In just six months, this partnership between three public libraries trained 560 unemployed youth to use informagtion and communication technology (ICT); built a database of information about the skills, talents and career dreams of over 1,000 youth, and sent out over 5,000 mobile phone text messages alerting young people to further education opportunities, scholarships and jobs. In addition, the libraries offer youth free access to ICT. Young people are flocking to the libraries to sign up for the service, and librarians report that numbers of library users increased by 30% in 2012.

The service was initiated with support from the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme in 2011. This two-page case study is based on impact assessment conducted by the library in 2012.