Published July 9 2015
We live in an increasingly online world, and computer skills are essential for navigating everyday life. Job and school applications, utilities or social services, and even communicating effectively in school or business require solid online skills. Fortunately, help is at hand.
Once a week through the end of the year, librarians from the King County Library System will be available to teach basic computer skills at Mini City Hall at Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 NE Eighth St. On Thursdays, noon-2 p.m., librarians will offer one-on-one assistance to help online newcomers establish and use an email account, learn to apply for jobs, schools or social services, and how to search the Internet for reliable information.
Librarians with laptops will be available at a table right outside Mini City Hall. Though usually a drop-in service, appointments may be necessary if the demand is high. People can make appointments in the Mini City Hall office. Spanish language assistance will generally be available on site, as well as a Russian interpreter from the Cultural Navigator program. Interpreters for other languages may be available by phone using the KCLS Language Line.
This partnership between KCLS and the city will help area residents better understand basic computer technology, learn to navigate online services easily and become more confident in their own online life skills.
For KCLS online assistance details, contact reference librarians Maria Mark, mmark@kcls.org, or John Tun, ttun@kcls.org, at the KCLS Bellevue Library, 425-450-1778.