NARRATOR: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

Welcome to "Sense of Community."

I'm Jennifer Moore.

Tonight's guest is sharing how pretty much anyone in our community can take advantage of free classes to learn about technology, including computer programs used in nearly every office.

Eva Pelkey oversees The Edge program at the Springfield Greene County Library district, and she's going to walk us through the options available.

Join us to see if there might be something for you.

NARRATOR: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Eva Pelkey, thank you so much for joining us tonight.

My pleasure.

We have a great conversation ahead of us.

But before we begin, I want to remind our viewers that we are sitting farther apart than usual because we are maintaining required distance to be safe for the coronavirus pandemic.

Also, all of our crew in the studio tonight are wearing masks.

Tonight, we are talking about a special program offered through the Springfield Greene County Library district called The Edge.

So begin by telling us, if you can, what is The Edge, and what types of free classes are available through it.

Sure.

So The Edge is kind of an exciting part of the public library.

It's located in the lower level of the Midtown Carnegie branch library on Central and Jefferson, and it's just a free community computer class center.

So we offer free training on everything from basic computer skills like using a mouse, how to left click versus how to right click, all the way up to more difficult software programs such as Excel or the latest version of Windows.

Wow.

Who all uses the edge classes?

Just a little bit of everyone.

We see a lot of retirees, a lot of folks who are reentering the workforce after a period of time.

Because the classes are so broad and have sort of such a general appeal, almost anyone can find something valuable there.

Even people who have been in the workforce for the last 20 years often find, myself included, that they need to brush up on certain skills such as PowerPoint or Excel, or they need a little one on one help to accomplish a certain task that they're trying to do on the computer.

Yeah.

You mentioned PowerPoint, Excel.

I also noticed looking at the calendar that file management is one of the classes there, just internet basics.

Right.

For folks who did not grow up with computers, and any of us who have tried to help older family members or folks who are not computer savvy use a computer or a smartphone or a device, we know that's a challenge.

We don't always have the vocabulary to talk about those things.

We don't have the same frame of reference that some of the younger generations have.

So we really start off very slowly with how to-- what a file is, how to click on a file, how to open or delete a file.

And then as people progress through the classes, they can take them multiple times if they need to, and we do have patrons who come in and take the same basic class over and over again until they feel comfortable.

And we have some that just fly through all of the classes that we offer.

Internet safety is another class that has been pretty popular-- learning how to create safe passwords, what not to share online, what to look for when you're on the internet so that you can protect yourself and your personal data.

So what role do these classes play in our wider community?

Well, I think it's extremely important for workforce development.

At the public library, we see so many people who come in, and they don't have the computer skills that they need to even fill out a job application, particularly if they've been out of the workforce for a long time.

If you think about those online applications, you need to know how to use a mouse.

You need to know how to tab from field to field.

You need to know the format that the application requires you to put in your zip code or your country.

So those things are really impossible to bridge sometimes if you don't have a trainer or you don't have someone who can teach you.

So particularly for people returning to the workforce, it's invaluable.

But for anyone, really, who is lacking a skill, there are just not a lot of free opportunities to build your skill set.

Mm-hm.

Yeah, that's what really caught my attention is that they are good quality courses and that they are free to patrons.

EVA PELKEY: Absolutely.

Where are the Edge classes based?

They are in the lower level of the Midtown Carnegie branch library, which is on the corner of Central and Jefferson.

So if you go in any door into the Midtown library, you'll just go down via elevator or stairs to the basement.

And you'll see The Edge clearly marked on our lower level.

So we mentioned that there is no cost to participants to take these courses.

How are they paid for?

The library pays for the staff who man The Edge and also for the programs that are offered there and for the upkeep.

The Edge originally started as part of a grant.

And since then, the library has absorbed those costs.

So really, it's the taxpayers of Greene County who are paying for these classes, which is why we think it's so important to make sure that people know about them and take advantage of them because it really is a taxpayer-funded service.

Who teaches the classes?

Library staff do.

They are called training associates, and they specialize in teaching computer classes and in kind of higher computer aptitude than maybe the rest of us.

So they are extremely knowledgeable about the different programs that they're training patrons on.

They are extremely patient.

They are able to work with folks from a very basic level to folks who are really puzzling through a more advanced or difficult problem.

So again, we're talking about The Edge.

It's a community technology center based on the ground floor of the Midtown Carnegie Library in Springfield.

I'm wondering if you can think of a story or two to share of someone who experienced one of these classes and how it impacted their life.

Sure.

We see that every day.

So because the edge is located in one of the public library branches and is a part of the library, we're able to see people as they take computer classes and then also just as they come in and use the library on a daily basis.

