“The laptop has been helping me learn more. I like to use it because it’s easy and fun.”—Silvester G.
Silvester and other adult learners in the Read Santa Clara program have benefitted from the Library’s acquisition of six Dell laptops that help bridge the “digital divide,” using technology to help adults with limited literacy skills. They use the laptops both during weekly two-hour tutoring sessions and on their own to improve their reading, writing, math and computer skills. The laptops were made possible by grants from the Santa Clara City Library Foundation & Friends, the Mission City Community Fund, and through individual donations.
A frequent user of the Read Santa Clara laptops, Hiwet S., says, “I appreciate the people who donated computers for people like me to use. I used a computer for the first time after I joined the literacy program. I don’t have a computer at home. Now with the help of my tutor, I use a laptop at Mission library to check my email and find information on the Internet. I also use it to learn phonics with the Ultimate Phonics pro- gram. The laptop is really easy to use—I like it!”
To learn about volunteering for the Read Santa Clara program, call (408) 615-2956 or email readsantaclara@santaclaraca.gov.