MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force

MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force Progress and Recommendations, April 2013

Background: The MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force began meeting June 2010 during one of our country’s most challenging economic periods. The Task Force is comprised of representatives from all MELSA library systems.

MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force Members:  Anoka County Library: Monica Campbell, Marlene Moulton-Jansen  Carver County Library: Janet Karius  Dakota County Library: Ken Behringer, Maureen Gormley, Murray Wilson  Hennepin County Library: Michele McGraw  Ramsey County Library: Carrie Watts  St. Paul Public Library: Charlene McKenzie  Scott County Library: Eva Poppen  Washington County Library: Chad Lubbers (Chair)  MELSA: Melinda Ludwiczak (Staff to Task Force)

Service Philosophy: MELSA, its member library systems and community partners aim to establish a seamless entry system to information and resources for metro-area job seekers and entrepreneurs where every door is the right door.

Purpose: 1. To advocate and create public awareness around the role of public libraries as a critical information and connection resource for job seekers and entrepreneurs.

2. To aid and support library customers seeking employment, career change, financial assistance, training and/or small business information in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

3. To establish a baseline of MELSA library resources and services for public training and service, electronic resources, web content and links, staff training and community partner relations.

4. To support the library community, both librarian-to-librarian and librarian-to-patron, through increased awareness, knowledge and sharing of appropriate resources.

5. To forge and strengthen partnerships between libraries and community organizations, government agencies and stakeholders serving job seekers and entrepreneurs.

Task Force Accomplishments 1. Establish Jobs and Small Business service as a MELSA and library system priority.  Completed 2. Dedicate MELSA staff position to jobs and small business service.  MELSA Project Manager assigned this responsibility. 3. Public Training

1  Provide additional technology training for job seekers and entrepreneurs through MELSA libraries for two-year period.  Sept 2011-Aug 2013: 468 classes delivered by Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM).  Establish region-wide curriculum and a pathway to certification in collaboration with WorkForce Centers, Adult Basic Education, community-based organizations, community tech training sites, etc.  Standard curriculum for SMM classes. Pathway to certification through Northstar Digital Literacy Standards (NDLS). MELSA provides NDLS memberships to all member libraries.  Contract local organizations to deliver small business workshops and consultations.  SCORE providing free consultations at six MELSA library systems. Note: SPPL works with Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) and no SCORE counseling as yet for CCL. Jan 2012-Aug 2013: 51 classes with Women Venture, Jan-May 2012: 12 classes with NDC, Jan-Aug 2013 58 classes with Twin Cities Social Media Alliance.  Create asset list of MELSA library resources (electronic resources, hardware, software, adaptive equipment and software, scanners, fax) for public use and referral.  “Snapshot” taken in 2010 but became difficult to maintain over time. 4. Web Resources  Establish and maintain public access web pathfinder information for job seekers and entrepreneurs that is authoritative, accurate, organic and dynamic.  Web links and resources created for MELSA website and deployed on Job Now local resource portal in 2011.  Deploy portals on MELSA website and on each member library website. Provide consistent region-wide and localized resources across the metro region. Establish content criteria as well as protocol for adding and deleting content.  The MELSA resource web page views from May 2011-March 2013 are 736 for the jobs resource page and 292 for the small business resource page. Job Now resource section viewed 154,521 times, Feb 2011-Feb 2013. All MELSA library systems have robust jobs, careers and small business resource sections on their websites.  Identify and procure electronic resources to be deployed region wide.  In addition to Job Now, the Task Force evaluated HCL’s Micro Entrepreneur Resource Center (MERC), Learning Express, Business Plan Pro and other resources. 5. Library Staff Training  Produce 60-minute sessions on WorkForce Center Overview, Unemployment Insurance, Small Business Resources, Best Library Practice and Social Service Aspects of serving the public stressed by unemployment. Work with Web Junction to produce webinars and community partners to present content.  Webinars produced and delivered in partnership with Web Junction in 2011. Presenters included MELSA staffer; library staff from ACL, HCL, SPPL and WCL; SCORE; Washington County Law Library; Washington County Housing Unit; Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development – Unemployment Insurance Agency; and Anoka County Workforce Center.  Webinar staff training platform posted on each library system intranet and MELSA staff section.  Webinars archived and posted on MELSA and member library system websites.

