Low literacy and lack of technology skills lead to unemployment, lost productivity and limited economic opportunity, which severely impacts the health and prosperity of individuals, families and neighborhoods. In San Francisco, a research study found that 47% of the population — now estimated at 380,000 residents — had some difficulty with basic reading and writing. Existing library programs, including adult literacy, early literacy, and computer classes had been siloed, running largely independent of each other. The result was limited scalability and impact. By revitalizing precious space once devoted to seldom-used bound periodicals, The Bridge at Main has fused services to forge an innovative, one-stop center to address existing literacy challenges for all ages and address the new digital literacy needs essential for achievement and success.

In 2012, staff and community partners started to identify ways the library could have a greater community impact around literacy. The three key recommendations were to expand adult literacy programs, serve children with learning challenges, and increase technology trainings. The result has connected all learning services in one coordinated program. A participant in an adult literacy program can receive one-on-one tutoring followed by job training and a resume writing workshop, while simultaneously their young child is engaged in a family story time, another child is learning computers skills, and a spouse is learning about benefits at a Veterans Resource Center.

The Bridge at Main, which opened this past winter, now offers a robust curriculum of technology training for seniors, early literacy training for parents/caregivers, eLearning, personal finance workshops, adult literacy tutoring and more. In its first three months, thanks to new partnerships and outreach, the number of classes offered increased almost 400%, program attendance reached 1,400 and 451 computer sessions took place in the literacy TechLab. The new learning center has also had a transformational impact on two at-risk youth who support operations at the Bridge via a Human Services Agency – Workforce Development program. Supporting educational attainment, the Bridge will soon launch the Career Online High School diploma service. The Library’s ongoing goal is to lead citywide efforts to reduce illiteracy and poverty.