Community technology center opens at library

An open house celebration was held May 31 for The Edge, the new community technology center, located in the Midtown Carnegie Branch of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, 397 E. Central St.

According to the library, The Edge debuted April 22 with hundreds of free courses for students, adults and seniors. The Edge is located in the lower level of the west wing of the Midtown Carnegie Branch, which is nearly 100 years old.

The Edge is designed to give families, students and library patrons of all ages easy access to technology and instruction in the use of computer software and hardware.

Several classes already have been scheduled through the end of August. University of Missouri workshops, taught in Spanish, as well as online tutorial classes, also are available.

Jazy Mihalik, director of The Edge, is working with several partnering agencies Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, Midtown Neighborhood Association, Ozarks Technical Community College's Adult Education and Literacy Program, Springfield Public Schools and the University of Missouri Extension to design workshops, classes and training programs for targeted audiences.

The Edge is funded by a one-year federal grant of $220,037 through the U.S. Office of Vocational and Adult Education, $25,000 from the local Jeanette Musgrave Foundation and $150,000 from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. A complete list of courses is available via the library's Web site at http://thelibrary. springfield.missouri.org.