The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release and
a graphic can be viewed on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/091009.shtm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2009
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]
OCLC Press Contact
614-761-5136
Bob Murphy, [log in to unmask]
IMLS Grant Will Help Libraries Help the Unemployed
Washington, DC-Job seekers have packed libraries around the country
during recent months, searching online job sites, building resumes,
taking interview classes, and making use of a wide range of other
employment services and resources. More help is on the way. Through a
grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS),
WebJunction, the online learning community for library staff created by
OCLC, a nonprofit library service and research organization; and the
State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) have launched a one-year
initiative to gather and share best practices for providing
library-based employment services and programs to the unemployed.
"We know that libraries are making important contributions to the
nation's economic recovery, and IMLS is committed to helping those
libraries help their communities get back to work," said Anne-Imelda M.
Radice, IMLS Director. "We admire this grant because of the educational
opportunities it will provide and the relationships between libraries
and economic and workforce development agencies that it will foster."
"In North Carolina, we have established real collaborations in
communities across the state between public libraries and local
workforce development organizations, which together support job seekers
in everything from basic computer skills to applying for jobs online,"
said Mary L. Boone, State Librarian of North Carolina. "We are delighted
to partner with IMLS and WebJunction to share what we have learned with
our colleagues around the country." The State Library of North Carolina
was one of the state library agencies that stepped forward earlier this
year to coordinate a highly successful statewide library education
program in response to the economic downturn. Members of SLNC's staff
who were instrumental in that state's success will contribute
significantly to the national project.
The partners will develop and host an online training module - available
to everyone -- that adapts the workshop curriculum and experience. A
core feature of the program will be online conversations at
webjunction.org for state library administrators to explore new ideas
for supporting local public library staff to deliver workforce services.
All regional workshops and the online training module will be supported
by follow-on programming. This will provide participants with the
resources and support they need to assist local public libraries as they
respond to urgent patron demands.
"Severe unemployment strikes at the core of any community, and libraries
work hard to respond to these community needs," said Cathy De Rosa, Vice
President, Marketing, OCLC. "We are pleased to work with IMLS and the
State Library of North Carolina to help respond to those needs. This
program allows us to support communities and individuals working to cope
with unemployment and to support libraries as they work to provide
essential infrastructure and services for national economic recovery."
Project goals include dissemination of services, programs, and
partnerships to support the unemployed; greater capacity in state
library agencies to support their local public libraries; and broader
understanding and support outside the library field for the workforce
development role that libraries have in responding to the crisis.
Additional IMLS resource: Libraries to the Rescue is a set of five
podcasts, including one by Mary L. Boone, State Librarian of North
Carolina, that focuses on how libraries are helping citizens access all
types of employment assistance. Click here for a list of Online
Resources for Libraries and Jobseekers.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of
federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the
national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to
sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and
innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about
the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
About WebJunction
Since 2003, WebJunction has helped more nearly 50,000 library staff
build their job skills by partnering with state library agencies and
other library service organizations to deliver cost-effective staff
training and development programs. WebJunction's vision is to be the
place where the worldwide library profession gathers to build the
knowledge, skills, and support it needs to power relevant, vibrant
libraries. Based in Seattle, Washington, and Dublin, Ohio, WebJunction
is supported in part by OCLC, grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the
library community. More information is available at www.webjunction.org.
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