Somerville Library has free resource for those who need help using a computer keyboard
SOMERVILLE – The borough’s branch of the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ has a new free resource available for those with or without a library card who need help using a computer keyboard.
The device, an adaptive keyboard called a Maltron Keyboard, fits the shape of hands and the different lengths of fingers to reduce movement and tension, has tilted keys and pads to further reduce muscle tension, has straight vertical key columns to eliminate tens of thousands of finger and wrist twists in a day's work, and more.
The Maltron keyboard is available to all customers of the Somerville branch on West End Avenue during open hours.
"We - as a branch, as a system - wanted to look at helping anyone that walks into the branch," said Rebecca Crawford, branch manager. "This keyboard is designed for anybody with mobility issues in their hands. This gives us the option to say, 'you know, we have this special adaptive keyboard that we can plug in, that you can use anytime you're here at the library.' We want to have something that you're comfortable with and something that you can use to make your digital traveling easier."
The keyboard was purchased with funds awarded in 2022 by the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive, supported by AT&T. The program supports libraries to conduct digital literacy training and help close the digital divide.
"We want to try to do everything we can to help someone in the best way that we can," said Rachel Bohach, adult services library assistant. "Once we received the magnifier donation, then we started thinking of all the things that could be possible and what we were missing."
More:Edison's Clara Barton Library closed to prepare for move to new location
Both Crawford and Bohach urge customers to not hesitate to ask for the device."Please don't come in and say, 'We don't want to bother you'," said Crawford. "It is no bother. This is easy for us to set up. We want to set it up for you."For more information, call 908-458-8445 or email somerville@sclibnj.org.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerville Library has free resource for those who need help using computer keyboard
