Libraries Lead the Workforce for the 21st Century

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Fee: Free for those in the California library community.

Course Instructor: Karen Bosch Cobb
 
As of February 2011, 8 of the 10 metro areas in the United States with the highest unemployment rates were in California .  The need for workforce development in California is huge. But times are tough in libraries too, so how do you and your library director know that you are making the best choices to support workforce development? Happily, Project Compass, a project funded through Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and administered by WebJunction/OCLC, has developed a program that can help! 
 
Workshop Description: This free, all-day hands-on interactive workshop will examine the shifting nature of today’s workforce. Attendees will learn what defines IMLS 21st Century workforce skills. They will evaluate what their libraries are already doing to support these skills and what more they can do. WebJunction’s four Project Compass Topic Pathways will be reviewed: Core Services, Job Seekers, Small Business, and Personal Finance. Students will develop a personalized Action Plan for their libraries that fit the needs of their communities; the Action Plan will include working with at least one community workforce development partner. The instructor will provide extensive handouts and an annotated webliography. The workshop will also include group exercises and activities. Students will be required to respond to two future surveys from WebJunction. If two or more people from the same library attend the workshop, they may work on the exercises and action plan as a team.

Learn more about Project Compass at: www.webjunction.org/project-compass.

Pre-workshop assignment: Before the workshop attendees will receive three work assignments: one requires students to interview their library director or manager,  the second to research local workforce development partners, and the third to complete a very BRIEF survey.

Preliminary Course Outline

  • Learn about 21st Century Workforce Skills and the Shifting Nature of the Workforce
  • The Role of Libraries
    • Build on what you and others have done with Discovery/Assessment, Collections, Training & Programming, Collaboration, and Communication as they relate to workforce development
    • Introduction to WebJunction Project Compass Topic Pathways and selection of one for your library
      • Core Services (best practices for beginning services to help the economically impacted, identifying key service providers, providing basic computer skills, and building core partnership skills)
      • Job Seekers (help job seekers locate important resources & assistance)
      • Small Business (connect users with resources for small business growth & sustainability)
      • Personal Finance (how to provide resources, training and programs on applying for social services, refinancing a mortgage, getting out of debt, etc.)
  • Integrating Library Services with other Workforce Development Partners
    • What Do They Do?
    • What do They Need from the Library?
    • How will you collaborate?
  • Develop and Finalize the Action Plan you will use in your library
  • Review Resources (don't reinvent the wheel!)

Who Should Attend: The workshop is for any member of the California library community who wants to continue to provide valuable and much-needed library support to job seekers, small businesses, and workforce development partners.

Prerequisites: None

Special Note: Not only is this workshop free, but also the grant from WebJunction allows us to reimburse attendees’ travel expenses.

Check-in: 8:30 to 9:00 AM Instruction: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

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