Participants in the Project Compass summits identified projects to enhance libraries' support of workforce recovery in their states. This list of projects is organized by category. Some projects are duplicated if they applied to more than one category.
Project Categories:
- Training for library staff
- Training for patrons
- Website of resources
- Connectivity and computer access
- DOL and related partnerships
- Business development
- Raising awareness and funding
- CA-1: We identified a need for a planning tool that would help public libraries in California to reprioritize and refocus in light of the budgetary reductions they have recently experienced. We want to experiment with a new process, Strategic Reality Check, developed by consultants George Needham and Joan Frye Williams.
- CA-2: Create an online site (web page on exisiting website, perhaps) for LSTA project participants to share and research workforce development and job skills training resources - links to Project Compass a must!
- CO: Empower local librarians to gain facilitation skills and become an essential contributor to local community improvement efforts as leader or guide.
- CT: Implement Project Compass in Connecticut.
- IA: Develop a librarian's toolkit to help librarians use existing resources and avoid reinventing the wheel.
- ID: Train librarians in the e-rate process and set up a model for training them how to use other resources.
- KS: Adapt the NC workforce training to an online environment through a blended approach of synchronous and asynchronous activities and events.
- KY: Expand on program to provide better trained library staff by encouraging staff to take college classes, either in pursuit of an associate, bachelor's or master's degree.
- MS: Training library staff to be aware of and offer assistance with e-magnolia, online job training offered by the MS Dept of Employment Security through the DOL portal
- NM: "Grow your own librarian." Obtain funding for the many library directors in NM with no formal library training or education to get AAs and MLSs in library science.
- OH: Provide regional training on specific job help electronic product.
- SC: a day-long seminar on Workforce Development, using a model that we created for Small Business Services.
- SD: focus on "training the trainer," hoping to partner with the local workforce agency to better equip frontline staff at the library to work with job seekers.
- TX: Grow your own librarian - create a library certification program.
- UT: Growing Our Own Librarians. Identify staff already working in small and rural libraries in Utah and provide them with the support needed (financial assistance, mentoring, etc.) to acquired a formal education in library science and information management. The project would support staff in undergraduate and graduate programs.
- AZ: BTOP proposal: 200 Virtual Workforce Workstations at public libraries will provide job seekers with job search and placement assistance. Face-to-face training and access to resources will be provided through 28 AZ Job Help Hubs, at least one in each county.
- DE: The on-site Community Resource Exchange brings a variety of social service/employability-related agencies & organizations together for face-to-face meetings with citizens. Libraries are the hosting partners.
- HI: Collaboration with state labor department to offer informational and training programs in public libraries.
- ID: Round 2 BTOP proposal objectives: * Leverage partnerships to offer services and resources in education, workforce development, and e-government.
- IN: Provide focused unemployment assistance.
- MN: Create a system for job seekers and entrepreneurs that "Any door is the right door" by seeking strong collaboration across state, regional, county and city organizations and community based organizations.
- MS: Training library staff to be aware of and offer assistance with e-magnolia, online job training offered by the MS Dept of Employment Security through the DOL portal.
- MT: Apply (hope for) BTOP funds to purchase a motor home and make it into a portable lab that will move about Western MT and teach computer skills, database usage and health information access. This will be focusing on the underserved and unemployed in Western Montana.
- NE: As part of our Round 2 BTOP application, we plan to work with the state Department of Labor to extend their employment and training services through training to be provided at public library sites.
- NM: Fast Forward New Mexico will continue efforts to provide training to the public and librarians on computer literacy.
- OR: subscribing to a testing database for libraries across state
- RI: Support career development for unemployed, non-college bound youth.
- SC: The project we developed at the meeting regarded offering workshops on life skills for the unemployed at the library.
- FL: Development of a statewide web portal for patron use in accessing e-government services.
- GA: GALILEO will work with Georgia Public Library Service in the area of online resources available to Georgia citizens. Create a Workforce Recovery web portal that will be useful for Georgia librarians as well as the citizens of Georgia. This project will dovetail with the Governor's Work Read Initiative.
- OH: Take our successful Find Help in Tough Times project which was implemented at the state level and attempt to bring it down to the local level.
