Article and Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
At the Silver City Public Library on Thursday afternoon, a couple of dozen laptop computers were set up for viewing and use in the conference room.
People chatted as they sat in front of the computers and waited for the celebration to begin. Some ate cake and fruit, and drank juice.
Silver City Public Library Mobile Digital Lab celebrated
Silver City Public Library celebrates Mobile Digital Lab
A cake was on hand to add to the festive occasion
Silver City Public Library celebrates Mobile Digital Lab
Tom Hester points to something on the screen of the computer Frost McGahey is using.
Silver City Public Library celebrates Mobile Digital Lab
Kim Clark talks about how important she thought the project was.
Silver City Public Library celebrates Mobile Digital Lab
Lynda Aiman-Smith speaks about her volunteer work to expand broadband Internet access to the area.
Silver City Public Library celebrates Mobile Digital Lab
Bayard Public Library Director Jody Decker, left, chats with Silver City Public Library Director Eileen Sullivan, at right.
Library Director Eileen Sullivan named the partners for the project and welcomed representatives from each group.
Partners include the Bayard Public Library, Literacy Link-Leamos, WNMU, Workforce Connections, New Mexico Economic Development Department, the New Mexico Broadband Project, the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, among others.
Kim Clark, representing the Community Investment Fund Committee, served as the CIF Champion for the library request for funding. She, at a ceremony earlier this year, gave the library director the check for what has become a mobile digital lab, which can be used outside the library.
"I thought it was an important project," Clark said. "I spent many hours in this library as a child. I'm an avid reader."
Christine Logan, the regional representative of the NMEDD, said the focus of the representatives is to support community, business and rural development. "We work in the community to build capacity. This is a perfect example. We also have a commitment to help people prepare for jobs, and this lab will help them develop their skills."
Lynda Aiman-Smith, Silver City town councilor, said she is very involved in the broadband project as a volunteer. "Everyone wants, fast, reliable and affordable Internet access. We have difficulties with supply here, but it is getting better. Another issue we have is with demand. We have to see that people will use it, before other providers will come in. We want fast, reliable and affordable service for our community, for those who can and want to use it."
Sullivan said one of the trainings to be held would be to train the trainers. She asked for those who might be interested in pursuing the training to contact her. The phone number at the library is 575-538-3672.