Libraries Supporting Small Business Development Melinda Ludwiczak MELSA 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. And Entrepreneurs!

56 Things you (your library) can do for economic development Project Compass

to support entrepreneurs Find partners (like SCORE) to offer business workshops in the library Create a display of the best of your business collection Include a business link on your website home page Set up a small business center next to your job center. Post an “entrepreneur readiness” checklist—find one online, like the SBA’s “20 Questions” guide. Get out of the library and get to know the small business community better! Host networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, including people in the arts and crafts. Offer library space for small business meetings

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

Small Business Pathway  Understanding how small business builds local economies  Connecting patrons with resources for small business  Providing training and programs to support small businesses Why ? Starting new or sustaining existing local business creates jobs and stimulates the local economy. Why ? Starting new or sustaining existing local business creates jobs and stimulates the local economy.

Small Business & Entrepreneurs Pathway Guiding question Resources for each action Remember to integrate other approaches

MELSA Jobs & Small Business Task Force 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/

MELSA Small Business Initiatives Invite small business support organizations to Task Force meetings Small business workshops and consultations at MELSA libraries Small business online resource center Cross training for community partner staff and counselors Print collateral - bookmark

Libraries to the rescue! “Sell” your economic development assets :  Broad audience access  Meeting spaces  Print and electronic collections  Web content  Databases  Staff expertise  Cross training, public training  Computers and tech training  Cross promotion  And more…..

SCORE

Legal Corps

US Small Business Administration

Governor’s Workforce Development Council

Minnesota DEED

Power Through Collaboration SCORE Legal CORPS Bar Associations, Law Libraries City, County, Regional Economic Development Agencies Small Business Administration content/2/3122www.sba.gov/about-offices- content/2/3122 Chamber of Commerce Higher Education Governor’s Workforce Development Council MN DEED IRS

ALA Publication Small Business and the Public Library: Strategies for a Successful Partnership Luise Weiss, Sophia Serlis- McPhillips, and Elizabeth Malafi

Partner Power Partnerships are essential in lean times. Who are your potential partners? Partnerships are essential in lean times. Who are your potential partners?

Partnerships Provided to Friends' Memorial Public Library by University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Entrepreneurship Program Small Business Start-up Backpacks

 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!