At last, a library in Oregon is stepping up to bridge the generational knowledge gap: teaching young adults the basics of life. It’s not entirely our parents’ fault—many had to work long hours just to provide for us, leaving a void in practical life skills training. Consequently, many young adults find themselves clueless about essential tasks like unclogging a sink, changing a tire, cooking a meal, or even managing their finances.
Previously, we relied on our parents or high school classes for this knowledge, but that’s no longer the case for many. This has resulted in a generation of young adults who struggle with everyday challenges.
The North Bend Public Library has introduced a six-part series titled “Adulting Essentials: Basic How-Tos for Ages 16–25.” This program is designed to impart crucial life skills to young adults. Teresa Lawson, the library’s assistant director, collaborated with her colleague, Mark Taylor, to develop this initiative after learning about similar programs at other libraries.
The first session, which kicked off in February, focused on “Basic Cooking Skills.” It was taught by Mark, who started with simple tips and progressed to demonstrating how to make quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches using just aluminum foil and an iron. Now that’s creativity! I might just have to dust off my own iron, which has been dormant for years.
The subsequent sessions include financial literacy, featuring guest speakers who provide insights on budgeting, managing a checkbook (do people still use those?), building credit, and filing taxes. As a former accountant, I can assure you that these courses would likely attract older attendees who missed out on such lessons in their youth.
Future sessions will cover topics like identifying fake news, job searching, knowing when to move out (which is likely aimed at young adults who plan to live with their parents indefinitely), and a quirky course titled “Odds and Ends” to tackle miscellaneous adulting questions.
Library staff have confirmed that these courses are free to the public. While aimed at ages 16-25, there’s no age restriction on attendance. They even offer basic technology courses for those who struggle with computers, smartphones, and tablets—hello, Mom!
In addition to these classes, the North Bend Public Library also hosts adult coloring sessions known as “Inside the Lines Adult Coloring Club.” I’m definitely putting in a call to my local library to join in!
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Summary
The North Bend Public Library is addressing the gap in essential life skills education for young adults with its “Adulting Essentials” course series. Offering practical lessons on cooking, finance, and technology, these free classes are available to anyone, regardless of age.