“We have always been in the business of making people’s lives better,” said Melanie Huggins, Executive Director of Richland Library in the June 20th CBS feature. “That is the history of public libraries across the globe.”
From job seeking assistance to homelessness services to education — Richland and other public libraries are doing just that. Richland Library began offering Career Online High School in 2018, and since then has helped nearly 100 adults earn their high school diplomas.
One such graduate is Letita Miller, who was honored as Career Online High School’s 2023 Student of the Year. She had dropped out of school in the 10th grade to raise her children and work, but always wanted to go back. “I knew that what I had was not enough.”
The 40-year-old single mother of four accepted her diploma at a graduation ceremony held by the library this Spring.
“You can accomplish so many things here,” she said.
Developing innovative ways to stay relevant is now a charge for libraries throughout the nation. Beyond books, libraries are providing education and career pathways for the residents who need them the most.
Discover how Richland is a national leader in reimagining libraries, and meet COHS graduate Letita Miller.