Action Alert! Ask Your U.S. Rep to Attend IMLS Briefing

On September 13, the Institute of Museum and Library Services is holding a Congressional briefing on how libraries support workforce development. Please contact your U.S. Representative asking their office to send a staffer to this briefing.

Go to Capwiz and click on the Take Action button below “Ask Your U.S. Rep to Attend Workforce Development Briefing.” A letter with information about the briefing is provided.

For those of you wishing to call or send an email separately, here is the basic information:

Workforce Investment Act Update

Thank you to everyone who contacted Senator Mikulski to ask that public libraries be included in the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  The Health, Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s mark-up of the bill has been rescheduled several times and is currently set for July 20^th.  Further information on whether the bill includes public libraries will be provided when it is available.

Action Alert! Include Public Libraries in Workforce Investment Act!

Many public libraries are already assisting job seekers in a variety of ways.  We now have an opportunity to include public libraries in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) when it is reauthorized.  This would allow public libraries to benefit from WIA funding and collaborative opportunities.  The Senate Heath, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee will be introducing this bill on Wednesday and Senator Mikulski serves on this committee.  To get public libraries included in the reauthorization bill, contact Senator Mikulski’s office at 202-224-4654 by 5pm on Tuesday, June 21st and ask for her to include public libraries in the WIA Reauthorization.  Additional details are available in the Capwiz Action Alert.   Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide!

Bill to expand leadership role of libraries in workforce development

The Workforce Investments through Local Libraries (WILL) Act (HR 1616) was introduced to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).  The bill would expand the libraries’ role as a leader in workforce development.  HR 1616 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  (Maryland has no representation on this committee.)

For more information (including some quotes from PLA President Audra Caplan!), please see the District Dispatch posting.

Dept of Labor Webinars on Workforce Development & Libraries

The Department of Labor has offered guidance on partnerships between workforce agencies and libraries.  In the press release, two upcoming webinars were mentioned.  A recent District Dispatch posting highlighted them as follows:

The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration will soon offer two webinars related to collaboration with libraries as part of its new
partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):

•  July 19: This webinar will highlight promising state and local examples of
  workforce-library collaboration. Details to be announced on the Workforce3One
  website. (Registration is required to access site content.)
• August 11: This webinar on WebJunction will present an introduction to the
  workforce system and the electronic tools most helpful to library staff. Free
  registration is open now.

Dept. of Labor provides guidance on workforce agency and library partnerships

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued guidance to workforce agencies on partnering with libraries through a Training and Employment Notice (TEN).  The TEN follows an earlier announcement and formally encourages workforce agencies and One-Stop Career Centers to partner with libraries in order to extend the career and employment services they provide to job seekers and the unemployed.  For more information, including a link to the TEN and partnership examples, go to the press release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  The press release also includes information on future webinars to discuss workforce-library partnerships and workforce tools for library staff to assist job seekers.

ALA files with FCC importance of libraries in economic development

On Friday, the American Library Association submitted a filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that highlights the important role libraries play in workforce development, access to government resources and other aspects of economic development.  For more information, including a link to the filing, see the District Dispatch posting.