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Digital Skills Support

Help Becoming More Tech Savvy

Somerset County Library continues its partnership with PA CareerLink of Somerset to offer a rotating series of Digital Literacy Workshops on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 5 PM – 6 PM. These workshops are a rolling series of classes designed to prepare people—especially job seekers—to pass the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment and earn official certificates that could help set them apart from other job applicants. But the skills learned are useful in everyday life. Watch the @SomersetCL Facebook events page at https://www.facebook.com/SomersetCL/events for upcoming topics and contact CareerLink to register at 814-445-4161.

Another opportunity to become more tech savvy happens every week on Tech Thursday from 4 PM to 8 PM by appointment only. These one-on-one technology tutoring sessions can help you learn things like how to use a variety of devices, navigate websites, use the library’s online resources, or learn how to use programs and apps. Call the library at 814-445-5907, ext. 117 to schedule an appointment with Jennifer Hoffman, Digital Navigator Program Coordinator. 

  • As part of Tech Thursday, we offer appointment only sessions on learning about hotspots through the Library Hotspot Checkout Program. These sessions cover everything from how to make payments and access support to understanding how the hotspots work. Appointments are available Wednesdays from 12:00 – 12:30 PM and Thursdays 6:00 – 6:30 PM. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit the Library Hotspot Internet Checkout Program – Somerset County Library . 
  • Digital Learn Digital Literacy Outreach Workshops. Somerset County Library is able to offer Digital Learn Computer How-To Classes at other community locations. Organizations may request that library staff present any of the classes found on the website at https://www.digitallearn.org/ at their site, and library staff will do their best to accommodate all requests.  Organizations wishing to schedule a class to be taught at their location should contact Jennifer Hoffman, Digital Navigator Program Coordinator, at 814-445-5907, ext. 117.
  • Need one-on-one tech help? Make an appointment with our Digital Navigator Program Coordinator, Jennifer Hoffman. Call the library at 814-445-5907, ext 117 or click to schedule an appointment with your Digital Navigator.
    • get help setting up a new phone or device
    • get help navigating a website
    • get help learning how to use a program or app
    • get help setting up your cloudLibrary e-book account

Other digital skills programming schedules vary, and content is aimed at helping people of all ages build digital skills and learn to independently make effective use of technology to perform daily tasks and to improve their personal and professional lives.

Grow with Google and Google Applied Digital Skills Classes

As a Grow with Google Partner, Somerset County Library offers periodic special Grow with Google and Applied Digital Skills Classes on a wide range of topics.  We also have an online Applied Digital Skills Classroom where you can access self-paced, on demand classes. Watch the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SomersetCL/events for specific upcoming real-time virtual or in-person topics. No appointment needed. Past Applied Digital Skills Classes in Somerset County Library’s Personal Enrichment Series Online are curated under the Class Code: 8gqs3f. To access these and other self-paced online classes:

  1. Go to https://g.co/AppliedDigitalSkills/GetStarted
  2. Create a GMAIL account to use with the Applied Digital Skills classes, or login using a GMAIL account you already have.
  3. You will be prompted to select a reason why you are using Applied Digital Skills. Select I’m a student.
  4. Enter the Class Code: 8gqs3f and click
  5. Click Yes, Join to join the Personal Enrichment Series Classroom.

Once in the classroom, you may take any of the past Personal Enrichment Series online classes. You may also select Browse Lessons to see additional learning collections, most of which are free of charge, such as College Readiness, Start or Grow Your Small Business, and more.  You can also search for lessons on specific topics and filter by intended audience or digital tool. Note: As of the time of publication, there is one learning collection, Google Career Certificates, that has a fee associated with it.  Scholarships are available for Google Career Certificates through a partner library.  Contact us for more information.

Need a Desktop Computer?

People aged 18 and older can apply to be given a free desktop computer plus 2 years of tech support through Somerset County Library’s Digital Navigator Program and our partnership with Computer Reach, a digital equity and inclusion nonprofit in Pittsburgh with which we partner to distribute Computer Reach Computers. Fill out the form here: SCLComputerGiveaway . As staff time and computer availability allow, we schedule computer pickup per SCL’s  Computer Reach Computer Giveaway Bundle Distribution Policy. . (One computer per family)

SCFLS STEAM Initiative

As the headquarters library of the Somerset County Federated Library System, Somerset County Library hosts or takes out into the community a variety of workshops, summer camps, Clubs, and special programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics with financial assistance from the SCFLS STEAM Initiative, a K-12 educational improvement organization eligible to receive tax-incentivized donations from businesses eligible to receive Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credits (see https://scfls.org/steam-initiative/  for more information on the STEAM Initiative). Ongoing year-round STEAM Initiative programming that takes place at Somerset County Library include a weekly STEAM Club on Mondays at 6 PM and a monthly Inventor’s Club on the 1st Saturday of each month at 1 PM encourage attendees to explore a variety of topics in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on activities.  These year-round offerings target ages 7 or 8 and up but are open to all ages. Younger attendees would require parental assistance.

Watch our Facebook events page at  https://www.facebook.com/SomersetCL/events for specific upcoming class, club, and workshop topics and for updates on these and other library programs.