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Library has site stuff: Coding classes at New York Public Library draw thousands, and 73% of the students are women

Library has site stuff: Coding classes at New York Public Library draw thousands, and 73% of the students are women
Nadia Peguero, 33, learned how to code at her local library. (Michael Schwartz /for New York Daily News)

When Nadia Peguero's friend called to say signups were starting for computer coding classes at her local library, the Bronx mom rushed over — even though she was in the middle of preparing dinner.

"I turned off the oven and everything and I just ran," said Peguero, 33, a construction project manager who is hoping to take on Web design work.

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Thousands are on a waitlist for free coding classes at the New York Public Library. New Yorkers are turning to the classes hoping to build websites for their small businesses, sharpen skills or pursue second careers. So far, 73% of the students have been women, organizers said.

Dozens of students recently celebrated a graduation of sorts from the 10-week program in a ceremony at the 42nd St. library.

Brandy McNeil, associate director of technology training programming at the New York Public Library, speaks to new graduates.
Brandy McNeil, associate director of technology training programming at the New York Public Library, speaks to new graduates. (Gregg Vigliotti/For New York Daily News)

The students learned the basics of Web coding languages HTML and CSS and site design — putting together a mock business site during a group project.

"I like computers, I like Google, anything to improve my technical skills. I'm used to a lot of places wanting people to be able to update their website," said Keisha White, 32, a Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn legal assistant.

"People had always said that HTML isn't hard, but just trying to read it from a book, for me, just seemed overwhelming," she said. "Now I'm like, I need to learn JavaScript, and Rails, so I can do all the fancy stuff."

Students who completed free coding classes at the New York Public Library gather to celebrate.
Students who completed free coding classes at the New York Public Library gather to celebrate. (Gregg Vigliotti Gjvigliotti@Gmail/For New York Daily News)

Green, white and blue balloons decorated the auditorium and outside the hall, a widescreen monitor showed a slideshow of the students' finished homepages.

"I can now start on my website. It's something I wanted to learn how to do on my own," said Johanna Perez, 37, who has started her own small business, working as a head lice consultant in Brooklyn.

The library is hoping to expand the program — and is pushing the city to bring operating funds back to what they were in 2008, before tens of millions were cut from the budget.

Keisha White, 32, a Brooklyn legal assistant, recently celebrated completing coding classes at the library.
Keisha White, 32, a Brooklyn legal assistant, recently celebrated completing coding classes at the library. (Gregg Vigliotti/For New York Daily News)

"I think people are finding out that coding is a way to really get yourself out there in the tech world. You don't have to necessarily go to a standard school," said the library's associate director of technology training programming, Brandy McNeil.

After finishing the course last winter, Peguero is now working on two websites for friends and setting up a freelance business. She's hoping to take a follow-up course, teaching JavaScript and other more advanced languages, at the library this fall.

"I was trying to get back into web design. I had learned it during high school, about 15 years ago," she said. "My son sees me coding and gets excited. 'Oh Mommy, you're working,' he says."

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