So we frequently get to catch up with folks who have come in and sort of honed their skills down in The Edge and then graduate to our public computer lab in the library and fill out job applications and come back with success stories Frequently-- I can't even think of just one specifically.

But frequently, we have people who have learned what they needed to master in order to apply for the job that they wanted and then be successful in that job.

Great.

During the pandemic, a lot has been going on at the library district, and one of those projects is called the maker space.

EVA PELKEY: That's right.

This is really exciting.

What can you tell us about the maker space?

So the maker space is a relatively new offering that the library and The Edge have presented.

We started last year.

So we're just about a year old.

We sort of previewed it in the time of COVID.

So we had a soft open.

But the maker space is exactly that.

It's a place where people can come and they can be creative, and they can access different tools that they might not have access to at home.

JENNIFER MOORE: And so what are some of the things that people are making there?

EVA PELKEY: So we have a glow forge laser engraver.

We have a vinyl cutter.

We have two soldering stations, a heat press, and we have two 3D printers.

We also have a machine that can scan 35 millimeter slides and preserve them in a digital format and a machine that can take VHS tapes and preserve those in a digital format as well.

So we are seeing all sorts of creations coming out of the maker space.

The 3D printers are most often used for little pieces of hardware that someone needs to replicate.

So that they don't have to buy a whole new piece of whatever it is that they're missing.

Lots of people come in and create little tokens for games.

So if you lost a piece of a board game or you're playing a role playing game that relies on little plastic figures or die, you can create those things with the 3D printer.

Wow.

And is there a cost to patrons to use that, to use a 3D printer?

There are no costs to use the equipment.

The only things that we charge for in the maker space are just minor costs for the cost of the plastic filament for the 3D printer and then the cost for the vinyl, if you use library provided vinyl on the vinyl cutter.

Oh, that's fascinating.

And so can patrons get those resources, those materials, there?

EVA PELKEY: They can.

Or do they-- they can.

EVA PELKEY: Yes.

Wow.

EVA PELKEY: Yes.

That's amazing.

So people bring in their own vinyl.

Generally, they will have a certain type that they would like to work with or a certain color they're welcome to use ours as well it may be a little bit more limited palette than what you would find if you were just browsing online for your own.

And I know you've brought a few examples of things that have been created through the 3D printer here or at the maker space.

EVA PELKEY: Yes.

JENNIFER MOORE: So-- EVA PELKEY: Yes, and some of these are indicative of the types of things that business owners and nonprofits are coming in to use, and some of these were just created by the teens that frequent our public library when they, you know, took their turn on the 3D printer.

So I wanted to follow up about something you said about converting old VHS tapes, I think, to-- what is it?

What format?

DVD or digital format?

We can convert it to a digital file.

OK.

So you can save it on a USB drive or an SD card.

Got you.

Do you find that people are starting to learn about the maker space and use it?

Yes.

Slowly, word has started to get out, and I think a lot of it is word of mouth.

We had a patron in this morning using the soldering stations, and she said that she tells everybody that she knows about the maker space, particularly when they ask how they could make a little extra money doing some sort of creative side business.

A lot of the tools that are in the maker space are things that you may only need to access once, like the slide converter so it's not worth buying that for your own use.

Or it may be something that you want to try out creatively, like the glow forge, but you're not ready to invest in that to have one in your own home.

So it's a great sort of middle ground to get your feet wet.

Tell me more about the glow forge.

What is that and how does that work?

The glow forge is a laser engraver.

There are commercials for the glow forge everywhere.

So this seems to be sort of the hot new thing for home hobbyists and crafters.

It is a laser engraver.

So it can actually burn a design into a piece of wood, acrylic, glass, cardboard.

You can make signs with it.

Folks have made their own jigsaw puzzles because it will cut thin pieces of wood or cardboard.

We've had business owners come in and burn their business logo and design on a piece of barn wood so that they could hang that in their business.

So it really is only limited by your creativity.

Now you are the branch manager of the Midtown Carnegie Library in Central Springfield.

I am wondering if you could help us visualize where these different parts of your library branch are physically in the library.

EVA PELKEY: Sure.

I think most people know, you know, in the Springfield area, at least, that the main parking lot is just north of the library, and they walk in that-- the door by the parking lot.

Right.

Where is, for example-- how do you get to The Edge?

How do you get to the maker space?

That is a great question because that is the first thing everyone asks once they hit the door.

Because we are such an old building-- the building was built in 1905-- we've been cut up just a little bit.

So it's not always the most natural flow of traffic.

