MILLPORT, Ala. — Millenials and Baby-Boomers: Mawmaw may soon be sending you a Facebook friend request.
Senior citizens in Millport will have the chance to learn the basics of operating a computer — from turning it on to navigating the Internet — at the Millport Public Library beginning 2 p.m. Monday.
Despite aging computers and limited workstations, the Millport Public Library has between 10-12 people who have signed up for the training, which will run Monday through Thursday at times to be announced later this week.
The early interest wasn’t totally unexpected, as librarian Linda Ferguson had previously spoken to a handful of residents who expressed interest in learning to operate a personal computer. Most of the early interest, Ferguson said, has spread by “word of mouth.”
“I think that’s amazing,” Ferguson said. “We’ve had two meet-and-greet sessions thus far, and we’ve based our curriculum on that feedback.”
Glenda Blanchard, of West Alabama Regional Commission Senior Community Service Employment Program, will teach the class.
“I think our seniors will love the fact that another senior will be teaching them,” Ferguson said. “They’ll feel much more comfortable.”
Ferguson said the ceiling for the program is limitless, as they’ll explore more detailed programs like Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint and eventually help class members how to determine legitimate web sites.
One of the distant but more ambitious goals of the program is to help seniors find cost-effective Internet options for their home and help set up home computers for browsing.
“Being as rural as we are, Internet options cam be limited,” Ferguson said.
Anyone interested in signing up for the program can contact the Millport Public Library at (205)-662-4286 or visit the Millport Public Library Facebook page.
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