The overall goal of this project was to increase digital proficiency for Chicagoans who lacked skills needed to make the most out of online tools and resources, including online job boards and applications, educational information, and consumer products. As private and public service providers migrate most of their communication to the Internet, it becomes ever more essential for consumers to be able to access and respond to that information with ease and fluency. Nearly one-third of American adults lack digital readiness, which includes both access to digital tools and the skills needed to take full of advantage of those tools.

This project was designed to address readiness gap by engaging local and national workforce development experts in a review of existing digital learning resources, reviewing and vetting digital learning tools to determine most appropriate and applicable to the needs of library patrons, particularly job seekers with low levels of digital skills. Resulted in a partnership with Public Library Association to customize an existing online tool based on extensive user testing at the library. Tool responds to patron needs it's interactive and video-based for ease of use and skill retention. CPL librarians relevant local content to the end of each course.

The longer-term goals set out for the project include: increased digital skills for participants, measured through completion of tasks associated with each skill; increased job activity, such as submitted applications, interviews and jobs; and participants’ enrollment in career skills training. Finally, at the systems level, CPL hopes that this project will lead the way toward increased sharing of digital skills training options among libraries, workforce providers, and relevant government and community entities.