Technology
Anchorage Residents Master Banking, Jobs Through Free Digital Classes
Free classes and apps are helping people in neighborhoods from Spenard to Government Hill handle banking, job searches and family video calls with less frustration.
How we reported this
Enrollment in Anchorage digital literacy workshops jumped 42 percent between January and June 2026, according to city library records, as residents use new apps and classes to manage bills, apply for work and stay in touch with relatives.
The increase comes as more city services move online and broadband reaches additional blocks in East Anchorage. Residents who once relied on paper forms or phone calls now face password resets and two-factor authentication that can stall daily tasks if skills lag.
Classes at Loussac and Mountain View
Staff at the Z.J. Loussac Library on West 36th Avenue added evening sessions on phone security and online banking after demand rose in the first quarter. A block away on Northern Lights Boulevard, the Anchorage Community House runs a twice-weekly drop-in lab where participants practice uploading resumes through the state workforce site. Both locations keep tablets on hand so users without home devices can follow along.
One regular at the Mountain View location on North Lane uses the sessions to renew his commercial driver license online instead of driving downtown for paper forms. Another attendee learned to set up a shared calendar with her daughter who works shifts at the Port of Alaska.
Numbers from recent tracking
A May 2026 report by the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation found that 1,150 residents completed at least four hours of digital skills training this spring. The same group reported a 27 percent rise in successful online job applications compared with the prior six months. Average cost per participant stayed under $18 thanks to federal broadband funds that expire in September 2027.
City staff plan to expand the program to the Fairview Recreation Center on East 9th Avenue by October. Residents can check schedules on the Anchorage Public Library website or call the reference desk at 907-343-2970 for the next open slot.