- MA: Collaborate with newly reorganized Massachusetts library system, automated resource sharing networks, and other relevant groups to license content statewide. Also, create one online location for libraries (and patrons) where all libraries in Massachusetts can post a link to resources they've created or programs they are running for job seekers.
- MD: Create a website that county libraries systems will be able to contribute to that will provide access to employment information as well as other supports for the unemployed (food, housing, heating oil, etc.)
- MI: Making our web materials more obvious to the public and librarians.
- MS: providing resources on our web site for public libraries.
- PA: Create an online resource of career and jobs information, identifying the best materials through a survey of our largest libraries.
- RI: Pool resources and talents of library and non-library organizations (eg Dept of Labor & Training) to create an online portal for the unemployed and other job-seekers.
- VA: Work on a resources packet piece. This will be a "one stop shop" for library staff wanting to help patrons looking for employment.
Connectivity and computer access
- AK: BTOP proposal: Better broadband use throughout the state will assist patrons in their use of e-government and other internet-borne utilities.
- ID: Round 2 BTOP proposal objectives: * Increase connectivity rates in the least connected public libraries ( <5 Mbps are priority) * Upgrade public computing resources
- IL: BTOP grant for libraries to address: 1) Increased demands for computer access by the unemployed, the disabled and adult literacy students; 2) Special demands for employment information, literacy training, legal information and access to digital books by the blind and physically handicapped; and 3) Increased demands for online library services caused by the economic slowdown.
- MT: Apply BTOP grant to put more computers in 42 libraries.
- NC: Apply the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant to improve connectivity, access to public computers and training for library staff and users in the job search process in 35 NC counties with the highest unemployment levels.
- NV: A BTOP -PCC application was submitted to increase public computing capacity in many of our public libraries.
- NY: build 30 computing centers and 5 mobile units for job exploration and skills development in 41 upstate counties. Promotion and marketing of planned PCC centers in public libraries.
- CO: Develop partnerships with the Dept. of Labor, Economic Development, colleges in Colorado, Community College system and ADA agency in order to support local libraries in getting the support and resources they need for work force development, new business development, and educational opportunities.
- FL: Collaborating with Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation
- HI: Collaboration with state Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations to offer informational and training programs in public libraries. The goal is to provide unemployed and underemployed people with information about what state benefits are available, for which benefits they might qualify and how to apply for these benefits.
- MT: partnership with Department of Labor and Industry to do training on their website and various forms that users can get to and fill out from libraries computers
- NE: BTOP grant proposal involves partnerships with a number of public and private organizations.
- OH: The State Library of Ohio will work with Ohio Library Council to support partnerships with One-Stops on a local level.
- OR: Better collaboration between public libraries and State of Oregon WorkSource centers.
- UT: Continue to expand the connections between workforce service agencies and public libraries in the state.
- WV: To encourage public libraries to make local collaborations with their community WorkForce Development offices.
- AZ: Arizona has several economic development projects underway.
- CO: Colorado is in the middle of a year long project to bring awareness to Colorado libraries on "Economic Gardening". Economic Gardening is a program that helps to grow jobs through entrepreneurial activity within the community. The program will coordinate information and a series of trainings.
- CT: Establish a program that can be easily implemented state-wide that will offer a template for libraries looking to collaborate with community partners to increase assistance to entrepreneurs and facilitate new small businesses in our state.
- IL: Provide up to 66 public libraries with laptops, DVD players, projectors, planning software and training videos that will support small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- NJ: Develop stronger relationships with economic development organizations ((eg. partnering with the regional SBDC) and similar business interests to strengthen the library's ability to deliver services to the business community.
- WI: I want to think about how to involve business partners.
- ALA-Washington Office: I'd like to work more with the Department of Labor.
- FL: An advocacy component of a training module for public libraries
- ME: The Maine State Library needs to help libraries tell their patrons' stories and to publicize the economic benefits of their work to our communities and State. We will seek different ways to partner with non-library related organizations.
- NJ: Develop partnerships that lead to better advocacy and teach librarians how to work with others to advocate for libraries with elected officials at all levels.
- ND: Establishing libraries as critical in the minds of elected officials, heads of agencies, and citizens.
- TN: Renewable, sustainable funding; marketing
- VA: Explore new library funding from non-traditional sources, such as corporate sponsors.
- WY: Advocacy training for library directors.
