A new program called SBPL Works! that supports Santa Barbara’s food industry workers and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic is being introduced by the Santa Barbara Public Library.

Local food service workers and businesses have been severely impacted, and many have been left without the financial means to meet the California requirements for certification needed to work or maintain a job in the industry.

SBPL Works! will help eliminate that barrier for those most in need by offering course codes for the California ServSafe Food Handler online course and exam for free to the Santa Barbara community.

ServSafe Food Handler California Online Course and Assessment is a comprehensive solution that delivers consistent food safety training to employees. The ServSafe Food Handler California Online Course and Assessment meets the requirements set forth by the California Retail Code.

The online course covers five key areas: Basic Food Safety, Personal Hygiene, Cross-Contamination & Allergens, Time and Temperature, Cleaning and Sanitation. It is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese.

For those without access to a computer or internet, the library offers chromebooks and hotspots for checkout.

The initiative is made possible with grant support from the Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium and will be facilitated by the workforce readiness program, SBPL Works!.

SBPL Works! offers free one-to-one assistance with: resume and cover letter creation, job searches, online job applications, interview practice, and computer assistance.

Visit SBPLibrary.org for information about library programs and services. All library programs are free and open to the public.