When you park on the north side of the building, you can either enter through the stairway, or there is an elevator that will take you to the first floor.

If you walk across the first floor of the library to the central street entrance, so just a straight shot across the first floor, there is a stairwell that would take you downstairs.

If you come in and you make a left when you come into the building, there's also an elevator that will take you down to the basement.

So there are two ways to access the basement.

Once you get down to the basement, there are signs all over the place because we know it's kind of a maze.

And if you exit the elevator, you're going to turn right, and The Edge will be on your right.

And if you're coming down the stairs, The Edge will be immediately on your left.

JENNIFER MOORE: Excellent.

So it sounds like the maker space in particular is quite a busy place or could be quite a noisy place.

How does that work with a library, which is typically very quiet?

So this is where it actually benefits us to have three floors in the library.

The edge computer lab itself is in one room, and then down the hall just a little bit, we have a special room just for the maker space so that we don't have that problem and so that people can spread out a little bit when they're working on whatever creative pursuit they're working on.

So there is-- going back to the resources at The Edge, there is also a virtual option for people who can't or don't want to come into the library branch.

What all is available through that virtual option in terms of classes and learning?

Sure.

So we have several options to learn outside of traditional Edge classes.

One is called tutorial session, and if you look at our Edge calendar, we do the calendar three months at a time.

So you can plan the class schedule that you'd like to attend.

But it's listed as a tutorial.

You can come in and use one of our computers, and you can sit down with a self-paced video tutorial addressing many of the same skills that Edge classes address and a lot more besides.

Its on demand.

You can do it at your own pace, and there's also a staff member available should you get stuck or need clarification.

We also offer a program through the library called Udemy, and Udemy is a database of just thousands and thousands of video courses.

And they cover everything from very specific technical programs like how to use Salesforce or QuickBooks or Excel to things like soft skills-- leadership, conflict management, customer service.

So anything that you can think of, really, that you might need as you're looking at a job or you're wanting to brush up your technical skills, there's a very good chance that Udemy offer something that will benefit you.

You can use it at The Edge, but you can also use it from home using your library card through the library's website or even on your smartphone.

OK, so to use the program Udemy-- and that is spelled U-D-E-M-Y.

To use that program, you do need a library account or a library card number?

If you are using it from home, if you want to access Udemy through the library's website from home.

If you do not have a library card number but you'd still like to take advantage of the program, if you come into The Edge, staff there can get you set up with an account to use while you're there.

And that's fairly new, right, Udemy, or at least new to the library district.

It is.

For many years, we had a program called Lynda, which was L-Y-N-D-A, and recently replaced that with Udemy.

And Udemy has just as many offerings, if not more, than Lynda had available.

What are-- I know you said there are hundreds, thousands of videos.

What are some of the more, I guess, common ones that people would seek out on Udemy that you had seen?

It is a little bit hard to track because people's interests vary just as much as the people do that come in to use it.

There are a lot of very technical programs, software programs like QuickBooks-- QuickBooks is a really popular one-- things that are specific to it fields or sales fields that people might seek out.

And we find ourselves recommending quite a bit those soft skill tutorials, communication skills.

Public speaking is one that they offer specific training on, things like that that you might not think you are going to learn from a video tutorial.

And so if somebody has a library card and they want to get started on looking through those videos on Udemy, how might they do that?

Right, so you can just go to our website, which is thelibrary.org.

And you will go to the Research page and find a whole list of the databases that are available.

They're usually in alphabetical order.

So you can just scroll down to the bottom and find Udemy.

You can also go to thelibrary.org/udemy as a shortcut.

OK, great-- so thelibrary.org and then the Research page and then go find Udemy on there.

EVA PELKEY: Yes.

If someone in our area needs help with technology or computer questions, they can also reserve some time with an actual Edge staff member, right?

EVA PELKEY: Absolutely.

In person.

EVA PELKEY: Absolutely.

So during those tutorial sections on our calendar, patrons can also reserve time to just sit down one on one with an Edge staff member and work through whatever specific challenge they may be facing.

So this could be a specific skill that they need help with.

Frequently, it is a patron bringing in their smartphone, their tablet, or their laptop and asking for help with a specific function.

Staff are so well-versed in a variety of different issues.

They have-- I have seen them help someone with a smartphone straight out of the box, explain what it's capable of, and help that patron understand what their priorities are and how to do the basics.

They have helped folks with more advanced features of their computer configuration and computer setup.

And they have talked many patrons through setting up a Facebook account and just navigating social media, which can be a steep learning curve if you've not done that before.

We have a lot of patrons who come in and say, my kids tried to help me with this and it didn't go so well.

So sometimes it's nice to have a third party who is very patient and understands the process to work you through those things.

Yeah.

Is it encouraged or acceptable-- it sounds like it might be in some cases-- for someone to bring their own technology device in like a laptop or a smartphone?

Yes, that's what we prefer.

JENNIFER MOORE: OK.

It's always helpful for the patron to be using their own device, the one that they're going to be using at home.

And the Edge staff member can sit down with them and look at that actual device.

And you know, things vary sometimes between device, device.

So it's really nice to have in hand what you're going to be using at home so that you know that the instructions apply to you specifically.

I'm curious whether The Edge classes have continued throughout the pandemic, or have they changed?

Have you seen any ebb and flow or more interest, less interest in them?

We took a little pause when the library district as a whole shut down for a couple of months, shut down our physical buildings during COVID, and have slowly started to restart classes.

So we've seen a little bit of a dip, and things are starting to pick up again.

It's a little bit apples to oranges right now because we didn't have the maker space pre-COVID, and that's taking up a lot of folks' attention and a lot of time as well.

So it's really starting to be a busy place again and humming down there on the regular.

So it's really exciting to see folks come back and be excited about the new things that we have to offer.

And our library district here in Springfield Greene County is-- it has been referred to as one of the best in the country.

And I think what you said really taps into one of the reasons why, and that is because it goes well beyond just lending books.

It's-- EVA PELKEY: Absolutely.

--truly a community hub and a community resource, and I think you really feel that at your branch as much as anywhere.

Absolutely it's one of the most rewarding jobs I think there is to see so many different people in the community from so many different walks of life come in with their own particular mission in mind and find something that's meaningful for them there.

JENNIFER MOORE: Yeah.

We're almost out of time, and I'm going to put you on the spot a little because you are the branch manager of the Midtown Carnegie Library, as I've said.

And I'm just amazed every time I go into that library by the architecture and the beauty.

Can you tell us even just a little bit about the history of the building and the significance of it?

Absolutely.

So the Midtown Carnegie branch was the first public library in Springfield.

It was started in-- well, construction started in 1903, and the library opened in 1905.

And we've been a working public library ever since.

It's an original Carnegie Library.

So philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided the startup money, $50,000, if the city of Springfield would agree to match those funds for the continued functioning of the library.

I know a lot of historical meetings have taken place there over the years and that the library really tries to pay tribute to that.

There-- just in general beside, The Edge and the maker space, there are wonderful outlets and periodicals and newspapers.

That is one of the things that I like to enjoy when I go there.

What's your favorite if you were to pick one?

Absolutely.

My favorite library service?

Yes, or your favorite area-- Oh my gosh.

--in the Midtown branch.

That's almost impossible to decide.

Right now, I'm really excited about some of the things that our children's department is doing.

Once COVID happened, there were a lot of things we couldn't do, like regular story times.

And the staff in the children's department and all of our children's departments across the district have really thought outside the box for ways to continue to help kids be inspired to read and work on literacy skills.

So there's always something going on.

There's always a takeout bag or a craft or some sort of literacy activity that families can come in and do with their child while they're in the branch and then take home and work on at home as well.

And speaking of literacy, I believe the Ozarks Literacy Council is actually housed there as well.

Yes, absolutely.

They're also in our lower level.

So if you are lost on your way to The Edge, the only other thing you're going to find on the lower level is the Ozarks Literacy Council.

They've been with us for a number of years, and they provide free one on one tutoring to adults and children.

And it's just an absolutely amazing service.

And as a library, it's phenomenal for us to be able to send folks right downstairs if we realize that they're struggling with literacy, and they can talk to someone immediately.

Wow.

And lastly, coming out of the pandemic, or at least we hope so, entering a different phase as the vaccination rate continues to climb slowly, what do you foresee in terms of changes for the library and goals, if any?

Well, I think right now, we're just extremely excited to revisit the services that have always been successful for us and to see our patrons come back in person and feel comfortable being in our branches.

We've just started a new strategic plan, and we're looking at ways that we can make the library an even more integral part of the community, organizations that we can partner with, ways that we can rethink traditional library service to reach more people, particularly maybe people who don't already come into our buildings on a regular basis.

Eva Pelkey, branch manager for the Midtown Carnegie Library in Springfield, thank you very much.

I've really appreciated hearing about these programs.

Thank you.

It's my pleasure.

And if you are unfamiliar with these programs at the library district, we want to leave you with some websites and phone numbers where you can go to learn more information.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

Good night.

NARRATOR: Here is where you can find more information about the topics covered in this program.