Library looking for families with no working home computer

(Seguin)- The Seguin Public Library is hosting a computer giveaway. The library is teaming up with the nonprofit company Compudopt in hopes of giving away refurbished laptops to families so that they may thrive in today’s digital world.

Assistant Library Director Hannah Farmer says Compudopt will be accepting registration through this Friday for all those families who currently do not have a computer at home.

“It just asks them a couple of questions including that question, do you have a working computer at home? If you answer no – if you do not have a working computer but maybe you have a working tablet – that doesn’t count. They are asking specifically about a computer like a laptop or a desktop computer and then you would qualify and like I said, Compudopt does a lottery system and we will draw the number of names that they have devices for and contact those families,” said Farmer.

Those randomly selected will also receive a two-year warranty on the laptop along with free tech support.

According to Compudopt, more than 41 percent of families still lack access to a computer at home.

They say this impacts family time, the ability to do homework and can even create social barriers.

Farmer says while the local library provides access to computers, there is still a large need for families all over.

“I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but what we find is that a lot of people have smart devices and mobile devices like their smartphones and tablets but fewer and fewer people have working computers and there are still a lot services that you need a full computer connected to the Internet to do job applications. Then there are some government websites that require like the Smart ID program and some of those things, you just cannot do with a mobile device. Furthermore, a lot of people are using their mobile device data and not necessarily connecting to Wi-Fi so one other service that the library provides are mobile hotspots for checkout so that people can actually connect to an internet connection and not be using their cellphone data,” said Farmer.

Farmer says if more folks register than there are devices, then the organization says it is committed to do another random drawing. To register, scan the provided QR code or visit bit.ly/CUDSeguin.

The link can also be found on the Seguin Public Library Facebook page.