ten50-09a1.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

4 APPENDIX. HIGHLIGHTS OF EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC WORKFORCE SYSTEM AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES STATE PARTNERSHIPS With Gubernatorial Support the State of North Carolina Trained Librarians on Workforce System Resources With the support of the Governor the North Carolina Department of Commerce the Employment Security Commission and the State Library within the Department of Cultural Resources partner to train library staff in resources available to help individuals search and apply for jobs. In March 2009 representatives from the State Library and local JobLink Career Centers JLCCs presented nine workshops to nearly 300 public library staff representing 85 percent of the state s public libraries as well as two community college librarians. The workshops provided librarians with an overview of services and job search resources available through JLCCs and shared information on ways in which local libraries could partner with JLCCs. After the workshops a Job Search Toolkit wiki was developed available at http jobsearchtoolkit.pbworks.com . State Support for Local Partnerships in Illinois As part of a strategic effort to expand partnerships to meet the needs of job seekers unemployed workers and businesses the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Employment and Training encourages local workforce areas to partner with libraries in their communities. Currently 75 library systems in the state are Illinois workNet partners. Libraries direct patrons to Illinois workNet for career and employment assistance and refer them to Illinois Skills Match a Web-based skills match program sponsored by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The Illinois workNet Web site provides contact information for all of the Illinois public libraries and identifies libraries as locations where job seekers may access the Internet free of charge and receive computer training. Illinois workNet Centers have oriented librarians on the tools and resources available through the Illinois workNet system and have provided training to librarians on helping patrons with job searches and to patrons on r sum writing. The States of Delaware and Virginia Have Engaged Libraries as Access Points to Deliver Employment Services The States of Delaware and Virginia have engaged libraries as Access Points in their SHARE Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers Networks. Access Points are community-based and nonprofit organizations that are nonfinancial partners serving as employment information centers by providing job seekers and unemployed workers with career assistance and connections to One-Stop Career Centers via computer or direct referral. The Delaware Workforce Investment Board trains library staff on the use of Delaware JobLink and conducts workshops on r sum preparation and electronic job searches at several library locations. As one of its partnership activities the Library of Virginia assists job seekers and unemployed workers with completing online employment applications including conducting job searches and filing for unemployment insurance. 5 Close Linkages with Local Libraries Extend the Reach of Programs for Youth in the Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands Department of Labor VIDOL is partnering with the library system on youth employment activities. The Territorial Director of Libraries Archives and Museums participates on the Virgin Islands Youth Council a sub-council of the state workforce investment board. The VIDOL uses library locations and book mobiles to disseminate information about the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 youth program and the summer youth employment program. In addition as a component of the summer youth employment program the VIDOL used library locations to conduct career exploration activities for youth. LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS Partnering to Provide Access to Employment Resources in Anoka County Minnesota Since 2005 the Anoka County Job Training Center ACJTC the local workforce investment board and the Anoka County library system have partnered to inform job seekers about each other s resources and make referrals. The ACJTC designated an official liaison from the Minnesota WorkForce Center-Anoka County to the library system. The liaison conducts tours of the WorkForce Center trains new and existing library staff on the Center s electronic resources and provides libraries with outreach materials. The WorkForce Center has dedicated space to library resources and library card applications. Library staff educates WorkForce Center staff about its resources trains the staff to use its Web resources and makes library cards available. In addition libraries disseminate information to patrons on the services available through the WorkForce Center. Finally ACJTC and library leadership meet quarterly to discuss ways to enhance the partnership. Creating a Connection Site to Serve Seattle-King County Job Seekers Seven Days a Week In June 2009 the Seattle Public Library created a Job Resources Center at its central library location and branded it as a WorkSource Seattle-King County connection site. The Job Resources Center includes six dedicated computer terminals that patrons can use for up to two hours to conduct job search activities. Workforce development experts from South Seattle Community College a WorkSource affiliate site teach a series of workshops at the library aimed to build job seeking skills. The library redesigned the job resources section of its Web site and developed a video tutorial to better serve patrons who need employment assistance. As employees of a connection site library staff members receive two WorkSource trainings that provide an introduction to the public workforce system and to the WorkSource system Web site. South Central Michigan Works and Adrian Public Library Open Doors for Entrepreneurs The South Central Michigan Works SCMW workforce investment board and the Adrian Public Library are members of a regional alliance launched in 2009 to coordinate services to small business entrepreneurs. The ultimate goal of the alliance is to implement a no wrong door approach to serving the area s entrepreneurs. At its Adrian One-Stop Career Center SCMW provides a Biz Resource Center with information on writing business plans and offers a diversification program to help companies find new markets and customers. The library offers access to electronic databases a business resource center and meeting space as well as assistance with activities such as conducting market research. In addition to working together to serve entrepreneurs SCMW and the library partner to deliver other workforce services. For 6 example SCMW offers services at the library in the evenings and weekends including workshops for job seekers on topics such as r sum writing and interview skills. Making Workforce Services Mobile in Colorado The Jefferson County Workforce Center and Jefferson County Public Library in Colorado collaborate to provide residents including those in the rural and mountain communities with access to meaningful workforce services. One result of the partnership is eTrain Mobile Training Lab a renovated van that is staffed by a knowledgeable instructor and equipped with a resource center and a computer lab. Launched in 2009 the eTrain serves as a community classroom assessment center and registration hub. Residents from Jefferson Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties are able to access career and employment information including workshops on r sum writing job searches and skill assessments through the eTrain. The Jefferson County Workforce Center and the Jefferson County Libraries contribute funding for the cost of operating the eTrain. Using Community Kiosks to Inform Citizens of Milwaukee About Workforce and Other Social Services With funding from the Helen Bader Foundation the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board MAWIB established five kiosks at different sites in the community. Each kiosk enables users to access and print information on community resources in education employment and public services. Additionally the kiosks incorporate touch-screen technology which extends access to information to people with limited computer skills. The kiosks were launched in May 2009 pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between MAWIB Milwaukee Public Library Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. Initial locations included MAWIB Center Street Library Goodwill and the Milwaukee Housing Authority. Over the summer of 2010 the partnership plans to install two additional kiosks one each at the City Hall and another library branch.