Library Chromebooks

Chromebook laptops are coming to seven metroarea libraries and will be available for checkout thanks to a grant from Google.

They’ve got “book” in their name, but these aren’t your grandpa’s library books.

Google Chromebook laptops are coming to seven Oklahoma City metro-area libraries and will be available for checkout for up to 21 days at a time thanks to a grant from Google. The laptops are part of the “Tech Tools @ Your Library” program, which is being launched Thursday by The Metropolitan Library System and Google’s charitable program, Grow with Google.

The program is designed to assist those who may not have access to a computer or internet at home and will also include the ability to take mobile hot spots home with the computers.

“Oklahoma City is outpacing the nation in many categories, including job growth, but many residents still need to connect with resources that can help them expand their skill set or grow their business, “Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in a statement. “We are excited about this Grow with Google program that will harness the power of the web, the accessibility of our library system and OKC’s growing economy to make a real impact in our community.”

Library users must complete a workshop at a participating library in order to check out the equipment. These workshops are designed to improve computer skills for practical and professional use.

“It’s honing in on what it means to have digital skills and online tools,” said Andrew Silvestri, Google’s head of community affairs for Oklahoma. “It’s basically striving to create a foundation of digital skills that job seekers and applicants can go to future employers with a base understanding of how to use those tools and skills.” Workshops include:

• Classes to improve English speaking, use of technology and job seeking skills at the Edmond Library

• One-to-one assistance on how to operate the devices at the Del City Library

• An adult class on career-building skills, communication and job searching at the Capitol Hill Library, as well as a teen class on building skills to succeed in postsecondary education or the entry-level job market

• Online job-seeking and computer skills at the Southern Oaks library

• Coding programs for teens, job-seeking and skills-building classes for adults as well as intergenerational-focused topics designed for families that enable students to build mentoring skills with their parents, friends or other family members, at The Village Library

• The “Ready for Success @ Ralph Ellison” program will teach digital skills to formerly incarcerated customers at the Ralph Ellison Library

A soft launch for one of the programs was held at The Village Library, where librarian Elisabeth Wright taught a class of children ages 8 to 14 some of the basics of coding.

“It’s been a six-week club, and it’s been a basic introduction to coding and computer programming,” she said. “The kids have been able to take the Chromebooks home to keep working on their projects at home.”

The kids in Wright’s class have seemed to enjoy the program and already have asked about continued programs, she said.

This kind of service would not have been possible without the assistance from Google, Metropolitan Library System spokeswoman Kim Terry said. The library system has 120 Chromebooks and 80 Wi-Fi hot spots to check out.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do that without the Google grant,” Terry said.

Google’s charitable program, Grow with Google, included a two-day training event for small businesses and job seekers at the Devon Boathouse last year, and held the OKC Impact Challenge, which awarded four local nonprofits a total of $250,000.

To protect against theft or misuse, the laptops and hot spots can be shut off remotely. If something is stolen, lost or simply not returned — it can be shut down. If a laptop is infected with a virus, it can be wiped clean. Furthermore, the laptops are relatively minimalist and additional software can’t be downloaded, Terry said.

Mayor Holt is to formally announce the program at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol Hill Library.