libraries and workforce recovery

Libraries and Workforce RecoveryAssociation for Rural and Small Libraries

Denver 2010

Presenters

Shelley WalchakSenior ConsultantColorado State Librarywalchak_s@cde.state.co.us303-866-6891

Jennifer PetersonCommunity ManagerWebJunctionpetersoj@oclc.org

Kathleen RainwaterBusiness LibrarianArapahoe Library Districtkrainwater@ALD.lib.co.us

Jackie KuusinenAssociate Reference LibrarianBud Werner Memorial Libraryjkuusinen@steamboatlibrary.org

What is the current national unemployment rate? 9.6%

Bonus question: Do you know your state’s rate? Highest=Nevada 14.4 %

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2008 5.0 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.4 5.5 5.8 6.1 6.2 6.6 6.9 7.4

2009 7.7 8.2 8.6 8.9 9.4 9.5 9.4 9.7 9.8 10.1 10.0 10.0

2010 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.9 9.7 9.5 9.5 9.6        

Data Discovery: Finding Unemployment Statisticshttp://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/86022007

National Unemployment Data

More than what % of new jobs are created in the small business sector?75%

Making Cities Stronger, ULC, 1/2007

How many public libraries are there nationwide?9,221 (16,604 buildings)

What % of those are in rural communities?77.8% in areas serving < 25,000http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/index.asp and ALA, A Perfect Storm Brewing

Libraries as Lifelinesto Economic Recovery

A collaboration of WebJunction & the State Library of North Carolina

Funded by a grant from IMLS

A Year with Project Compass

Questions for Today

How have you responded to this increase in job related needs in your library?

Who have you partnered with in your community to respond? Business, social service agencies, churches, chamber of commerce?

What shoestring or non-existent budget suggestions?

Patron Needs

30 million people used library computers or wifi for job helpin the past year

photo by All_Utah_Libraries on Flickr

Your Top Needs

1. Staff training

2. Patron training & resources

3. DOL partnerships, state & local

4. Support for entrepreneurs

5. Augmenting the value of libraries

Showcasing accomplishments

Staff Training

North Carolina – Job Search Workshops

http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/94111158

Florida – E-Government Resources and Training

Pasco County Library System• Offer e-gov training to the public• Collected resources online• Partner with other agencies including One-Stop Career Centers

Patron training & resources

http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/98612509

Arizona – Job Help Program

The Pima County Public Library (PCPL) and Pima County ONESTOP Career Centers formed a partnership to create programs and identify technology-based solutions to meet the needs of the community’s growing displaced worker population.

Partnerships

http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/92321026

Support for entrepreneurs

http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/103122377

• How to Make Your Library Entrepreneur-Friendly• Turning Your Databases into Business for Your Customers• Going to Your Customer - Outreach and Strategic Partnerships

Colorado – Webinar series on Libraries and Economic Development

Suzanne Kaller, Arapahoe Library, Business Expo

• Tell Us Your Story Campaign http://www.tellusyourstory.org/

•Snapshot: One Day in the Life of New Jersey Libraries http://snapshot.njlibraries.org/

Augmenting the value

New Jersey – Libraries Transform Lives

Colorado – Big Hairy Audacious GoalColorado Association of Libraries Advocacy Initiative http://bhagcolorado.blogspot.com

• Non-library spokespeople• Describing the value of public libraries• Easily reproducible

Workforce Resources communitywebjunction.org/workforce-resources

You can tweet to this hashtag!

Twitter hashtag #libs4jobs

Archive of tweets: http://bit.ly/cpuPyL

Project Compass Continues!

A new IMLS “follow-on” grant

the partnership continues!

Grantfunding

Partners

Stay Tuned

Arapahoe Library District locations and Bookmobile stops

Kathleen RainwaterBusiness Librarian, Arapahoe Library Districtkrainwater@ALD.lib.co.uswww.arapahoelibraries.org

Arapahoe Library District Databases and Find a Great Job http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/85831436

http://www.careeronestop.org/

• Free Web tools• CareerOneStop http://www.careeronestop.org/ • O*NET System http://online.onetcenter.org/ • myskills, myFuture http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/

• Book a librarian

• Hidden job market and social tools

• Tools for small businesses

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Jackie KuusinenAssociate Reference LibrarianBud Werner Memorial Libraryjkuusinen@steamboatlibrary.orghttp://www.steamboatlibrary.org

Photo Courtesy of Jason Edinburg

Holding a Resume Workshop Event at your Library http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/104224585

Take Action!

What’s next?

What are the barriers to my actions?

With these barriers in mind, what one thing can I do?

What will success look like? (fantasy outcome...dare to dream!)

Workforce Resources

Handout and Slides are available on WebJunction:http://bit.ly/b7X5lo

webjunction.org/workforce-resources