The Roseboro Public Library welcomed several senior citizens Monday who were there to get help with their phones, as N.C. Cooperative Extension staff work to provide technology education through twice-monthly digital literacy drop-in clinics at Sampson County libraries.
Sydney Knowles is a digital navigator with the Cooperative Extension office, and twice a month she travels to a Sampson County library branch to host a drop-in digital literacy clinic, where anyone can receive assistance with digital technology. One clinic is usually held at the Clinton branch, while the other rotates between Newton Grove, Roseboro and Garland, Knowles explained.
The digital navigator explained that attendance varies and that she had tried classes in the past, but found one-on-one support works better “because people come in with specific needs.”
“Today was mostly phone assistance,” Knowles shared, explaining that she has helped people with email, computers, artificial intelligence, health portals, Microsoft Word, Adobe, Excel, tracking expenses and even Facebook.
She shared that people are “always very grateful,” adding that several have told her their “grandkids go too fast” when trying to help them. Knowles said she makes sure to go slowly and allows participants to perform the tasks themselves. Sometimes, she also provides written instructions for them to reference later.
Sharmaine Butler, one of Monday’s attendees, emphasized, “I think this is very beneficial,” adding her appreciation for the individualized, one-on-one assistance.
It was Butler’s first time attending a clinic, and she urged others “to come and learn.”
JoAnn Melvin also expressed gratitude for Knowles’ digital assistance. Melvin shared that her grandson had recently gone off to college and had gotten a new phone number, but she had trouble deleting his old number. She had accidentally sent a message intended for her grandson to someone else.
Knowles helped her correct the problem.
“She took her time and helped me, and she solved my problem,” Melvin expressed. “She made my question feel just as important as any other.”
Melvin also discussed how much staying in contact with her grandson meant to her and her appreciation for the assistance she received at the clinic.
Knowles explained that it will be two to three weeks before the next drop-in clinic and encouraged residents to keep an eye on the Sampson County Cooperative Extension website for information.
“I want whoever to come if they have questions, feel comfortable, and not feel silly,” the digital navigator emphasized, adding that people can also call or send an email and she will try to help.
“If I don’t know something, we can look it up,” she stressed.
Knowles explained that helping people with technology is important because “this is needed in daily life.”
The clinics provide assistance with technology used for a variety of everyday tasks, from communication and social media to health portals, computer programs and other digital services.
With four library branches located throughout Sampson County, the drop-in clinics are held at different locations to provide the service in different areas of the county. Knowles emphasized her desire to assist those who need technological help and encouraged residents with questions to attend future digital literacy drop-in clinics.