About the SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center
Our Approach: The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is patron-centric and envisions being a hub of resources responding to direct community needs. The LRC offers community connections and innovative programing which provides access and best practices to our patrons in higher education and library and information services. We base our approach on upholding the following five goal areas:
- Resource Center: Providing access and opportunities for technology, research, outreach/referral center, program events, literacy development, career/professional development, exposure of the arts, self-development, enrichment and wellness, sustainability, community/organization partners, and beyond. Being accessible is at the forefront of all our planning.
- Professional Development: Providing patrons with access to career and professional development resources will be the crux of our library revitalization. We will offer resume development, job searching, assistance with FAFSA, job fairs, college fairs, blogs, zines, publishing, entrepreneurship information, financial education, and community digital job boards.
- Community Engagement: Utilizing special projects, workshops and programing to guide learning and advancing literacy.
- Champions of Youth: Creating space and services that foster young minds in discovery and curiosity, while strengthening family engagement.
- Lifelong Learning: Offering free classes for all age levels in special interest areas (typing, foreign language, art, writing, food/nutrition, sustainability, etc.).
Who We Serve: The LRC will serve as a community-oriented destination for the thousands of East St. Louis, Cahokia and Brooklyn residents who are seeking general education, living wage job opportunities and career advancement. The LRC is funded by the Illinois Community College Board to serve all groups affiliated with the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus which includes but is not limited to: SIUE programs/departments and SWIC Programs/Departments.
Mission: Creating a space for free and equal access to services and resources that promote and encourage self-growth and empowerment, community engagement and development while fostering lifelong learning.
Vision: “SIUE East St. Louis Library, a driver of community development.”
