Two Librarians & A Microphone

Roanoke County Public Library responded to a cultural shift ushered in by the tech revolution and its implications. After recruiting Pepper®, a humanoid robot, the library has leveraged its deep roots in innovation, privacy, equity, and access. With this, they are able to become a leader in AI and workforce development, particularly for tech skills. The success of the program has attracted 350 people with 60 class offerings, which include topics like Photoshop, stop-action video, Python, Scratch, and Linux. Urban Libraries Council Innovation Winner | 2019 | Workforce and Economic Development | Top Innovator