Senator Flanagan Partners With Emma S. Clark Library To Benefit Three Village Community

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently visited with the staff of the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library to view the facility’s impressive state-of-the-art Technology Center. The library utilized $10,000 in state funding that Senator Flanagan secured to offset the cost of the refurbished center including the acquisition of new computer equipment.

The Technology Center is used to offer classes to the public on a wide variety of subjects including those for beginners and others for more advanced learners. With this latest technology and software, the library hopes to add to their selection of classes for teens by offering such options as online video creation and editing.

In an effort to maximize the use of the state funding, all painting and wiring was done in-house by library employees. This allowed the library to use the grant money on new technology rather than construction costs.

Among the enhancements that were purchased as a result of the grant were three Vizio 55" wall mounted smart televisions, which have the ability to mirror the display of the instructor's machine, Apple TV and any other HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) capable hardware. This technology allows participants to follow along with an instructor during any class. Each television is also equipped with a floor level HDMI port for easy access to gaming systems or other external input devices.

For area students, the Technology Center also provides ten Dell computers with 23" LCD monitors which are wall-mounted to allow for a clean appearance and functionality. These computers are designed in a way that enhances learning because they are fast, reliable and equipped with some of the latest technology available, including Intel i5 processors, 8GB of memory, and wireless keyboards and mice. They operate on Microsoft Windows 8.1 and have Microsoft Office 2013.

For Apple-lovers, the library installed a Macbook Pro with Intel i7 processor and 16GB of memory which operates on Mac OSX Yosemite with a 256GB SSD drive. The Mac computer also has Microsoft Office 2014 and Final Cut Pro, which allows for video and photo editing.

“We are grateful to Senator Flanagan for this generous award which will help enhance the lives of our patrons, young and old,” says Ted Gutmann, Library Director. “Thanks to Senator John Flanagan and New York State, this new facility ensures that Emma Clark Library continues to offer its patrons the latest in technology, keeping it a modern library for today’s fast-paced world within its charming façade.”

“The staff and leadership of the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library has utilized this state funding to create a learning center that will enhance the lives of so many in the community. This new technology center has many different applications for young and old and is a great addition to this already impressive facility,” stated Senator Flanagan. “I am happy that we were able to work together for the benefit of the patrons.”

All classes held in the Technology Center can be found in the printed newsletter or online at emmaclark.org/newsletters. The library already offers adult classes on a broad range of topics such as the Internet, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Facebook, Pinterest, Smartphones and Tablets. Children and Teen programs include Minecraft and Wii U. Also offered are workshops and drop-in tech assistance for help with mobile devices in a small, personal setting. The library even offers a Teen Tech Clinic on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, where teens volunteer to assist adults with their computers and mobile devices.