By Khalida Sarwari
Apple has its Genius Bar, Best Buy has a Geek Squad and now the Saratoga Library has the Tech ToolBar, offering free tutorials on commonly used handheld electronic devices. Got a Kindle for Christmas that’s been sitting in a corner because you’re still not sure how to use it? This might be the time to blow off the dust and bring it along on your next visit to the library.
The service is targeted at people who find that navigating and operating portable devices isn’t intuitive. In repsonse to their frustration, the library introduced its Tech ToolBar service to give new users an opportunity to try their hands at multiple devices and play around with the various features. During certain hours in the morning or afternoon, a librarian or coach will be available to assist and guide users, offering help with downloading information electronically, such as eBooks, eResources or even songs from a favorite artist.
The Tech ToolBar gives residents a chance to practice downloading educational tutorials, books and music without fear of causing something to go haywire, said Councilwoman Emily Lo, who serves as the chairwoman of the Santa Clara County Library District joint powers authority.
“Residents using our Tech ToolBar have the opportunity to learn new skills from a knowledgeable librarian in a comfortable, stress-free, quiet environment and experience firsthand how to effectively use the different electronic models,” said Lo.
This is a good time to take advantage of the numerous free materials that are available to patrons around the clock. To date, the library offers more than 90,000 eBooks and hundreds of eResources, including eMagazines and eAudiobooks.
To access them, the library encourages patrons to either bring their own electronic device or use any one of four devices offered at the Tech ToolBar. And there’s something for both Apple and Android fans: Apple iPad Air 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.5, Kindle Voyage and Microsoft Surface Pro 3.
The Tech ToolBar was initially piloted in 2013 at the Cupertino Library and expanded to Campbell and Los Altos this year. Saratoga is the fourth district library location to provide the service.
The Saratoga Library Tech ToolBar is open Monday and Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m., and Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Anyone unable to visit during those hours can make a one-on-one appointment with a librarian or Tech ToolBar coach by calling 408.867.6126. For more information and detailed instructions for downloading eResources, visit sccl.org/Browse/eBooks.
Link: Genius Bar? Geek Squad? No, but library has its own Tech ToolBar
