Anne Hinrichs has loved computers since they first came on the market.

As a typist in the 70s, she realized computers and word processing were the future of her profession. Anne bought an Apple II computer in 1977 right after she accepted a job typing for a court reporter.

“I took the computer apart and put it back together again so I would know the ins and outs of it,” she said.

Anne's interest in computers grew quickly. It became a hobby that soon turned into a job. In addition to typing, she contracted with Olensky Brothers in Mobile, setting up computer systems in offices and teaching people how to use them.

As computer technology became more and more complex, Anne immersed herself in learning. Instead of reading novels, she read computer books. And she never gave up on something challenging, like learning computer languages.

“I never admitted I couldn't do anything,” she said. “I never was afraid. I bluffed my way a couple of times, and if it wasn't for me bluffing my way, I probably would have never succeeded.”

For years, Anne carried her computers and printer around to people's offices and homes to do demonstrations.

“I put my back out, and that caused me to have several surgeries,” she said.

Then, in 2001, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2002, doctors told her she needed a pacemaker.

“Everything hit within that time period,” she said. “I didn't want to let it keep me down, because if you give in to yourself, you can become an invalid mighty quick, and I didn't want that to happen. So that's when I continued to help people.”

Anne, who is now 74, then transitioned from paid work to volunteering.

“I just have this thing that I just can't sit still,” she said. “When I quit in 2002, I really didn't quit; it was just the beginning of a whole new era for me as far as volunteering and helping people. People would call me if they had a technical problem, and it seemed like I could always figure it out for them.”

She approached the staff at Fairhope Public Library about teaching free computer classes for whoever needed them, especially seniors.

“She just said that she could teach, and she had such a long history with computers,” said Cheryl Bradley, reference and technology supervisor at the Fairhope Public Library. “She just likes to fill her time, and she enjoys helping people. She's patient, and she's very clear with the way she explains things. She keeps people on task in a nice way, and she's on the cutting edge of technology.”

Anne spends at least three days a week at the library, and she teaches classes on the iPad, Windows 8, basic computer skills and the Internet.

“She is becoming known around town as 'the computer lady,' much the same as 'the tomato lady,' said Anne's daughter Cathy Taylor. “She told me that her class this week was completely full, and people were sitting on the floor. Obviously, she is loved over at the library for her contributions. She truly is an inspiration to me.”

Anne said helping seniors learn to use a computer is rewarding because it helps them feel connected. She shows people how to use Google maps — they are amazed when they find out they can look at the house where they grew up because of Google's street view option.

“People just love her,” Bradley said. “There are people who have had trouble catching on, and they take her class over and over again. It's really rewarding to see people learning.”

Anne said one of the biggest misconceptions among people who are new to computers is if they press the wrong button, they might break it.

“Don't ever be intimidated by the computer,” she tells her students. “You really can't break the computer. You can put it out of whack for a while, but you really can't break it. The most important thing is reading about what you're doing. If you're stuck, search it out. There's an answer for everything, right at your fingertips.”

And Anne has also developed a passion for helping the visually impaired still be able to enjoy computers. She has early stage Adult Macular Degeneration, so she has first hand experience with figuring out how to make text bigger or adjust settings to make it easier to read.

Anne said younger people in her classes and at computer stores are always shocked when they realize she knows so much about computers.

“I love to go to the stores, and when I talk to the salesmen there, they look at me a think I don't know a thing about the computers,” she said. “They start talking to me, and all of a sudden, they realize, 'Hey, this woman knows something about computers,' and sometimes they get a very stunned look. I look up things before I go, so I know what I'm getting.”

Anne lives in Fairhope with her husband, Dick. They have two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom Anne has taught how to use a computer.

She also enjoys swimming, attending church at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Fairhope and going through old family photos.

But most of her time these days is spent at the library.

“She feels like an integral part of our staff, even though she's a volunteer,' Bradley said. “I don't know what we'd do without her.”