The Seattle Public Library and AWS deliver free AI and cloud skilling to community members 

For many, the gap between today’s fast-moving tech economy and the skills needed to participate in it remains a real obstacle to economic opportunity. Whether changing careers, re-entering the workforce, or just starting to build confidence with computers, formal tech training can feel like an insurmountable wall to many learners.

In the greater Seattle region, that wall is coming down one library branch at a time.

A community-based collaboration between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and The Seattle Public Library delivers free, instructor-led AI and cloud skilling courses at local branches. This is the second year the Library has offered free classes from AWS Skills Centers Seattle and reflects a broader Amazon commitment to preparing people for the future of work through comprehensive education and training programs that democratize access to in-demand skills.

Since 2025, The Seattle Public Library and AWS have hosted over 50 in-person and virtual classes and skilled more than 550 learners in the community. The Library also offers free vouchers for AWS Certification exams to learners who are Seattle residents and successfully completed the AWS Skills Center’s Becoming a Cloud Practitioner four-part series or five-part Becoming an AI Practitioner series.

Removing barriers to entry for learners

Libraries are among the most trusted, accessible public spaces in any community. They are free to enter, open to everyone regardless of income or background, and already serve as informal hubs for learning. Not everyone walking into a library branch is thinking about a tech career, though. This collaboartion brings structured, instructor-led classes into that environment and removes barriers like cost, transportation, and access that often keep people from pursuing tech education. Now, the opportunity finds them.

Because the AWS Skills Center classes are delivered locally, in neighborhoods across the Seattle region, the program can reflect the needs of the specific communities it serves. Library staff already understand their patrons’ schedules, language needs, and comfort levels. That personable knowledge helps create a responsive and effective experience for learners.

Atul, a recent graduate of Seattle University, found the AWS classes on the Library’s website, attending 10 classes with AWS instructors. “I couldn’t believe something like this was available for free,” said Atul. “Through the Library’s partnership with AWS, I received two certification vouchers that helped me earn my Cloud Practitioner and AI Practitioner certifications.” Atul is now pursuing a career as a solutions architect.

Real instruction, not just a class

A defining feature of this collaboration is that classes are led by AWS technical trainers. Having a knowledgeable trainer in the room—someone who answers questions in real time, adjusts pacing to the audience, and breaks down complex AI and cloud concepts into approachable, practical lessons—makes a difference for entry-level learners and career changers.

The AWS classes at The Seattle Public Library give participants a foundation they can build on: understanding cloud computing basics, exploring AI and machine learning concepts, and gaining the vocabulary and confidence needed to pursue further certifications or job opportunities. For many attendees, a single class at their neighborhood library could be the first step towards an AWS Certification or new career path.

AWS technical trainers understand the needs of foundational learners and have a passion for educating and sharing their real-world AI and cloud experiences. It’s that ability to translate complexity into clarity that turned an early pilot into an ongoing partnership which demonstrates that scalable, sustainable community impact often starts small, with an engaged group of learners and instructors ready to meet people where they are.

Just getting started

The AWS collaboration with The Seattle Public Library shows what a public-private partnership in skilling and technical education looks like: accessible, community-based, and led by skilled instructors that help learners take a first step towards AI education and a cloud career.

“This program has been a game changer,” said Namrata, another student who took in-person skills classes at the Library. “The high-quality, free training sessions combined with the certification vouchers provided an invaluable opportunity for me to skill up without financial worry.” Namrata, who has completed two AWS Certifications, also praised “the outstanding caliber of the instructors. They make every session engaging, practical, and fun.”

To find AWS classes at a Seattle neighborhood branch, see the event calendar. The Seattle Public Library also offers access to other in-person and online workforce development resources, as well as other free programs exploring digital safety and privacy.

This post was written by Deborah Williams, Technical Trainer, AWS.