Evergreen Park Library Pairs Older Patrons With High School Helpers For Tech Support

A recently developed Tech Time Drop-In program at the Evergreen Park Public Library is already a hit with older patrons experiencing nagging problems with their phones, tablets and computers.

It’s also popular with the high school students who are helping to solve the issues for anyone who drops in from 1:15 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the library, 9400 S Troy Ave.

Only in its second week, a recent session drew a group of residents with questions ready.

One issue for patron Jayshree Soparawala, the first question involved trouble unlocking her iPhone quickly to access text messages.

That was a cinch for Israel Fagbulu, a senior at Evergreen Park Community High School.

“You can remove the touch ID, and then just open,” he explained. “You tap and hold on the app. Then you just have to tap on the message.”

The advice was refreshing for some of the less-tech savvy patrons who have sometimes experienced impatience when asking younger people such questions.

“I’ve been waiting for this type of opportunity, so we can learn,” said Soparawala, who also asked for help translating links and messages from her native Hindi to English, using her GPS monitor and accessing her financial information on the phone.

Across the room, Emilio Gonzalez, also a senior at EPCHS, was busy helping Ursula Slotkus figure out why her phone’s battery was losing juice so quickly.

“I’m technology challenged,” Slotkus said.

Evergreen Park Community High School student Emilio Gonzalez helps library patron Ursula Slotkus with a question about her phone during a drop-in Tech Help program Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Evergreen Park Public Library. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Gonzalez had a few tips.

“Usually a big reason is either apps running in the background or a lot of things open,” he said. “A good thing you can do is shut down your phone for five minutes and turn it back on because it reboots everything. Sometimes phones get the hiccups.”

Evergreen Park students Fagbulu, Gonzalez and Zackary Rosario cited a variety of reasons for attending the weekly sessions.

“It’s a great opportunity and gives us job experience,” said Gonzalez, who plans to go into computer engineering. “I wanted something that wasn’t a class but also gave me the opportunity to help people out.”

The library already offered a Financial and Digital Literacy program, but technology coordinator Jessica Ramos and other staff members noticed some seniors needed extra help.

Sometimes even just updating devices would stymie people.

“Everything is on the computer but how do you download the manual?” Ramos said. “You can’t move on until you set the update.”

Mary Black, the library’s head of Adult Services who helped organize and coordinate the new program with the high school, said there was “a real need” for one-on-one help.

“The kids will get this real-world experience and they’re helping out in the community,” she said, pointing out that younger people have grown up with the technology. “They’re natives — we’re not.”

Evergreen Park Community High School student Emilio Gonzalez discusses phone apps with library patron Michelle McSwain during a drop-in Tech Help program Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Evergreen Park Public Library. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Terence Masterson, who teaches business at the high school, helped create the partnership and said his students were excited about helping with tech problems.

“They love having the chance to share their knowledge and technology skills in ways that genuinely help others,” he said.

Masterson originally wanted some of his tech-savvy students to help the school’s IT team, but it is busiest early in the day and the students aren’t free until late afternoon. So last year, the students helped out at Central Middle School setting up Chromebooks for pupils and also at Mercy Circle retirement community.

Then he brought the idea of tech help to Black, who was all in.

“This could be a nice little tech time with the community,” Masterson said. “We’ve got some good students who took my computer maintenance class and it gives them a chance to help out in a real world situation.

“They’re exactly what you’d want — polite, have the background and knowledge, and are good-hearted,” said Masterson.

Soparawala said she hopes the program continues beyond May 6, when the sessions end for the school year.

“I hope you guys are here forever,” said Soparawala. “You’ll always be seeing me.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.