BBCC donates computers for community

Big Bend Community College has donated eight more computers to the Ritzville library for the community to use. The computers will be located downstairs in the library and will be available for full use sometime in the next few weeks.

There are already seven computers at Ritzville High School and five at Lind High School that have been donated by Big Bend. All of these computers are being donated because of a grant that Big Bend received earlier this year.

LeAnne Parton from Big Bend hopes that these computers will help computer and Internet accessibility in Ritzville. From these computers, it will be possible for community members to take online courses through Big Bend and other colleges who have classes available over the Internet.

“While we would love for everybody to use these computers to take classes at Big Bend, that is not our purpose,” said Parton. “We want these computers to bring high speed internet and accessibility to the community of Ritzville.”

Big Bend offers 300 college credit courses online and it is possible for students to complete all the necessary courses online. Tests can be taken and notes printed at the library, making all classes convenient to the public.

Ed-2-Go is a six-week course available through Big Bend that allows students to take a variety of classes in a short amount of time. Big Bend runs on quarter terms and the next quarter begins on Jan. 3.

Big Bend has donated computers to other communities such as Odessa, Quincy and Wilson Creek. As long as the computers continue to be used, they will stay in these communities as well as Ritzville.

All of the computers will be Internet capable and have all basic programs like Microsoft Office. There is also on printer connected to the computers that will allow patrons to print what they need.

The computers should be available for use the next few weeks but a server and firewall still need to be installed. This will allow Big Bend to fix any issues remotely from their campus.

The computers will be available to the community during normal business hours at the library. For any questions regarding the computers, contact the Ritzville City Library at 659-1222.