TL Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Calvin Connor is expanding full-time to help the community with technology questions as a technology coach for the St. Clairsville Public Library. The new Cricket Cutting and Designing Machine is one of the tools and services available to patrollers.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Calvin Connor continues to help people with their technology needs after hours as a technology coach at the St. Clairsville District Library.
It was hired with a $29,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“His gift is now full-time.” Connor said. “I started in October, it’s been going on for about a year. Just renewed at the end of June. … Instead of four hours of overtime a day, we’ve got full-time hours, so now I’m paid to be here from 9 am – 5 pm … I’ll be full-time until next July. people”
Originally from Wheeling, Connor is now a resident of St. Clairsville and enjoys answering tech questions. Connor said library patrons will notice more programs, events and assistance.
“I have more time to focus on getting more support for the library, gathering technology, visiting places. We’re already going to the senior center, the high school and whatnot, but now we can do a lot of that.” he said.
“More technology, more video games, more VR headsets, what the kids and young people want right now and we’re looking to provide that stuff to the library.” he said.
He said that the amount of the service is also growing. Helped users with everything from help with web browsers to cleaning up malware.
“Just to get people to know and get my name out there in the community, people come in with a lot of appointments, get an hour of my time and sit down with whatever they need, and it’s become very popular in the last few months I’ve been here.” he said. “If they want to fill out a form, they have to create an email, their laptop has a virus and they want to bring it.”
Connor added that he built his skills with programs like Microsoft Office and took extra classes and graduated from Belmont College last spring with majors in cybersecurity and networking.
“Now I have a PC Tech Certification, I have a Networking and Security degree, I was working in my freshman year, so I’m technically a lot more qualified and my skills are even more advanced. In general, to help people instantly, they don’t necessarily have to make an appointment, just come in for 15 minutes. If they have questions, they can stop by and I’ll answer them. he said.
Library Director Doug Walsh said patron traffic has been up since the addition of a technology instructor.
“It’s really about bringing in people with new interests and seeing if the library can help them.” Walsh said.
Walsh also pointed out that new tools and equipment could be brought to the library.
“We’re looking at maybe 3-D printing and maybe some more gaming technology.” Walsh said.
Connor said the library also has a cricket cutting machine, which is proving popular.
“It cuts designs for you, so we’re setting up a design space where people can come and use the materials and crickets for free and buy vinyl to use in your projects. “ Connor said.
“It’s decorating projects, and people learn new skills, use math skills, computer skills by working with the Cricut.” Walsh added an advance grant that allowed him to purchase a cricket machine and make it available to the public.
The library is located at 108 W. It’s a main street.
