{"id":33813,"date":"2025-11-21T07:03:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T13:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/?p=33813"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:53:12","slug":"learn-at-sapl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/2025\/11\/21\/learn-at-sapl\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Learn at SAPL: San Antonio\u2019s Lifeline for Adult Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the San Antonio Public Library, Learn at SAPL<\/a> offers more than just computer access, it provides a pathway to independence and confidence. The program, now celebrating its eleventh year, helps adults build digital skills, find jobs, and navigate everyday challenges in an increasingly online world. A dedicated space within seven branches across the city, each equipped with its own exclusive digital literacy teacher and computer lab, Learn meets people where they are, both in skill level and in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Learners Where They Are<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not librarians; we\u2019re teachers,\u201d says Shauna Mendoza, a Learn Training Officer who thinks of herself more as an adult educator. \u201cPeople come in frantic, with a letter from the IRS or something they need to upload. We give them a lifeline so they can complete what they need to do, and learn how to do it themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Patrons<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn\u2019s model is intentionally flexible. Patrons can drop in when it fits their schedule and receive individualized support. \u201cIt\u2019s like waiting tables,\u201d explains Michelle Rickman, the program\u2019s coordinator. \u201cYou\u2019re constantly moving around, helping people with what they need in the moment.\u201d On any given day, a teacher might be helping someone craft a resume, learn to use email, recognize phone scams, or explore AI tools to strengthen job applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Community Through Access and Adaptability<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Learn program began in 2014 as a collaboration between the San Antonio Public Library and the city\u2019s Department of Human Services after their education centers closed. \u201cThe community didn\u2019t want to lose them,\u201d says Michelle. \u201cSo, we built new spaces inside the library and gave the program a name and a brand that people could recognize.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Today, Learn continues to grow, with a new center opening at the Las Palmas Library in November. The program\u2019s success stems from its community-driven approach. Shauna shares how she got started: \u201cI went out into the neighborhood, set up tables at the community center, and even created a game called Emoji Bingo so people could match faces to services. When you\u2019re consistent and you love what you do, word spreads.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Members<\/a>
Shauna Mendoza and Michelle Rickman with fellow members of the Learn at SAPL team<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Both Shauna and Michelle agree that access remains the biggest challenge in bridging the digital divide. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have access, you\u2019re falling behind every single day,\u201d Shauna says. \u201cBut once people discover these centers, they realize the opportunity that\u2019s right here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As technology evolves, Learn continues to adapt, helping adults in San Antonio gain the digital confidence they need to thrive in work, education, and life. Learn more<\/a> about the program and please subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> if you want more exciting news about what Texas libraries are doing to close the digital divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the San Antonio Public Library, Learn at SAPL offers more than just computer access, it provides a pathway to independence and confidence. The program, now celebrating its eleventh year, helps adults build digital skills, find jobs, and navigate everyday challenges in an increasingly online world. A dedicated space within seven branches across the city,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":33837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[1010,59,15],"tags":[1059,747,438,1245,1136,1244,1243],"class_list":["post-33813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-literacy","category-public-libraries","category-technology","tag-computer-classes","tag-digital-divide","tag-digital-literacy-2","tag-learn","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-pubic-library","tag-sapl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33813"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34020,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33813\/revisions\/34020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}