Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation

The Free Library of Philadelphia will address longstanding digital literacy and access, workforce development, and adult education challenges in the city of Philadelphia that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Through its Digital Inclusion and Workforce Development Initiative, the library will enhance, expand, and make its resources digitally available. In Philadelphia, 16 percent of people live without a home computer and 29 percent live without broadband access. The Free Library was their only source of free computer use and internet until it had to shut its doors. The library will also offer direct services to job seekers (remotely and in person), share resources and information among Philadelphia's network of workforce development, adult education, and digital literacy providers, and prioritize community engagement efforts to ensure its programming is relevant and responsive.