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G2S Project Code: 2023-WA-93212
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2023
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: 09550-2421-26
Start Date: 10/01/2023
End Date: 09/30/2024
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, access to education, and lifelong learning for all.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$86,420.19
$810,000.00
$0.00
$896,420.19
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.
Employment
Activities
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. This reporting period, the project manager joined representatives from the Alaska and Idaho state libraries to present at the Pacific Northwest Library Association conference about digital equity initiatives and attended the Digital Equity Data Summit in Dallas.
Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: Serving on committees and attending relevant summits


Quantity


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: 13
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Consultations/site visits
Narrative: The project manager consults with libraries about workforce products and processes to tailor them to each library's needs, and interfaces with vendors on behalf of local libraries. She also confers with other state libraries about similar services.
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


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 85
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 7


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: 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: 16
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 2
Activity Details
Title: Training
Narrative: The Workforce Development Librarian provides trainings on workforce services and arranges for vendor representatives to provide trainings on their products. During this reporting period, a series of LinkedIn Learning trainings was revamped with a Dungeons & Dragons theme, which brought in attendees who enjoyed the gaming twist.
Intent: Improve users' ability to use resources and apply information for employment support.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 10
Average number in attendance per session: 21
Number of times program administered: 1


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: 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: 3
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 2
School Libraries: 8
Other: 4
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The Workforce Development Librarian's work requires a high level of coalition-building with other state agencies, community-based organizations, and libraries. They are also very involved in digital equity initiatives at the state and federal levels.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The development of facilitation skills will be a focus for the Workforce Development Librarian in the future.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Working with partner organizations with differing goals and priorities requires setting clear boundaries and expectations about what WSL can offer.
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