BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Public Library is offering digital literacy classes that cover everything from setting up an email account to using Microsoft Excel.
AmeriCorps member Katie Caldwell said she joined the Upshur County Public Library team in August to help the community tackle technology issues and learn how to use everyday devices.
“My station here at the library is to help establish some digital literacy classes the library can offer, and to collaborate with organizations in town like the senior center and Mountain Cap to offer classes there,” Caldwell said. “I’m currently offering office hours where anyone can come in with technology they need help with, or any questions that they have. A lot of people get gifted a tablet for Christmas and have no idea how to use it, and a lot of people need help just setting up an email or something like that. That’s what I’m here to help with.”
The classes are through a program called Northstar, where there are pre-made classes that cover general topics, like computer safety or computer basics, and advanced classes for Microsoft Excel.
“It offers about 16 classes, and they all come with pre-made curricula and lesson plans that I can work with, but it’s very needs-based,” Caldwell said. “We’re just working on getting people’s schedules together. That’s also a lot of it because people who are already retired, or people who are still working, their schedules are completely different.”
The classes are free, paid for by an AARP Community Challenge Grant the library received in 2025, according to the library’s website. My Buckhannon reported at the time that the $20,000 grant would buy laptops, internet hotspots and a smart screen so the classes could travel to sites such as the Upshur County Senior Center.
The Upshur County Public Library’s website and Facebook page have more information, as well as Caldwell’s email and phone number to schedule classes.
“You can find a Google form that I’ve set up that has you put in your name and generally what days you’re available, and then of those 16 classes, you can check a box of the ones you’re interested in, and then it has a place for you to put anything else you’d like me to know,” Caldwell said. “I’m really focused on offering one-on-one time, offering office hours, finding out who needs help, and then what does that help look like? Because a few people might need help with basic email stuff, basic computer safety stuff, and that’s a very different class than Microsoft Excel.”
Caldwell said she was inspired to become an AmeriCorps member because she wanted experience teaching adults and to get out into the community.
“I graduated last year. My degree was in printmaking and drawing, with a minor in education. I taught after-school art for a year, and then I was also a substitute teacher; I did long-term elementary school subbing for about half a year,” Caldwell said. “I taught fifth grade, and I loved that so much, I thought this would be a really neat opportunity to take a year off of subbing and interact with teaching adults and older folks and broaden my horizons.”
Caldwell, a West Virginia Wesleyan College graduate, said that until now she had mostly known Buckhannon’s art community.
“I wanted to meet community members who’ve already been doing work within digital literacy, and broaden my horizons that way as well,” Caldwell said. “Digital literacy is something I’m generally passionate about, especially with the rise of AI.”
Caldwell witnessed members of her own family struggle to navigate a world that has shifted to be so reliant on technology.
“I did elder care for my nana and pop before they passed in 2022, and even at that time, everything on the medical side was mainly through the phone or setting up appointments online. Very little of it was done in person, and it was really hard to navigate,” Caldwell said. “I had to help manage a lot of that with them, so I’m familiar with the struggle and all of the hoops you have to jump through. I also have a friend who works at Community Care in town, and she’s told me how difficult it is to help people who have no contacts, no idea how to set up the appointments.”
Caldwell’s office hours are Mondays from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and every third Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Upshur County Public Library. Her office number is 304-473-4219, extension 082, and her email is katie.caldwell@upshur.wvlibrary.info.
Help Wanted
The Upshur County Commission is hiring a part-time (19.5 hours a week) library technician or assistant at the James W. Curry Library and Park in Brooks Hill. Read more →
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