Libraries at the Front Lines of Workforce Recovery Chad Lubbers Washington County Library Jennifer Peterson WebJunction MLA Annual, October 2011

Project Compass Overview The Library, the Workforce and 21 st Century Skills Pathways to Workforce Recovery 8:00–9:00 o Core Services o Personal Financial Skills 1:30–2:30 o Job Seekers 3:30–4:30 o Small 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 21 st Century

The Library, the Workforce and the 21 st Century

Project Compass What are “21 st century skills”?

21 st 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 21 st century library?

TH CENTURY LIBRARY21 st CENTURY LIBRARY Primarily content drivenAudience and content driven Mostly tangible objectsTangible and digital objects One-wayMulti-directional Focus on presentation and display Focus on audience engagement, experiences Acts independentlyActs in highly collaborative partnerships Located in communityEmbedded in community Learning outcomes assumed, implied Learning outcomes purposeful

They need the 21 st 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 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

5 Sections Discovery & Assessment Collections Training & Programming Collaboration Communication

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. 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 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. 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: m/library-staff/teams/task- forces/jobs-and-small-business-task- force/ m/library-staff/teams/task- forces/jobs-and-small-business-task- force/ Resources: m/resources/job-and-small-business- resources/small-business-resources/ m/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 Basics Internet Basics Basics Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft 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? 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  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!