Career Services and Workforce Development Centers for Libraries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 5.6 million people are seeking for new job opportunities since April 2024. Libraries can play an important role in supporting job seekers through several ways. Career Services and Workforce Development Center for Libraries: A Guide serves as a resource for libraries interested in creating, supporting or enhancing their career services, economic and workforce development programs for their communities.

Going beyond collection development and hosting job fair activities, the book covers:

• teaching resources and interviews from library leaders supporting workforce development initiatives or collaborations
• ideas on how libraries can be embedded in the workforce development community by providing a series of job readiness activities, programs, and services
• how academic and public librarians can support their users exploring career opportunities and development
• examines employment trends and resources such as generative artificial intelligence to dive into these issues so libraries can stay active in identifying new skill development and technologies to support their communities

How can one start a career services or job center program in their libraries? What are specialized career services in libraries being offered? How can libraries advocate for funding for workforce development? Divided into five chapters, each chapter addresses these questions and provides a series of examples, ideas, and resources for readers to consider replicating in their own libraries. If you are looking for ideas for your libraries to support a community of job seekers, this is the book for you.