PORTSMOUTH – Connect Ohio is pleased to announce the Portsmouth Public Library is a partner in the statewide Every Citizen Online broadband training project and is providing free basic computer training to adults at 5 locations throughout the Scioto County area.

The free computer and Internet basics course is helping area adults connect and communicate online in ways many people take for granted. The classes helped one nurse learn basic computer skills in order to save her job, according to Becky Schultz, technology coordinator at the library.

Over the past three years, an ECO participant who is a nurse, has progressively moved to smaller nursing homes for work- as a way of dodging requirements that staff must have a working knowledge of computers.

Now her present employer is requiring that she must learn computer skills or lose her job.

Schultz states after taking the ECO classes, the participant was able to keep her current job and is, “progressing very nicely and is not as apprehensive about using computers.”

Portsmouth Public Library has already had 306 participants register for the Every Citizen Online training classes, resulting in 176 Scioto County adults completing the training and taking advantage of this beneficial resource.

Below is a list of Portsmouth Public Library’s upcoming class schedule:

 

Portsmouth

• Nov. 14 & 15 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

• Dec. 5 & 7 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Dec. 12 &13 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

 

Lucasville

• Nov. 28 & 30 from 2pm – 5pm

 

New Boston

• Dec. 15 from 10am – 5pm

 

South Webster

• Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Participants can register for the free training by contacting the library at (740) 354-5688 ext. 204.