Libraries at the Front Lines ofWorkforce Recovery

Chad Lubbers Washington County LibraryJennifer Peterson WebJunctionMLA Annual, October 2011

• Project Compass Overview• The Library, the Workforce and 21st Century Skills• Pathways to Workforce Recovery

8:00–9:00oCore ServicesoPersonal Financial Skills

1:30–2:30oJob Seekers

3:30–4:30oSmall Business

• Workforce Resources on WebJunction

Agenda

Project Compass is a partnership between WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina.

It is funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Project Compass: Libraries lead the workforce for the 21st Century

Project Compass Year One

• Survey of patron needs and library responses

• Summits with state agency staff (4 f2f, 1 online)

• Launch “Workforce Resources” community of practice on WebJunction

Libraries provide direction in tough times

Project Compass Year Two

•Face-to-face workshops in areas with highest unemployment/highest need

•Other state and regional library conferences

•Online programming and curriculum

•Ongoing resource sharing on WebJunction

Libraries lead the workforce for the 21st Century

The Library, the Workforce and the 21st Century

Project Compass

What are “21st century skills”?

21st century skills for the workforce

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Communication &

Collaboration Technology Literacy,

Media Literacy Flexibility & Adaptability

Social & Cross-cultural Skills Creative Thinking &

Innovation Productivity &

Accountability Teamwork Global Awareness

What’s so new?

Shifting nature of the workforce

It’s a “globally interconnected information economy.”

Lifelong learning

“Lifelong learning is not an option anymore; it’s a necessity!

SMART is the new RICH.”

(Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Skills)

It’s not about what to learn.

It’s about HOW to learn.

What does it mean to be a 21st century library?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

20TH CENTURY LIBRARY 21st CENTURY LIBRARYPrimarily content driven Audience and content drivenMostly tangible objects Tangible and digital objectsOne-way Multi-directionalFocus on presentation and display

Focus on audience engagement, experiences

Acts independently Acts in highly collaborative partnerships

Located in community Embedded in community Learning outcomes assumed,

implied Learning outcomes purposeful

They need the 21st century library.

56 Things

you (your library) can do for workforce renewal

Project Compass

to support families

Start a "coupon exchange club" to help families save money.

Schedule job seeker workshops

to coincide with storytimes

Enlist a mental health professional to provide pro bono workshops on dealing with the stress of job loss.

Place a computer in

the children’s area for

parents to use for job-

seeking

Provide “tough times” info on help with bill paying, food pantry locations, emergency housing, etc.

Invite Ag. Extension to do a workshop on

home vegetable gardening or raising

chickens in the backyard.

Offer just-for-fun family programming on Friday or Saturday nights to help those struggling financially

to spend time together as a family.

Offer workshops on how to live on a restricted income

Introduction to Project Compass Pathways

A checklist of actions to help the workforce

Check what your library has already done

Circle where you would like to focus next

Find resources to help take the next steps

a Pathway is…

4 Pathways

Core Services

Job Seekers

Small Business

Personal Finance

5Sections

Dis

cove

ry &

As

sess

men

t

Colle

ction

s

Trai

ning

&

Prog

ram

min

g

Colla

bora

tion

Com

mun

icati

on

Yes but

need more

Job Seekers Pathway

Remember that these actions are inter-

connected with all the other approaches

Guiding question

Resources for each action

Core Services Pathway

Connecting with community agencies

Providing basic computer skills training

Building partnerships

Marketing and communicating library

services

Why ? People turn to the library to get connected with social services and to acquire basic skills and knowledge.

Core Services Pathway

Personal Financial

Skills Pathway

Understanding the impact of the economic downturn on personal financial stability

Providing resources, training and programs on applying for social services, refinancing a mortgage, getting out of debt, etc.

Why ? Whether unemployed or not, many patrons need to regain control of their personal finances.

Use the Resources to help you take action.

Go to the online version to explore what others have

done.

Personal Financial Skills Pathway

to increase patrons’ financial skills

Offer “penny-pinching” workshops

Offer credit report workshops, including free printing of credit reports

Start a savers club

Provide information

about bankruptcy

– both discreetly

and in workshops.

Provide handouts on 10 steps to financial well-being

(projectmoney.org)

Bookmark financial resources on your

public computers—there are many!

Use a story-time format to highlight

financial topics—get the whole family involved!

$ Offer student loan workshops $

MELSA Jobs & Small Business Task Force (JSB)

• Collaborate with community partners• Strive for seamless entry system• Where every door is the right door

• Task Force Recommendations: http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cfm/library-staff/teams/task-forces/jobs-and-small-business-task-force/

• Resources: http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cfm/resources/job-and-small-business-resources/small-business-resources/

MN Workforce Centers

MELSA Public Libraries

– Complement, not compete– Expansion of the library’s lifelong learning role

• Target tech competencies for unemployed / underemployed

• Standardize curriculum for 1.5 hour classes• RFP – contract won by Science Museum of MN• 260 classes on topics:

MELSA JSB initiative: PC skills classes

PC BasicsInternet BasicsEmail Basics

Microsoft WordMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPoint

• Goal– Legal information for people in crisis

• Brian Huffman – WCL Law Librarian– LSTA grant for mobile law lab

• Partnered with:– Local Housing Renewal Authority (HRA)– Volunteer Lawyers Network

• Workshops– Foreclosure workshops (40+)– Bankruptcy– Credit Repair– Classes for county librarians

Washington County Law Library

WebJunction archived webinar: Foreclosure, and Bad Credit and No Job, Oh My!

Librarians Lending a Hand

Whatever you do, let everyone know about it.

Partner Power

Partnerships are essential in lean times.

Who are your potential partners?

to build community connections

Have a breakfast for the Chamber of Commerce or local politicians to let them know what you are doing.

Learn about local social service agencies, their hours and what they do.

Get your library board

involved!

Create a Social

Services bulletin board

with brochures &flyers from

local agencies

Ask your Workforce Board where you can "fill in the gaps" so you aren't duplicating already-successful efforts.

Recruit retirees for resume evaluation, interview help and computer tutoring.

Bring in reps from the local

community college to offer student loan workshops

Create a “Help for Hard Times” flyer with community information

Select circled areas on pathways for focused actions

Identify relevant strategies, tools, partners, communication plans, etc.

Get a better idea of what success looks like

Your Action Plan

Workforce Resources on

WebJunction

WebJunction.org

webjunction.org/workforce-resources

See Member Center for help with: setting up an account,posting to discussions, creating documents.

You can tweet to this hashtag!

See also archive of these tweets

Key Resources

Digital version of each pathway with live links to all resources

All workshop curriculum materials and workbooks Free to download and repurpose

Links to upcoming and archived webinars related to workforce recovery

Content of two online workshops The hashtag! #libs4jobs

Growing Workforce Resources

National community continues to contribute to: Resources Templates Questions/Answers Webinars Twitter #libs4jobs

No contribution or question is too small…all are welcome!

This means YOU!

WebJunction-Minnesota

Free courses made available to you through the sponsorship of Minnesota State Library

Services in collaboration with Minitex.

Thank you!