Denver Public Library "Free to Learn"

Denver Public Library Free to Learn

Urban Libraries Council.  Free to Learn -- Public Library Services for Ex-Offeners

Innovation Summary   Free to Learn is a weekly, staffed, two-hour computer lab specifically for women who have been incarcerated. Participants use computers for whatever they need, but can also receive individualized instruction from the staff on topics ranging from basic computer use to online job seeking and resume writing.

Free to Learn: Best Practices for Serving Former Prisoners in Public Libraries. Colorado Libraries (2011)

Excerpt:   In 2010 and 2011, the Denver Public Library sought to address this gap in service by creating a groundbreaking outreach program for women who have served time in prison. The goal of Free to Learn, as defined in the Library Services and Technology Act grant 1 proposal that won funding for the program, is to encourage the use of library resources to improve outcomes for this population. In service of that goal, Free to Learn is designed to teach and support participants in three areas: 

• Computer and internet skills
• Job search skills and readiness 
• Library awareness and understanding

Hat tip to Kelsey Johnson, LIS 712 student