View Project

G2S Project Code: 2022-WA-91827
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2022
Grantee
Washington State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Joyce Abbott
Director Phone: 360-570-5578
Director Email: joyce.abbott@sos.wa.gov
General Information
Title: Workforce Development
State Project Code: 9550-2321-26
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2023
Abstract: Washington State Library contributes 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. WSL achieves this by engaging libraries and traditional workforce development partners at the local, state, and national levels, identifying areas where the goals of libraries and traditional partners intersect, and fostering partnerships that help the community as a whole move forward. The workforce development resources are funded by the state but a portion of the salary and benefits of the project manager are paid with LSTA funds.
State Goal: Goal 1. Promote economic growth, education and life-long learning.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$70,903.67
$750,000.00
$0.00
$820,903.67
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.
Employment
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Management of workforce resources
Narrative: The project manager administers the workforce resources by managing group purchases, consulting with partner libraries and community-based organizations, and outreaching about the program to vested partners. During this reporting period, the project manager focused on conducting informational interviews with the staff of libraries and CBOs after the long vacancy to see how they are using the resources and understand the workforce resource ecosystem in Washington.
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: Management and distribution of certification vouchers and preparation materials


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 275
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 25


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
70+ years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
Unemployed
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
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: 56
Academic Libraries: 16
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 1
Other: 36
Activity Details
Title: Digital Equity initiatives
Narrative: Digital equity is a major focus of the workforce development project. The project manager serves in state- and nation-wide groups working in the digital equity space so she can inform libraries about upcoming opportunities, connect them with potential partners, and highlight the work that libraries do to support digital equity. She presented at numerous summits and conferences, including NetInclusion 2023 and the Washington Digital Equity Summit. The project manager provided library-specific comments on Washington's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan and originated a statewide digital equity listserv.
Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 30
Number of presentations/performances administered: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 84


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
After an extended vacancy, the current project manager started in November 2022 and has conducted interviews with users of these services to better understand their needs. The project manager has also become more involved with digital equity.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
With the influx of funding to increase broadband access, it is important that libraries have a voice in the conversations. Their past efforts in digital inclusion should be recognized and they should have a say in and be eligible for funding for future projects.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
It can be difficult for individual libraries to keep up and participate in all of the discussions about digital equity, so having a statewide project manager who can represent libraries to other groups and bring information from those working groups back to the libraries is crucial.
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: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: workforce, employment, digital equity