Libraries Supporting Small Business Development

Melinda Ludwiczak MELSAJennifer Peterson WebJunctionMLA Annual, October 2011

• Project Compass Overview• The Library, the Workforce and 21st Century Skills• Pathways to Workforce Recovery

8:00–9:00oCore ServicesoPersonal Financial Skills

1:30–2:30oJob Seekers

3:30–4:30oSmall Business

• Workforce Resources on WebJunction

Agenda

Project Compass is a partnership between WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina.

It is funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Project Compass: Libraries lead the workforce for the 21st Century

Project Compass Year One

• Survey of patron needs and library responses

• Summits with state agency staff (4 f2f, 1 online)

• Launch “Workforce Resources” community of practice on WebJunction

Libraries provide direction in tough times

Project Compass Year Two

•Face-to-face workshops in areas with highest unemployment/highest need

•Other state and regional library conferences

•Online programming and curriculum

•Ongoing resource sharing on WebJunction

Libraries lead the workforce for the 21st Century

The Library, the Workforce and the 21st Century

Project Compass

What are “21st century skills”?

21st century skills for the workforce

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Communication &

Collaboration Technology Literacy,

Media Literacy Flexibility & Adaptability

Social & Cross-cultural Skills Creative Thinking &

Innovation Productivity &

Accountability Teamwork Global Awareness

What’s so new?

Shifting nature of the workforce

It’s a “globally interconnected information economy.”

Lifelong learning

“Lifelong learning is not an option anymore; it’s a necessity!

SMART is the new RICH.”

(Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Skills)

It’s not about what to learn.

It’s about HOW to learn.

What does it mean to be a 21st century library?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

20TH CENTURY LIBRARY 21st CENTURY LIBRARYPrimarily content driven Audience and content drivenMostly tangible objects Tangible and digital objectsOne-way Multi-directionalFocus on presentation and display

Focus on audience engagement, experiences

Acts independently Acts in highly collaborative partnerships

Located in community Embedded in community Learning outcomes assumed,

implied Learning outcomes purposeful

They need the 21st century library.

And Entrepreneurs!

56 Things

you (your library) can do for economic development

Project Compass

to support entrepreneurs

Find partners (like SCORE) to offer business workshops in the library

Create a display of the best of your business

collection

Include a business link on your website home page

Set up a small

business center next to your job

center.

Post an “entrepreneur

readiness” checklist—find one online, like

the SBA’s “20 Questions” guide.

Get out of the library and get to know the small

business community better!

Host networking opportunities for entrepreneurs,

including people in the arts and crafts.

Offer library space for small business meetings

Introduction to Project Compass Pathways

A checklist of actions to help the workforce

Check what your library has already done

Circle where you would like to focus next

Find resources to help take the next steps

a Pathway is…

4 Pathways

Core Services

Job Seekers

Small Business

Personal Finance

5Sections

Disc

over

y &

As

sess

men

t

Colle

ction

s

Trai

ning

&

Prog

ram

min

g

Colla

bora

tion

Com

mun

icati

on

Small Business Pathway

Understanding how small business builds local economies

Connecting patrons with resources for small business

Providing training and programs to support small businesses

Why ? Starting new or sustaining existing local business creates jobs and stimulates the local economy.

Small Business & Entrepreneurs Pathway

Guiding question

Resources for each action

Remember to integrate other

approaches

MELSA Jobs & Small Business Task Force

• Collaborate with community partners• Strive for seamless entry system• Where every door is the right door

• Task Force Recommendations: http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cfm/library-staff/teams/task-forces/jobs-and-small-business-task-force/

• Resources: http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cfm/resources/job-and-small-business-resources/small-business-resources/

MELSA Small Business Initiatives

• Invite small business support organizations to Task Force meetings

• Small business workshops and consultations at MELSA libraries

• Small business online resource center• Cross training for community partner staff and

counselors• Print collateral - bookmark

Libraries to the rescue!

“Sell” your economic development assets: Broad audience access Meeting spaces Print and electronic collections Web content Databases Staff expertise Cross training, public training Computers and tech training Cross promotion And more…..

SCORE

Legal Corps

US Small Business Administration

Governor’s Workforce Development Council

Minnesota DEED

Power Through Collaboration

• SCORE www.scoreminnesota.org • Legal CORPS www.legalcorps.org • Bar Associations, Law Libraries• City, County, Regional Economic Development Agencies• Small Business Administration

www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3122 • Chamber of Commerce• Higher Education• Governor’s Workforce Development Council www.gwdc.org • MN DEED www.positivelyminnesota.com • IRS

ALA Publication

Small Business and the Public Library: Strategies for a Successful Partnership Luise Weiss, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, and Elizabeth Malafi

Partner Power

Partnerships are essential in lean times.

Who are your potential partners?

Partnerships

Provided to Friends' Memorial Public Library by University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Entrepreneurship Program

Small Business Start-up Backpacks

Select circled areas on pathways for focused actions

Identify relevant strategies, tools, partners, communication plans, etc.

Get a better idea of what success looks like

Your Action Plan

Workforce Resources on

WebJunction

WebJunction.org

webjunction.org/workforce-resources

See Member Center for help with: setting up an account,posting to discussions, creating documents.

You can tweet to this hashtag!

See also archive of these tweets

Key Resources

Digital version of each pathway with live links to all resources

All workshop curriculum materials and workbooks Free to download and repurpose

Links to upcoming and archived webinars related to workforce recovery

Content of two online workshops The hashtag! #libs4jobs

Growing Workforce Resources

National community continues to contribute to: Resources Templates Questions/Answers Webinars Twitter #libs4jobs

No contribution or question is too small…all are welcome!

This means YOU!

WebJunction-Minnesota

Free courses made available to you through the sponsorship of Minnesota State Library

Services in collaboration with Minitex.

Thank you!