supporting job seekers in public libraries: from traditional ......supporting job seekers in public...
TRANSCRIPT
Supporting Job Seekers in Public Libraries:
From Traditional Services to Trauma
Informed Awareness
Wesley W. Roberts, Library Services Manager
Workforce and Economic Development
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Overview
1. Introduction: 30+ Years of Workforce Services in Public
Libraries
2. A Model of Modern Workforce Services in Public Libraries
3. Traditional Workforce Development in Public Libraries
4. Trauma Informed Workforce Development in Public Libraries
5. Questions
30+ Years of Workforce Services in Public Libraries
● At least at Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh, job seekers have been
served as a specific constituency
for over 30 years
● Not “mission creep” -- public
libraries are often the “first stop”
for job seekers
● Information, technology, and a
human connection
CLP Job and Career Education Center, circa 2002
30+ Years of Workforce Services: Legislative Shift
● 1998 federal legislation that created
Workforce Investment Boards and
new federal regulations
● Creation of CareerLink and new
investment in workforce agencies
and services
● A shift away from public libraries as
a “pure” service provider
● New federal workforce legislation
passed in 2014
● Focuses on shifting funding to 21st
century skills, with additional
emphasis on youth
● Includes public libraries as an
official partner and thus eligibility
for federal funding
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA)
A Model for Modern Workforce Services in Public Libraries
● The evolution of workforce
legislation over the past 30
years has changed the way
public libraries provide
services
● Focus now on staff
knowledge, relationships,
and highly focused library
resources
Traditional Workforce Development in Public Libraries
● Resume writing
● Online job searching
and applications
● Interviewing techniques
● Local labor market data
Core knowledge base of,
and services for:
Traditional Workforce Development in Public Libraries
● Resume review
● Mock interviews
● 21st century computer
skills and classes
● Life After High School
for Teens
Core programs:
Traditional Workforce Development in Public Libraries
● WorkLaunch multi-day,
multi-site job fair with
partner agency that does
the heavy lifting
● CareerLink pop-ups
● Volunteers to teach
coding
Core Relationships:
Trauma Informed Workforce Development in Public Libraries
What is Trauma Informed Awareness?
● Recognition of physical or emotional traumas inflicted upon
individuals or communities
● Requires high level emotional intelligence: listening,
empathizing, being nonjudgemental
● Knowing when to provide general care versus referring to
someone who is specially trained
Trauma Informed Workforce Development in Public Libraries
● Social worker on-site as
growing best practice;
Social Services Lead at
CLP--Downtown
● Staff training on trauma
informed awareness Fall
2016
● Referrals to appropriate
providersSocial worker in Multnomah County Central Library http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/05/central_library_brings_a_socia.html
Core knowledge and services:
Trauma Informed Workforce Development in Public Libraries
● Allegheny County Jail
Initiative, Literacy
Unlocked
● Community Kitchen
reading groups
Core Relationships and
Outreach Programs:
