Brown Library is hosting a series of basic computer classes for the public, thanks to a grant and funds from Friends of Brown Library.

The first class of the series was offered yesterday at the library where four local residents participated in learning basic computer skills like turning the computers on and off, setting up an email address and basic Internet searches, said Aimee Piper, volunteer instructor. Another class will be held today, as well as classes on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22, all of which are from 10 a.m. to noon.

The purpose, Piper said, is to give a head start for those who haven’t been exposed to much technology.

“It’s to create a baseline so patrons can go forward and do more advanced tasks like searching the Internet and keeping in touch with friends and family,” Piper said. “We want to make sure our patrons have the skills necessary to get around in 2015.”

Piper moved to the area from California about a year ago and has been volunteering at the library ever since, she said. Through her volunteerism, Piper and library staff noticed patrons were frequently asking questions about basic computer use.

Soon after that realization, the library was awarded a Library Services and Technology Act grant. According to Gloria Moore, Brown Library director, the LSTA grant funded three Dell Latitude Internet-enabled laptops, three Microsoft Office 2013 licenses, five Symantec Endpoint Protection for Small Business Edition 12.1, one HP LJ Pro wireless printer and one toner cartridge. LSTA funds awarded by the State Library of North Carolina are made possible through funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. Friends of Brown Library, a group that supports the library through fundraising, was further able to purchase three additional laptops for the library and its patrons, according to Piper.

“The library got super lucky and won a grant that allowed us to purchase the laptops and Friends of Brown Library was able to match,” Piper said. “It’s a really fantastic group that supports a lot of activities that we are able to provide for residents. So it made a whole lot of sense to offer these classes. We finally had the resources to do so. It was really an organic process.”

Piper said the library’s patrons are currently able to use computers at the library for a 60-minute time limit. With the new laptops, patrons will be able to checkout a laptop as long as they have a library card and are in good standing with the library. The laptops can be used to search for jobs, apply for employment and other functions. With today’s world being centered around technology, with more things, like job applications, becoming paperless processes, Piper feels the grant and funding from the Friends to buy the laptops is an asset to the library, she said.

“The laptops will allow job-seekers to complete quality job applications and resumes without the fear of running out of time,” Moore said. “The wireless printer will allow patrons to print on the spot rather than have to save the document to print at another location.”