? All you need is a library card and some free time. You can sign up for a
thirty or sixty minute session in person. If there is not a terminal available when you arrive you can reserve
a time slot up to a week in advance.
The best part is that the friendly library staff offers free hands-on training for those who might be computer
shy. One-on-one lessons can be scheduled by appointment and can take place before, during or after hours. The basics
of computers will be covered in these lessons, beginning with introducing you to your mouse, basic computer functions
and the Internet. Shier has seen many seniors take advantage of this service and she relishes seeing the light
bulbs go off in their heads. "Don¹t let the young people have all of the fun," is her favorite advice.
For those with a bit more computer experience, slightly more advance classes are offered monthly by Green Bay Online.
These classes also take place in the library, are free and involve question and answer sessions and large screen
demonstrations. The next session is scheduled for March 29th from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
"The best part of this job is that the unique requests from the public push me much further than I would go
on my own," cites Shier. Some common activities of the library Internet users include employment searches,
checking e-mail, reading news, and general research. As for herself, one of her favorite sites is http://newsdirectory.com
which is a site where newspapers from the U.S. and worldwide can be accessed from one central location.
For further information about lessons or time slot availability at the Central Library call 920-448-4400 x371 or
consult your local branch. |
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