Computer For You

THIS PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS.
Please do not make an appointment if you live outside of Montgomery County. Your appointment will be canceled if you live outside of Montgomery County.

IMPORTANT: Eventbrite has changed its registration process. After you enter your name and email in Eventbrite, you must continue to the next page and complete all questions to get an appointment.
You will receive an “Add required info for Montgomery Connects” email from Eventbrite if your form is incomplete.
Your appointment will be delayed and may be canceled if you do not answer all required questions when you make the appointment.

Montgomery Connects – Computer For You
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Montgomery Connects is providing free Chromebooks to Montgomery County residents who do not have access to a computer. You must be a Montgomery County resident at least 7 years old and you must have an appointment to receive a computer. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen. Limit 1 computer per person. People who previously received a computer from the County are not eligible to receive another computer. You must have an email address and Montgomery County library card number to make an appointment. You must bring a photo ID and proof of your address if your address is not on your photo ID. Every person receiving a computer must have an appointment in their own name and must appear in person to receive the computer – including all children. This is the final program for free computers that Montgomery County expects to provide.

What Do I Need To Do To Receive a Computer?

YOU MUST HAVE (1) A MONTGOMERY COUNTY LIBRARY CARD NUMBER, (2) AN EMAIL ADDRESS, AND (3) A PHONE NUMBER to make an Eventbrite appointment to pick up a computer. Use this link to get a Montgomery County Public Library card number BEFORE you start the registration process or visit a library. Parents can use their email and phone for children.
EVERY PERSON RECEIVING A COMPUTER MUST MAKE AN EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION. (If 3 people in the household are receiving computers, there must be 3 Eventbrite registration appointments). Bring the Eventbrite email receipt on your phone or printed out to your appointment.
- IMPORTANT: After you enter your name and email, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO ANSWER THE 23 QUESTIONS. You will receive an email titled “Add required info for Montgomery Connects” if your form is incomplete. YOUR APPOINTMENT WILL BE DELAYED AND MAY BE CANCELED if you do not answer all questions when you make the appointment.
- When you see “Your organizer needs more details” screen, provide all information including answering the numbered questions on the left:
- If one person is making appointments for more than one person, MAKE SURE TO USE A SEPARATE NAME FOR EACH APPOINTMENT. If you make all the appointments using the same name, the additional appointments may be canceled. Only one appointment and one computer per person.

EVERY PERSON WITH AN APPOINTMENT, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST APPEAR IN PERSON WITH PHOTO ID to pick-up the computer at your appointment. This is how we enforce providing ONE computer per person. Passports, Driver’s Licenses, State IDs, school or work ID, or similar photo ID can be used. Bring a piece of mail addressed to you if your ID does not have an address or current address. Children can use report cards with an address that matches their parent’s ID or an online school account school account like Parent or Student Vue. If you need to bring your children, do not schedule your appointment during school hours.
Please have your library card number ready before you start the Eventbrite registration. Most people are able to fill out the registration form in 5-10 minutes. We have provided up to 60 minutes to complete the registration form for those who need it. If you do not complete the form in 60 minutes, you will need to restart your registration.

Click on an available link to make an appointment. If the appointment states “Sold Out,” is means there are no more appointments available. If the appointment states “On Sale” with a future date and time, that is date and time on which the appointments will open for registration.

To reduce the number of no shows, we have changed our schedule - new appointments will be open for registration on Fridays at 4 pm, approximately 10-15 days before the appointment (not the next week, but the week after the next week). For example, on Friday April 12 at 4pm, appointments will open for the week of April 23 to April 26.

Appointment registration closes when events are Sold Out or approximately 3 business days before an event. All registrations are checked to confirm eligibility and to confirm we have not previously provided a computer to the person making the appointment registration. Send an email to montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov if you need to cancel or would like to appeal a decision that you are not eligible to receive a computer.

Available Appointments:

Friday, April 19th, 3pm-7pm – Executive Office Building (Cafeteria) – 101 Monroe St, Rockville, MD 20850 (Registration Closed)
Saturday, April 20th, 11am-3pm – Germantown Community Recreation Center – 18905 Kingsview Rd, Germantown, MD 20874 (Registration Closed)

Tuesday, April 23, 3pm to 7pm – Silver Spring Civic Center,1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (Some appointments still available)

Wednesday April 24, 12pm to 4pm – Wheaton American Jobs Center, 11510 Georgia Ave, Wheaton MD 20902 (Some appointments still available)

Thursday, April 25, 3pm to 7pm – Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave, Gaithersburg MD 20879 (Some appointments still available)

Montgomery Connects - Gaithersburg Library Tickets, Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite

Tuesday, April 30, 3pm to 7pm – Silver Spring Civic Center,1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Wednesday, May 1, 3pm to 7pm – Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853

Thursday, May 2, 3pm to 7pm – Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Rd, Germantown, MD 20874

Friday, May 3, 3pm to 7pm – Executive Office Building (Cafeteria), 101 Monroe St, Rockville, MD 20850

Upcoming Appointments:

Tuesday, May 7, 3pm to 7pm – Silver Spring Civic Center,1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tips To Make An Appointment:

Under “Available Appointments” above, click on an appointment date and time to make an appointment.
If the date is not yet underlined, the link is not yet open for registration. Appointment links open approximately two weeks before appointment dates.