2  Post FAQ and other relevant tip sheets on library system intranet and MELSA staff section.  Completed.  Develop resource list of community trainers on above-mentioned topics for deployment at library system staff trainings.  List created and shared.  Develop staff competencies for each webinar and hold staff accountable for viewing training as part of performance evaluation. Track viewing and link evaluation to a Survey Monkey.  Competencies created and posted. Some library systems used competencies in performance reviews.  Task Force members presented workshops on Task Force activities at Minnesota Library Association conferences in 2010 and 2011. 6. Community Partner Relations and Training  Identify critical partners, level of collaboration and primary contacts. Create primary contact list for community partners and post on MELSA staff portal.  Several community partners spoke with the Task Force to inform and explore areas of mutual benefit. Organizations include: State Library Office, DEED, WorkForce Centers through Greater Metropolitan Workforce Council, SCORE, Metropolitan Consortium of Community Development, LegalCorps, Women Venture, Twin Cities Media Alliance and I Seek.  Create 15-minute video and web link for cross training with community partners regarding library services such as library card registration, what libraries have for job seekers and small business, how to access online resources. Video and link would be used to train staff and counselors (SCORE, MCCD) and could also be used with clients of community partners such as SCORE workshops.  This recommendation was not pursued due to expense.  Schedule outreach events and workshops for community partners at libraries – teen job fair, job search consultations, small business consultations and workshops.  Most MELSA library systems schedule programs at their libraries.  Web links on MELSA and library system portals to community partners.  Completed.  Distribution points for MELSA jobs and small business promotion materials – brochures, posters, bookmarks, business cards.  MELSA distributed appropriate print collateral from community partners for distribution at MELSA library systems. 7. Promotion  Create awareness and tell the story of libraries to the rescue in tough economic times – the go-to place for job seekers and entrepreneurs  Develop region-wide promotion campaign and materials – media releases, media interviews, Op Ed column, brochures, posters, bookmarks, flash drives, advertisements  Promotional materials developed for Job Now (posters, business cards, flash drives, web logos); small business bookmarks; ad campaigns in various media outlets: Star Tribune, billboards, radio, television, gas stations, MELSA and library websites. Op Ed columns in Pioneer Press.

3  MELSA presence at small business fairs and job fairs – information table and/or workshops  MELSA and member library staff handled information tables at several outreach events: SBA fair for veterans, SCORE leadership meeting, Habitat for Humanity homeowner resource fairs. 8. Advocacy  Charge MELSA Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees to advocate with decision- makers and stakeholders regarding the role of MELSA and its member libraries as trusted, valued and crucial information and service providers for job seekers and entrepreneurs.  Public library representative position created on Minnesota Governors Work Council. First state to create such a position. MELSA advocates met with legislators at MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Days in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 to share success stories of library support services for job seekers and entrepreneurs.

Task Force Recommendations for 2013 and Beyond: In 2013, the Minnesota economy is in strong recovery with the employment rate at nearly pre- recession levels. The MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force accomplished nearly all of the recommendations made in 2010. The Task Force recommends the following:

 The MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force members have completed their work plan and we recommend the Task Force does not continue to meet within its current structure and budget.

 The formation of a MELSA Jobs and Small Business Interest Group to meet two-four times per year to share information

 The Job Now electronic resource subscription be funded for 2014 and oversight moved to the MELSA E-Resources Team

 Region-wide public training in technology skills continue with MELSA funding and staff coordination

 We found the task force model useful in responding to a critical service need, since it came with a clear charge, budgetary support and a delineated plan and timeframe for completing the work, and would recommend using this model to address future service needs. The Task Force identified possible future service needs of digital literacy, information services, e-books and life skills (health, financial and other literacies).