Libraries Supporting Small Business Development Melinda
Ludwiczak MELSA Jennifer Peterson WebJunction MLA Annual, October
2011
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Project Compass Overview The Library, the Workforce and 21 st
Century Skills Pathways to Workforce Recovery 8:009:00 o Core
Services o Personal Financial Skills 1:302:30 o Job Seekers
3:304:30 o Small Business Workforce Resources on WebJunction
Agenda
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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
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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
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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 21 st
Century
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The Library, the Workforce and the 21 st Century
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Project Compass What are 21 st century skills?
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21 st 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 Whats
so new?
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Shifting nature of the workforce Its a globally interconnected
information economy.
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Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is not an option anymore;
its a necessity! SMART is the new RICH. (Bernie Trilling, 21st
Century Skills) Its not about what to learn. Its about HOW to
learn.
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What does it mean to be a 21 st century library?
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 TH CENTURY LIBRARY21 st CENTURY LIBRARY
Primarily content drivenAudience and content driven Mostly tangible
objectsTangible and digital objects One-wayMulti-directional Focus
on presentation and display Focus on audience engagement,
experiences Acts independentlyActs in highly collaborative
partnerships Located in communityEmbedded in community Learning
outcomes assumed, implied Learning outcomes purposeful
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They need the 21 st century library. And Entrepreneurs!
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56 Things you (your library) can do for economic development
Project Compass
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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 checklistfind one online, like the
SBAs 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
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Introduction to Project Compass Pathways
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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 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
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4 Pathways Core Services Job Seekers Small Business Personal
Finance
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5 Sections Discovery & Assessment Collections Training
& Programming Collaboration Communication
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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. Why ? Starting new
or sustaining existing local business creates jobs and stimulates
the local economy.
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Small Business & Entrepreneurs Pathway Guiding question
Resources for each action Remember to integrate other
approaches
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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.cf m/library-staff/teams/task-
forces/jobs-and-small-business-task- force/
http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cf m/library-staff/teams/task-
forces/jobs-and-small-business-task- force/ Resources:
http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cf
m/resources/job-and-small-business-
resources/small-business-resources/
http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cf
m/resources/job-and-small-business-
resources/small-business-resources/
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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
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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..
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SCORE
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Legal Corps
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US Small Business Administration
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Governors Workforce Development Council
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Minnesota DEED
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Power Through Collaboration SCORE
www.scoreminnesota.orgwww.scoreminnesota.org Legal CORPS
www.legalcorps.orgwww.legalcorps.org Bar Associations, Law
Libraries City, County, Regional Economic Development Agencies
Small Business Administration www.sba.gov/about-offices-
content/2/3122www.sba.gov/about-offices- content/2/3122 Chamber of
Commerce Higher Education Governors Workforce Development Council
www.gwdc.orgwww.gwdc.org MN DEED
www.positivelyminnesota.comwww.positivelyminnesota.com IRS
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ALA Publication Small Business and the Public Library:
Strategies for a Successful Partnership Luise Weiss, Sophia Serlis-
McPhillips, and Elizabeth Malafi
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Partner Power Partnerships are essential in lean times. Who are
your potential partners? Partnerships are essential in lean times.
Who are your potential partners?
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Partnerships Provided to Friends' Memorial Public Library by
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Entrepreneurship Program
Small Business Start-up Backpacks
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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 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
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Workforce Resources on WebJunction
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WebJunction.org
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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
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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
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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!
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WebJunction-Minnesota Free courses made available to you
through the sponsorship of Minnesota State Library Services in
collaboration with Minitex.