Have your library card number ready. Click here to get a digital Montgomery County Public library card or visit a library to get a physical library card. You will have 60 minutes to complete the Eventbrite form.

If you need help filling out the form, Marylanders Online will provide help in English and Spanish to fill out the form help line at 301-405-9810 Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, or on Saturdays from 10am to 5 pm. You need a phone number and email to use the Eventbrite form.
Contact us at montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov or 311 if you or someone you know does not have an email address, phone, or an address.

If you need assistance in ASL, auxiliary aids, or in languages other than English or Spanish, the county will make reasonable accommodations or schedule a specific pick-up for you. Contact us at the email above after you have made an appointment for special accommodations, or if you do not have an address.

The links above will take you to an Eventbrite form. Read the information carefully, and then click on the orange button “ Reserve a spot” and fill out the Eventbrite form to make an appointment. If the button is gray and shows “ Sold Out” instead of “ Reserve a spot”, it means all the appointment tickets have been taken. Return to the previous web page and select a different appointment time. If you miss your appointment, make a new one to receive a computer.

Click on one of the links above to select an appointment!

Tips for Completing the Eventbrite Form

EXAMPLE OF EVENTBRITE PAGE
Image of the Reserve A Spot button

Explanation of information requested on Eventbrite form

Contact information

Fill in your First Name, Last Name, and your email address twice. You provide the email twice to make sure there are no spelling errors or typos. If you have used Eventbrite before and created an account, you can click “Log in” and your information will be automatically filled in.

Contact info reference picture

A parent’s email should be used if a child will be receiving the computer. An adult child’s email can be used for an elderly parent.

You can uncheck the event notification and email options.

Ticket 1 • Registration

In “Ticket 1 • Registration”, click on Same as contact information to automatically fill in your name and email. Otherwise, fill in your name and email address again.
Add your “Cell Phone” – you may use a landline phone instead and you may use parent’s cell phone if a child is receiving the computer.

Home Address

In “Address 1”, type in your Street Number and Street Name.
In “Address 2”, type in your apartment number, or leave blank if there is no apartment number.
Type in your city, select “Maryland” from the drop-down menu, type in your 5-digit zip code, and leave “United States” in the last field.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do I Find or Create a Library Card Number?
If you have not used your library card in the past two years, it may have been deactivated. You can create a new digital library card here if your card has been deactivated or you cannot find it or you need a first time digital library card. Here are instructions in English or in Spanish to create a digital library card.

How Do I Create an Email Account?
Follow these instructions in English or in Spanish to create an email account.

What type of computer is it?
The computers are Dell 3100, 14” laptop with an 11” touchscreen that folds over and be used as a tablet. The computers do not include software (e.g., Word, Excel) but you may download free versions at Office for Web (formerly Office 365), or get free Google products here.

How Can I Activate my Chromebook?
You must have or create a Google account (which is different from a Google Gmail address or other email). Instructions are available here in English and here in Spanish.

Does the Chromebook come with tech support or software?
No, Montgomery County does not provide any tech support or software for loaned computers. The computer does not come with anti-virus protection. It is a Google Chromebook and will automatically load computer updates for you to help protect the computer.

Is my new Chromebook mine forever?
The federal grant providing funding to purchase these computers requires Montgomery County to own the computer for 3 years. You may keep possession of the computer for your own use. County regulations will govern what happens to the loaned computer after 3 years, but the County does not intend to request the return of the devices. You must report damaged, lost, or stolen computers to montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov and the County will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair or replace damaged or lost and stolen devices. If the loaned computer is returned to the County, the computer will be wiped clean of all data and the County has no responsibility to protect or recover removed data. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO SELL THE LOANED COMPUTER WHILE THE COUNTY OWNS IT, OR ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE MORE ONE COMPUTER PER PERSON, THE COUNTY MAY USE YOUR INFORMATION TO RECOVER COMPUTERS OR TAKE ACTION AGAINST YOU.

What if my Chromebook is damaged, lost, or stolen?
Only one Chromebook will be provided per person. If it is lost or stolen, no replacement will be provided. You are responsible to repair any damaged device. Your Chromebook comes with a 365 day [or 1 year] manufacturer’s warranty. After you receive the device, we provide the email and phone number you provided to us to the manufacturer.

