Workforce Partnerships Connecting Libraries and Businesses
October 2019
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Strategy (re)Development
Strategy (re)Development
Emphasizing the "Partnerships" in my job title at the Idaho Commission for Libraries, I asked library directors across the state about their local community workforce needs and opportunities. Seeking to understand the demand side of workforce needs, I spoke with recruiters at big businesses as well as leaders in the workforce development groups in the state (e.g., SBDC and workforce committees in state agencies). In one community, I connected the local library director with the HR recruiter of a regional business seeking a new model for training potential new employees: as an institution promoting learning and knowledge access, the library held a unique position towards skill development.
