Tag Archives: NV

ALA NACo presentation highlights libraries supporting workforce development

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Phillip Gilfus, Fayetteville, NC

Over the past few years, the ALA has begun to make itself, our members and the profession more visible to key decision makers by exhibiting at national conferences sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators, National Association of Counties (NACo), ICMA and others. Sometimes conference attendees ask: “What are you doing here?” (since we’re not selling a “product”) while others say: “We’re so glad to see you’re here.” In both cases, we have a great opening for a conversation about how libraries are doing in their local communities (or schools), answer questions and share materials related to the resources available through our nation’s libraries. While many of the people who stopped by left their library cards at home, we were able to talk several conference attendees into showing us the smartest card in their wallets.

More than one person, however, who stopped by the booth told us they were in our corner – but we need to do a better job of marketing ourselves and our services to gain support. With so many demands on library staff – and often fewer staff to meet those demands as furloughs and layoffs take their toll – making time for marketing and advocacy is a challenge and a necessity.

In addition to staffing the booth at the NACo 75th anniversary conference in Reno, Nevada, I was excited to present a program. In partnership with Michael Dowling, director of the ALA Chapter Relations Office; Susan Nemitz, director of the Ramsey County Library (MN); and Susan Wolf Neilson, adult services manager and business librarian with Wake County Public Libraries (NC), our proposal for “Working Smarter: Libraries Partner to Support Workforce Development” was accepted.

Susan Neilson speaks at the National Association of Counties conference. To her left are Wake County Commissioners Betty Lou Ward and Joe Bryan, who both spoke about the essential roles the library plays in the county.

Both Susans (along with their county commissioners) did a great job talking about how library use has increased during the economic downturn and highlighting new collaborations and services geared to workforce development. In addition to providing access to the Internet and more than 600 computers, Ramsey County Library is part of a digital literacy taskforce, which also includes St. Paul Public Library, the Minnesota Literacy Council, Employer Solutions, and more collaborating to benchmark best practices, share digital literacy curriculum and conduct staff training. Working with Workforce Solutions and using federal funding for salary, the library also hired 21 people for 12 weeks to do RFID tagging, resulting in a value of $130,000. Through a summer youth program, the library also brought in seven young adults to work in the library and ultimately hired four of them.

Wake County’s award-winning Employment Assistance Program began in January 2009 with programs in four areas: career retooling, technology skills, life management and small business assistance. The program involved the support of many partners, including JobLink, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the State Library of North Carolina. Library staff marketed the programs through Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and websites for The News & Observer newspaper and the library. More than 1,050 people participated in the programs, more than 800 attended one of the technology classes, and more than 200 received direct job and career assistance. “Perhaps the most important strategy was to utilize the community. Library staff found many people who were willing to help and volunteer their time to teach résumé writing, career coaching, interviewing and other skills needed,” Neilson said.

Combining new PLFTAS data on how libraries support job seekers, new data from the Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Public Libraries, and local stories and statistics, libraries have a strong story to tell.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is quoted as saying, “Never let a serious crisis go to waste…it’s an opportunity to do things you couldn’t do before.” What would you like to do that couldn’t be done before? What would you like elected officials to know about your library services right now? Who are you partnering with to extend the library’s reach? Let us know, and we’ll share your stories and examples as we continue our outreach to elected officials.

New resource from Alabama Virtual Library…and a question

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People who know me know that I am not the numbers cruncher on our team. Over the years, I’ve become much more adept at reading spreadsheets, interpreting what I’m reading and asking good questions about what it all means. But, like many of my librarian colleagues, I prefer to think about effective practices and how I can best share these widely.

So, one of the things I look forward to doing in this space is sharing library technology uses that I like, linked to a data point and/or a question that hopefully will surface more examples and feedback. One that caught my eye recently was an AP news story about a new resource from the Alabama Virtual Library. Academic and public libraries worked together to compile information for the Gulf Oil Spill Resources page, according to Gregory Fitch, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

There are several things that I like about this resource…and like more generally about the AVL.

1. It helps readers/researchers AND encourages use of the AVL electronic resources by curating and featuring a topical resource. Like an old-school library bulletin board, physical book display or other pathfinder, it directs people’s attention and encourages them to dip into information resources they might not otherwise see or use.
2. They publicized it!
3. They encourage users to thank their legislators for funding the AVL, and link people over to the Find Your Legislator by Zip Code page.

I also used to enjoy perusing their stats and advocacy resources, but I don’t see these on the new site (yet?).

Ninety-five percent of public libraries (Fig. c-21) report they provide licensed databases to the public. Now, considering that all 50 state library agencies bought statewide database licenses for their public libraries (as of FY2008 at least), it should be 100% in our report. This raises one of my personal questions from the survey data: Why is it that only five states (DE, MD, NV, SC and WY, plus the District of Columbia) report 100% of library outlets provide licensed databases? Is it that some percentage of libraries in the other states:

1. Only report licensed databases they purchase/provide access to (rather than those brokered by the state library)
2. Don’t have the capacity to offer the statewide licensed databases inside the library for some reason?
3. Aren’t aware of the statewide licensed databases (and subsequently are not promoting them to their patrons)?
4. Other?

Nationwide, expenditures on statewide database licensing grew tremendously over the past decade. The State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2008 report from the Institute of Museum and Library Services tells us spending on such licenses more than doubled (in constant 2008 dollars) – going from $31.8 million in 1999 to $65.9 million in 2008.

Spurred in part by the massive cuts in Pennsylvania’s shared resources(Ask Here PA eliminated, 57%+ cut in the POWER library and more), I’ve been thinking more about how I can write and talk more successfully about these leveraged technology resources so that they are more visible – and hopefully less likely to be de-funded. I was purposeful in talking about the disproportionate impact on lower-income communities in my interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Hoover (who has written thoughtfully about libraries often in my 10 years at ALA – thanks Bob!). Here’s the quote I’m perhaps most proud of: “These actions are penny wise, but pound foolish,” Ms. Clark said. “By cutting off shared services, Pennsylvania has increased the gap between affluent and less affluent resources.” (Although I meant “affluent and less affluent communities.”)

Another early attempt to show the accumulated funding cuts can be seen in this year’s report (page 11). How do YOU raise awareness of these digital resources and show the benefits of statewide and/or regional licenses? Do you encourage them to thank their legislators on your virtual branch?