Every day, libraries across the country empower job seekers to access employment services and training, leading to better jobs and improved career pathways. Over 99% of public libraries provide internet access, which is a vital resource for job seekers. Among Americans who have looked for work in the last two years, 79% used online resources in their most recent job search and 34% say these online resources were the most important tool available to them.
Of course, the services libraries provide go beyond broadband. People use libraries to improve job skills, access new technologies, pursue vocational and educational programs, start new businesses, and advance research. Access to new technology and the ability to use it effectively are central to success in the new economy. Today’s libraries have maker spaces, 3D printers, laser cutters, multimedia studios, and other technological resources, enabling people to engage in diverse disciplines from advanced manufacturing to animation. Everyone may use these resources for business activities, in pursuit of formal educational programs, and in informal experimentation.
From connecting job seekers with employers, to educating and advancing the work of the next generation of entrepreneurs, libraries are established centers for learning and advancement. Recent data from State Library Administrative Agencies shows that over half of states and territories (52%) currently have programs and activities related to workforce development, and over a third (39%) indicated plans to coordinate with workforce agencies in the years to come. And, with 120,000 locations, leveraging libraries to advance economic opportunity is cost-effective. This national infrastructure is already in place, ready to accommodate new programs. Increasingly, libraries are re-designing spaces to accommodate mobile work. Libraries of all sizes informally support freelancers and contractors, and a growing number offer dedicated co-working spaces.
Summary of Positions
- ALA promotes libraries as established centers for learning, advancement, and economic opportunity for all.
- ALA urges decision-makers and agencies implicated in economic opportunity development to include libraries in their planning.
- ALA supports grants to states or localities that promote workforce development through libraries and career exploration and planning by job seekers of all ages.
- ALA encourages cooperation across programs and funding streams in the delivery of client-centered services to job seekers, youth, and employers.
- ALA believes strengthening educational and learning opportunities for youth through libraries is vital to building a strong foundation for economic success.