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G2S Project Code: 2020-WA-86207
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Washington State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Elizabeth Iaukea
Director Phone: 360-570-5578
Director Email: elizabeth.iaukea@sos.wa.gov
General Information
Title: Workforce Development
State Project Code: 9550-2121-26
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Washington State Library's engagement in workforce development falls under our library’s strategic goal to promote economic growth, education and life-long learning. We strive to contribute to the state’s economic prosperity by supporting relevant and high-quality education, literacy and reading, and life-long learning opportunities, to help Washingtonians get living-wage jobs, and support the creation of a highly skilled workforce for employers and industry to thrive in the current and future economy. We achieve this by engaging libraries and traditional workforce development partners at the local, state, and national level, identifying areas where the goals of libraries and traditional partners intersect, and fostering partnerships that help our community as a whole move forward.


State Goal: Goal 1. Promote economic growth, education and life-long learning.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$94,702.89
$945,000.00
$0.00
$1,039,702.89
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.
Employment
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Presentations
Narrative:

Our workforce development librarian attend state and regional workforce development meetings, representing libraries and identifying where libraries can have a positive effect on employment outcomes for job seekers in their communities. Our goal is to build relationships and pursue partnerships. We facilitated meetings with Washington public library staff and state and regional workforce development system partners, including weekly meetings of the national LibsWork group for over a month. These transitioned back to monthly meetings, but we added weekly meetings for 3 work groups:  Upskilling Library staff, Resources for Jobseekers, and Supporting Entrepreneurs and Small Business. We offered a number of workforce development training webinars for library staff.

Washington State Library's Project Manager attended national, state and regional meetings to promote library participation in workforce development. We developed access and management tools for use across the state, including local public, academic and institutional libraries. These tools support technology learning opportunities and certification through an understanding of how to participate in our state-led programs.


Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 400


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: Yes
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: For what age groups: For what economic types: For what ethnicity types: Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 62
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Consultations and contributions to Washington's workforce development plan
Narrative:

Washington State Library's Program Manager led and participated in national and state organizations that help libraries have a positive impact on employment outcomes for the 14 populations identified by WIOA (Workforce Innovator & Opportunity Act) as facing significant barriers to employment. We encourage and facilitate partnerships to bring these into play. We developed access and management tools for use across the state, including local public, academic and institutional libraries. These tools support technology learning opportunities and certification through an understanding of how to participate in our state library led programs.



Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: Consultations


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 115
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 10


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 60
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Library staff across Washington State gained a better understanding of our state workforce development system, and were able see where they fit and where they can contribute to positive outcomes. Traditional workforce development partner staff have a better understanding of how libraries can help contribute to their partner success.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Washington State Library can better identify, understand, and support the important role that all libraries can play in their communities.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Traditional employment development partners have gained a better understanding of the unique, and in many cases, critical role libraries can play and that they are eager to participate. Together we can be more successful. This came into play sharply this year with the pandemic challenges and we were able to provide tools and draw on our past years’ experiences.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:
We will continue to expand and explore partnerships.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:
Workforce continues to be an important tool both as training for local libraries to learn how to help local patrons and for ensuring the unemployed have the most opportunities possible.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Workforce, employment, partnerships