Project Compass: Libraries providing direction in tough times
Communities are struggling with job loss and other needs related to high unemployment and state libraries are responding!
Project Compass is:
- Funded by a one-year $250,000 IMLS grant awarded on September 10, 2009
- A partnership between WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina
- Directed at state library agencies and focused on their collaboration
Key Goals of Project Compass:
- Support state library agencies in maximizing the effectiveness of local libraries providing activities, services, and outreach to unemployed residents.
- Foster successful, ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange among state library agencies.
- Promote strategic partnerships with other organizations that serve the unemployed.
- Increase awareness of library services and demonstrate to key decision makers the critical role libraries serve during times of economic crisis.
- Collect stories and evidence of the impact libraries have on the employment recovery or career advancement of patrons.
Phases of the Project
1. Conduct a survey of patron needs and library responses
- An online survey collected data on increased patron demands on public libraries, libraries’ responses to those needs, and the state libraries’ support of the public libraries’ work.
- The survey was sent to state library development directors (or equivalent) in 51 states in October. Read the summary of the survey results, published in December 2009.
2. Build curriculum and facilitate four regional summits
- Between March and May 2010, we are offering four regional summits designed to build state library capacity for developing statewide partnerships and workforce development services.
- Each state library will be invited to send two participants to one of the following summits:
- March 10-12: Atlanta, GA
- March 21-23: Portland, OR (before PLA 2010)
- May 5-7: Providence, RI
- May 26-28: Denver, CO
3. Create and launch online community of practice and online summit module
- An online version of the summits will be developed on WebJunction, and offered by June 2010.
- A community of practice for Workforce Resources is expanding with information.
- All libraries are encouraged to contribute to the growing pool of resources.
Betha Gutsche is the Project Compass coordinator, and she directs a collaborative team of seven staff members participating from both WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina. Please contact Betha for information about the project: gutscheb (at) oclc.org.
