Speakers: Susan Broman, Misty Jones, Gina Robinson, and Glenda Williams Through a California State Library funded initiative, public libraries can offer Career Online High School (COHS), which is a free, online program that provides adults with a practical means of attaining an accredited high school diploma (not a GED) and a concurrent career certificate in one of eight high-demand industries. However, our patrons face the challenge of having access to tools necessary for COHS participation: access to a computer and reliable high-speed Internet. By offering this critical access — a chance to earn a high school diploma, state of the art computers, and internet access — public libraries are changing lives. According to the 2010 census, approximately 15% of California residents have not completed a high school diploma. This puts them at a severe disadvantage in the job market, and their earnings are lower overall. Those without a high school degree are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line which contributes to the socioeconomic divide. As public libraries evolve, we find ourselves becoming more than institutions for housing books; we are also places of lifelong learning and a social services safety net offering resources designed to close that divide. Join the Long Beach, San Diego, and Los Angeles Public Libraries in a discussion about the COHS process, lessons learned, and the transformative power of this service for adults. You will also hear firsthand from participants about what this program means to them and how having a diploma has reshaped their opportunities for success.
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