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10/16/2024 08:30 AMIt has been a lifelong goal for Liz Melo to work at a library. Now, Liz is living that dream and helping the public by working as the new tech guide at the Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton.
It’s no that secret technology is playing an ever-increasing role in most people’s day-to-day lives, even in comparison to just a few years ago. From Zoom meetings for work to online doctor appointments and seemingly every store having its own app, access to technology has become something of paramount importance. However, this also means that people who are struggling with technological issues are at a disadvantage.
To combat that, the Henry Carter Hull Library launched a tech connection program in conjunction with Clinton Human Services in 2023. The previous tech guide left creating an opening, and Liz jumped at it.
“I’ve worked in libraries my whole life, so when I saw this opening, I was very interested,” Liz tells the Harbor News.
Liz began her new role at the library in August. She says the job consists of holding regular workshops on different issues related to technology, as well as providing basic tech support to those who need it.
“Anything and everything they need help with, I try and help them through it. Mostly, it’s been a lot of phones people need help navigating, Facebook, and a big one is helping people use MyChart to get their health and doctor appointment info,” Liz says.
The position is a part-time one with Liz available to help from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. So far, Liz says that interest in the program is growing.
“Once people realized that I’m here, the interest has been picking up. It’s become more popular, for sure,” Liz says.
As for the workshops, Liz says the next one will be on how to use Google Docs.
“It’s going to be on the basics—what it is, how to use it, why people use it. I don’t have an exact date yet, but it will be at the end of October,” Liz explains.
Anyone who is interested in the workshop can get more information by visiting: www.hchlibrary.org.
The best part of the job for Liz is when she is able to provide assistance to people who frantically come in for some help.
“Just today, I had some one come in very stressed because they couldn’t access a debit card they needed to be able to pay their bills, and I helped them set that up, so they could get to their money. It’s good to be able to help calm them down,” says Liz.
However, Liz admits that she doesn’t know everything.
“It can definitely be hard when someone comes to me with a problem, and I don’t know how to fix it, and I do my checklist of tricks, and I still have to tell them it’s above my ability to fix their problem,” Liz says.
Liz’s aspirations to work at a library date back to her time as a high school student.
“I volunteered to work in my high school’s library. I basically coerced our high school librarian to let me do it because nobody had ever done it before. I basically created my own job there, and the rest is history,” Liz says.
In addition to her role in Clinton, Liz is also an assistant librarian at Chester’s library.
“I do similar stuff there. Some tech support, checking books out, run programs, reading to kids—pretty much a little of everything,” Liz says. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and I really like it.”
In her spare time, Liz enjoys spending time with her dogs, hanging out with friends and, of course, reading.
Liz grew up in Manchester and now lives in Niantic, but the experience of working in Clinton for the past two months has already left a positive impression on her.
“I definitely love the community here at the library. The repeat customers and patrons, whether they’re here to see me or not, are so nice. It’s just nice to see a familiar face, and I really do enjoy spending time with this little community here,” Liz says.