BRIDGEPORT – Vincent Calderon, 57, recently decided to major in general studies at the city’s Housatonic Community College.
But Calderon realized that before getting a higher education, he needed to learn everyday skills that many people, including professors and students, take for granted.
“I ended up leaving (Housatonic) because using a computer was difficult for me. It’s not like the old days. Everything is computerized,” said Calderon. “I felt like a ‘fish out of water’ many times.”
Thanks to a new program started by the city’s public library system, Calderon is working to improve his technology skills. Launched in early October, the digital navigator test program lends mobile devices – Chromebooks, laptops and small wireless “hotspot” Internet boxes – and provides individual instruction on how to use them.
“Our goal is to distribute 500 mobile devices by December 31,” librarian Elaine Braithwaite said in a statement. “We know the need is there, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Andre O’Connor, 33, an assistant librarian at the downtown branch, is a staff member who has been teaching program participants.
“It’s the first time I’ve met everyone, I’ve signed up for a machine, I’ve given them my calendar and they’ve booked hourly sessions with me, as long as they want,” he said. “We sit down and whatever their level of knowledge is, that’s where we start. I’ve had people who have never even opened a computer before. Some have but they don’t understand what a web browser is.”
O’Connor said the global coronavirus crisis, which after hitting Connecticut in early 2020 closed many public and private institutions and restricted gatherings, has revealed how dependent many Bridgeport residents are on finding computers at neighborhood library branches.
“We found out that many donors have nothing, or can’t access anything,” he said. “We saw a huge demand here.”
And even after the COVID health regulations were gradually lifted, things like online meetings and working from home remained prevalent.
“We’ve had many patrons join (the digital navigator program) because their doctors have switched to tele-health (internet consultation),” O’Connor explained.
Others are trying to search for better jobs or just want to have video chats with family members.
As of Tuesday, 230 people have signed up for the screening effort and the library has distributed 115 cell phones. Participants are loaned technology for three months, and can extend that for another three months. Anyone interested in getting more information can, if they have access to a computer, visit bportlibrary.org or call the library number, 203-576-7400 and say they want to register.
“Every staff member knows the plan,” O’Connor noted.
Funding and equipment is through the Federal Communications Commission’s emergency connectivity fund and business partners Verizon and T-Mobile.
Ideally, Braithwaite said, the program will be successful enough that the city can find a way to sustain the effort “for the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile, Calderon, who learned about the volunteer project in the library program, said a month later “I learned a lot.”
“They helped me a lot,” he said.
And eventually plans to re-enroll at Housatonic.
“When I know enough I can go back and have confidence and know what I’m doing,” said Calderon.
