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Adult 101

LA County Library created programs designed to prepare teens for adulthood and the workforce by teaching them the soft skills necessary to be successful in life and by providing them with knowledge about staying healthy and safe in a multitude of environments. The project included topics such as etiquette, fitness and nutrition, basic finances, public speaking and persona, digital literacy, personal safety, time management, workplace know-how, basic home repairs, decision making, and more. The original program took place at 15 libraries across the County of Los Angeles.

Target audience: Underserved and marginalized teens and young adults in the library’s community who express interest in, or are already participating in, developing skills in the library’s safe space for teens.

Expected outcomes: Teen participants who otherwise do not have access to life-skills training resources will report feeling more confident and better prepared for the workforce with increased social and communication skills, a stronger work ethic, knowledge of personal financial management, and health and safety awareness. Teens who were not previously engaged with the library will have a greater understanding of how the library can meet their needs and align with their aspirations.

Budget Considerations

• Program materials
• Program handouts
• Library materials (additions to the collection)
• Consultants’ fees (optional)

Implementation Steps

Co-design your project with your community: Identify potential participants, focusing on reaching people not currently visiting the library, and gauge interest in the project. Meet with them to discuss the program. Engage them in envisioning the project, planning how to proceed, what activities will take place, and how community members will be invited and encouraged to attend.

LA County Library developed an Adult 101 Program Checklist (PDF) for planning Adult 101 in their libraries, and while it is specific to their system, it will prove valuable as you consider space and scheduling, materials and equipment, publicity, evaluation and troubleshooting issues. Their Tips and Tricks for Adult 101 (PDF) will also be useful as you plan.

Programs: The instructions provided by LA County Library for each of the programs below include an overview, time and staff requirements, materials and supplies needs, as well as program specific content and options for addition to the library collection. All linked files are in pdf format.

• Financial Savvy instructions
• Personal Home Management instructions
  • Caring for Your Clothes presentation
  • Caring for Your Clothes lecture notes
• Dining Etiquette instructions
• Perzines instructions
  • Perzines presentation
  • Perzines lecture notes
• Stress Management instructions
  • Stress Management presentation
  • Stress Management lecture notes
• Time Management instructions
  • Time Management presentation
  • Time Management lecture notes
  • Time Management handout
• Workplace Readiness instructions
  • Workplace Readiness presentation
  • Workplace Readiness lecture notes

Publicize Programming and Recruit Participants

• Internally, identify library staff and inform/train them about the program. Sample: ADULT 101 FAQs-library staff (PDF)
• Externally, publicize via the library website, local schools and community organizations, social media, via current teen programming and spaces. Sample: ADULT 101 FAQs-patrons (PDF)
• Recruit participants from existing teen program at library, word of mouth, social media, local middle and high schools. LA County Library branches that were most successful in attendance were those that already had strong teen program attendance.