“Getting Reading for the Holidays” Two Computer Workshops at Canton Public Library

Storm Alfred disrupted our lives and our calendars, but the holidays are still on the horizon.  A pair of workshops, “Getting Ready for the Holidays,” originally scheduled for early November, has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 10, still in plenty of time to ease our holiday preparations.

On Saturday, December 10, Sarah Eiseman returns to teach “Photo Editing with Picnik” in the morning, from 10:30-12:30, and “Online Shopping” in the afternoon, from 1:30-3:30.  The workshops will make use of the library’s new mobile computer lab.  The lab and the workshops are funded by a technology grant from The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

            Modern technology makes taking pictures and editing them easy, or should we say “a snap.”  Photo editing with a program such as the web-based Picnik allows the amateur photographer to create beautiful one-of-a-kind albums and holiday cards.  And many of us know it’s time to move some of those hundreds—or thousands—of photographs from the computer or camera into print form for sharing. 

For “Photo Editing with Picnik,” workshop participants should be comfortable using a computer; the workshop is not appropriate for total beginners.  Participants should bring a USB flash drive with their own photographs on it to work with.  Concepts covered in the workshop will include cropping, adjusting file size, fixing “red eye,” enhancing colors, and more.  The workshop is limited to 14 participants.

Online shopping makes our lives easier and certainly saves on gas.  But how do we know where and how to find the best deals?  And which online shopping sites are the best and most reputable?  The second workshop of the day, “Online Shopping,” will help you become more successful at finding just the right gift for that special grandchild or that hard-to-shop-for friend who already has everything.

The “Online Shopping” workshop will cover the basics:  fun sites to check out, how to comparison shop, search tips, setting up wish lists, security concerns, to name a few.  Registration is required and limited to 20 participants.  The workshop is not specifically “hands-on,” but the computer lab will be set up so that participants can try out their new skills and knowledge.

Sarah Eiseman is an experienced library technology instructor and has worked in human resources and recruiting before beginning her library career.  She is currently Reference Assistant at James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford.

Both workshops are free, but spaces are limited and REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.  Canton Public Library is at 40 Dyer Avenue, Canton.  For information:  (860) 693-5800 or www.cantonpubliclibrary.org