Life Skills

YPRL regularly run programs to support people of all ages build essential life skills and learn new things. Previous programs have included budgeting 101, resume writing, interview skills and job readiness, how to cook healthy food on a budget, yoga and meditation workshops, and developing information and media literacy skills.

Our libraries are a great place to connect and meet with people to complete research, projects, work and meetings or even to ‘just relax’ in a quiet space. At all of our branches, we offer free WiFi and provide public access to computers every day. Our regular public computers are usually available up to 8 hours per day and run current Microsoft Office software applications. Printing, scanning and photocopying services can be accessed for a fee. Computers located in some of our Maker Spaces run specialised software including Adobe Creative Cloud 2021, video editing, graphic design, game development and much more. All YPRL branches offer quiet or semi noise restricted areas for study and work and in certain branches, you can even book a quiet room for private study or meetings either for free (within certain time frames) or at a modest cost.

At YPRL we are dedicated to helping everyone raise their level of digital skill. Tech Help sessions are one-on-one and group sessions conducted by staff and skilled volunteers who have been trained in digital mentorship. These hands-on sessions are an opportunity for you to get help with general questions about the functionality of devices, or to assist you to use the Internet for a specific purpose. Come and learn new digital life skills in a supportive environment, where the aim is to empower users by teaching the skills required to become more confident in the use of digital technology.

Our collection offers over 1,000,000 items and includes a wide range of physical books, magazines, newspapers and DVDs that you can borrow and take home. You'll also find a large collection of digital materials that can be accessed online with your membership. Library staff are available to provide assistance in research techniques and how to navigate our online and physical resources. Our collection includes extensive resources related to a variety of topics on building life skills including cookbooks, mindfulness and relaxation, craft and creative pursuits, finance and business skills, self-improvement, and gardening.

LinkedIn Learning is a free high-quality resource where you can learn a wide variety of skills to support you in your personal and professional endeavours.

So whether you want to change careers, learn about ikebana, or calm your mind, we have the programs and resources to support you. And if you can’t find what you're looking for, let us know.