Kalona library launches tech help Thursdays

KALONA — Library staff have started hosting twice-monthly “Tech Help Thursdays” at 10 a.m. on the first and third week of every month. Library Director Trevor Sherping said the program was prompted by growing requests for IT assistance.

“For several months, I was getting requests from some patrons that had pretty much no experience with computers, I had people that had never touched a computer before,” he said. “And I had people who were a little experienced with using apps on their phones and stuff, but it was tax season and they needed a little more in-depth help on how to use computers since they’re such a huge part of our life.”

The library recently received three new laptops from the city of Kalona, funded by money from the American Rescue Plan Act. With those in hand, Sherping said the library could launch the program.

“Once we got those, I started advertising a dedicated time … where I’m in the program room,” he said. “Right now, it’s just kind of like a walk-in thing. If you have a question, whether it’s smartphone, app-related, something you want to learn how to do on a computer, or you’ve never touched a mouse before, you can come in and get help from me.”

For now, Tech Help Thursdays are fairly unstructured. Sherping said that was intentional.

“I am kind of curious to see where it goes in the future, if it’s going to develop into more of a continuing education thing,” he said. “Right now, I’m purposefully leaving it open just to see what kind of needs there are in the community.”

Sherping said he felt the tech help sessions were part of the library’s duty to the community.

“The great thing about public libraries is that no two are exactly the same, they work best when they respond … directly to patron and community requests,” he said. “People don’t realize we’ve always done tech help, helped people with resumes, file taxes sometimes, apply for benefits like unemployment.

“ … a lot of that is invisible to most people in the community who don’t use those resources, but they’ve always been there. The short and sweet of why we should do it is because that’s what our community has requested for us.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com