Magdalena B. Desousa dropped out of college when she was 21 to accept a lucrative offer in financial services for a job she expected to retire from.
But 17 years later she got laid off and at the age of 38 – with two young children at home and a mortgage – she found herself dusting off a resume that had sat dormant for more than a decade and a half. Filled with uncertainty, the Cranston resident quickly discovered that her skill-set had to some degree become less relevant in today’s market, where employers across industries are looking for technologically savvy applicants.
“I didn’t know where to go from there,” Desousa said. “I wasn’t ready at that point in my life to go back to college, it was all too sudden.”
She ended up getting directed to the Cranston Public Library, where a new adult program was offering one-on-one technology appointments for patrons to work individually with librarians on basic computer literacy skills. Today, after four one-on-one sessions, Desousa feels more confident navigating the technology world. She’s learned basic computer skills and can network online on different social networking platforms, including the business-oriented LinkedIn.
The one-on-one offering at the Cranston Public Library is among a handful of free programs to have materialized from a 2014 grant called ALLAccess – Adult Lifelong Learning Access – which is nearing the end of its first year. The $500,000 grant came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is being shared between the Cranston Public Library, Providence Public Library’s “Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative” and the University of Rhode Island.
The Cranston Public Library has also recently established a new computer lab, called the “C Lab,” which is being used as a multipurpose, digital-media learning space. The ALLAccess grant funded 15 new laptops, which are used for digital-literacy classes, teen tech programs, workforce development and open technology space. The lab also includes a 3-D printer, analog-to-digital transfer equipment and digital-media-creation equipment, according to the library.
To date, Cranston Public Library says about 50 library patrons have increased their digital-literacy skills through 81 appointments with librarians. Stefanie R. Metko, the digital-learning team leader, says the library has received great feedback since the program launched last May.
“It’s been amazing,” Metko said. “I feel like people are really moving along.
“We do get a lot of job seekers. That’s the primary patron,” she added.
But Metko has even worked with employed professionals looking to bolster their own technological skills, including classroom teachers.
The Providence Public Library is also offering one-on-one sessions, along with other programs that have materialized from the grant. Karisa J. Tashjian, director of the library’s Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, says the library is offering one program called the “Learning Lounge,” which takes a different, less-structured approach to traditional learning by providing an informal setting for patrons.
“I’m happy to say we’ve done all we promised and more,” Tashjian said, adding that their goal was to leverage library resources to address adult education, workforce development and computer literacy.
The popularity of these programs has extended beyond just Cranston and Providence. Last month, Metko worked with an East Greenwich patron who traveled to Cranston specifically to participate in the program.
It’s even captured the attention of Sen. Jack F. Reed, D-R.I., who’s been tracking the program’s progress since its inception.
Reed visited the Cranston Public Library last month to see the new C Lab and met with library staff and Desousa. He told Providence Business News that libraries must be a part of the solution of re-employing people who don’t have the time or resources to go back to school.
“First of all, they already exist, so you’re not building a whole new infrastructure,” Reed said. “We’re just … giving them some modest resources and basically opening up a whole new set of opportunities.”
The peaked interest is enough that both libraries hope to increase program capacity by adding more librarians and interns for the second year and they’ve already applied for a new grant.
Since participating in the program, Desousa says her resume has yielded a handful of job offerings. While she hasn’t accepted one yet, she lauds the program that has got her back to a point where she’s even considering employment options.
“It’s fantastic and it’s free, so it works for people who are out of a job,” Desousa said. “Especially these days. Nothing is free.” •