How do I access the warranty on my Chromebook?
You can access the warranty by going to the support website for Dell and typing in the service tag or serial number in the search bar. You can find the service tag on the bottom of your device. Click on “Review Services” then click on “Contact Us” to initiate a claim about your damaged device.

How Do I set up my Chromebook?
Here are basic instructions on how to use a Chromebook, install Zoom, or set up email. Maryland offers help at www.MarylandersOnline.umd.edu or you can call to get help in English and Spanish at 301-405-9810 from 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays.

How Can I Get Help to Learn How to Use My Chromebook?
Marylanders Online Call Center provides FREE one-on-one tech support to any Maryland resident who needs help. This Call Center is operated by the University of Maryland Extension (UME). They provide free tech support in English, Spanish, and other languages upon request.
You can get help at https://marylandersonline.umd.edu/get-help/learn-my-own, or go to the main page, go to the “Get Help” section, choose “Learn on my own” and select what you are interested in learning, or you can call the Marylanders Hotline for help in English and Spanish at 301-405-9810 from 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays.

Montgomery County also offers in-person and online technology training courses for people 50 years and older through the Senior Planet Montgomery program in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. You can learn to use a computer, email, the internet, and more. At the top of the Senior Planet webpage, under “Resources” you can find technology training videos and information, or you can call the Senior Planet help line at 888-713-3495.

Why do you need my personal information? How will it be used?

The County is required to maintain a record of your name, the computer provided to you (serial number, make and model), your certification that you would not have the computer for your educational needs if the County did not provide you a computer, and dates when the computers are provided, returned, reported damages, or stolen.
The County does not sell your data.
The County asks about the devices you own, benefit programs you may be enrolled in, as well as age, ethnicity, and gender to better understand the population receiving these devices.
Your address is used to verify your eligibility and to understand how well computers are being distributed to areas of Montgomery County with the most need for computers (based on Census and similar statistical data).
Your reported income may be used to prioritize distribution of computers to lower income residents.
The County does not report individually identifiable data to other agencies (meaning, for example, we do not report your individual income to any other agency, but we may report the percentage of recipients with household incomes in a specific range).
The County reserves the right to email information about other digital equity technology training programs to computer recipients and use program demographic data to apply for more digital equity grants.

Important Additional Information

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO RECORDING MAY TAKE PLACE AT EVENTS. Security cameras may be in use at event locations. Computer distributions are public events without an expectation of privacy. Montgomery County, and its officers, employees, and agents, and other organizations may take photographs, video or digital recordings of adults and minor children attending the event. By attending this event, you consent to use of these photographs and recordings in any and all media, for the purpose of promoting awareness of digital equity programs and the work of Montgomery County. If you provide your name and identity to a photographer, videographer, reporter, producer, or similar person, your name and identity may be revealed in media or by descriptive text or commentary. By attending this event, you assign Montgomery County and the above-named entities all rights to exhibit this work in print or electronic form publicly or privately and to use the images and sounds; you waive any rights, claims, or interest you may have to control the use of your identity or likeness in whatever media is gathered during this event; you release and forever discharge Montgomery County, its officers, assigns, agents, and employees from every claim, demand, damage, right or cause of action of whatever kind or nature which is related to the acquisition and use of the photographs and recordings. You understand that there will be no financial or other remuneration for recording you or your children, either for the initial or for any subsequent publication, transmission, or playback. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR PHOTO TAKEN FOR PUBLICITY PURPOSES, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CHECK-IN at the event.

The Montgomery Connects Computer for You Program is administered and managed by the Department of Technology & Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), Office of Broadband Programs (OBP). Montgomery Connects includes many different digital equity and inclusion programs offered by TEBS. Please contact us at MontgomeryConnects@montgomerycountymd.gov for additional information.

The purpose of the Computer for You Program is to provide laptop computers to residents who do not have access to a computer at home. Montgomery County, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), received a federal Emergency Connectivity Fund to purchase 100,000 computers. The federal grant is a Covid-response which built upon the federal E-rate program providing funding to schools and libraries for internet, equipment, and computers, by providing funding for students and library patrons to receive computers for use at home (school and library Wi-Fi and computers could not be accessed during Covid-closures). Montgomery Connects requires computer recipients to have a Montgomery County library card because the federal grant is through MCPL, and because there are many free training programs and resources available to computer recipients with an MCPL library card. The grant funds up to $400 per computer and specifically prohibits the County from using grant funds to purchase software, cases, and other peripherals.

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Montgomery Connects – Computer For You
Please click HERE to change the language for the following information