RALEIGH – The State Library of North Carolina announced today that it will partner with the online learning group WebJunction in the national phase of a project aimed at getting people back to work. The one-year initiative, funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), will gather and share best practices for providing library-based employment services to the unemployed.
The program was pioneered by the State Library of North Carolina, which held statewide training sessions for librarians. That project, which was announced by Gov. Bev Perdue in March, included sessions with work force development professionals that shared information on job searches, resume writing and interview resources. Other elements of the workshops included Internet resources, on-line databases, local and state job listings, and print materials
“Most top U.S. retailers no longer accept in-store paper applications, leading many people to head to their libraries for help and on-line access,” said Linda A. Carlisle, Secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources. “We saw a way to assist North Carolina’s public libraries meet the needs of job seekers.”
In the national program, 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.
“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 is a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. It is now podcasting 24/7 with information about the Department of Cultural Resources, all available at www.ncculture.com.