Manlius — Patrons at the Manlius Library now have the chance to experience a wider array of technology thanks to the addition of two MacBook Pro laptops and Adobe Creative Suite software, which are available for use in-house for cardholders.
“It’s important for the library to stay up-to-date to be able to provide services our patrons are looking for,” said Emily Lunceford, digital technology coordinator at the Manlius Library. “We’ve gotten a lot of requests for products such as Photoshop.”
The MacBook Pro laptops join a group of 10 existing Windows laptops, and are available for cardholders ages 18 and older to use at the library for up to two hours at a time. Also new, patrons can now use the whole collection of Adobe Creative Cloud software, which includes products such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Illustrator and Premiere Pro, among many more.
Lunceford said she hopes to incorporate Adobe software into the technology courses and activities that are offered at the library. The library’s laptops and computers can be used to access its database collection, including Lynda.com, BusinessInsight, ancestry and consumer reports.
Providing patrons with technologies is an important service of the library, said Lunceford, because there are many people who cannot afford to stay up-to-date in the ever changing world of technology.
“In today’s economy, it’s difficult for many to keep up with the digital world. The library is happy to provide their patrons with this access for the good of the community,” said Lunceford.
The funds to purchase these new technologies comes from a $25,000 grant that the Manlius Library received last August through the aid of Assemblyman Al Stirpe, from the New York State budget to allow for needed repairs and renovations and to improve energy-efficiency in libraries across the state.
Lunceford said the library was able to purchase the Adobe software at a discounted price through TechSoup, an organization that helps provide libraries and non-profits with technologies and related services at a discounted price.
Some of the money from this grant was already used to update the former quiet reading room, which was renovated into a teen and technology center. The new room was unveiled at the Manlius Library’s centennial celebration on Oct. 17.
