FLORENCE-Florence-Lauderdale Public Library is offering free classes through the website Coursera, available to any local residents whose employment has been affected by the pandemic. People can request a free Coursera account by visiting www.flpl.org/athome and clicking the Coursera link.
Coursera offers over 3500 classes taught by instructors from top universities and companies. There are classes on a wide variety of job skills, specific career specializations, subject preparation for college, entrepreneurship topics, and technology. Coursera has training on everything from COVID-19 contact tracing, to web development and coding, to music and philosophy.
FLPL executive director Derek Wilson believes that offering free Coursera accounts is “a crucial step in helping the Shoals area.”
“It will allow people who have been affected by Covid- 19 to learn new skills that can help them find jobs that offer higher pay and benefits. It also offers courses that can help with personal development. All in all, I think this is a big benefit to our community,” said Wilson.
The library has 5,000 free accounts to provide to local residents. Sign-up is available through September 30, and participants will have until the end of the year to complete any courses they have enrolled in. In addition to Coursera, the library has several other free digital services that Shoals residents can access from home, including ebooks and audiobooks, genealogy research, and more. These services, plus online library cards and curbside pickup requests, are available on the library’s website at www.flpl.org.
Media Release/Jennifer Butler Keeton
Programming/Publicity Coordinator
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
