Labor & Literacy Library Program
Mission Statement
To build on the success of the NJSL+ Partners Literacy project by supporting NJ Libraries as they provide assistance to their patrons seeking digital literacy skills, Adult Basic Education (ABE), English Language Learning (ELL/ESL), and job search assistance
Benefits of Being a Labor & Literacy Library
Participating libraries:
- Can have staff attend professional workshops covering
- How to provide labor & literacy services to your patrons
- Digital literacy topics to bring back to your library
- Workforce development topics to bring back to your library
- Marketing
- Record keeping
- Working with government funders
- Tutor and instructor skills
- Will have access to Workshops in a Box (WiaB), which are prepackaged workshops that library staff can run with minimal set up time
- Phone and virtual support from NJSL + Partners Labor & Literacy Library team
- Access to a large professional network made up of libraries working towards the same goal of increasing staff knowledge and providing services in the areas of digital literacy and job search assistance
How Can My Library Become a Labor & Literacy Library?
If your library wants to participate in the Labor & Literacy Library program:
- Join us at a Why be a L&LL Zoom Session
- Click here for a calendar of workshops and Register for Why be a LL&L
- Complete a Registration Form (PDF)
- Contact us via email
Labor & Literacy Library Program Resources
Past Events
Recordings of past events are available on the New Jersey State Library’s YouTube channel.
Workshops in a Box
What is a Workshop in a Box?
A Workshop in a Box (WiaB) is a prepackaged workshop covering a variety of basic skills required to utilize computers and other technology as well as skills to help job seekers return to the workforce.
Each WiaB will be facilitated once on Zoom and the Zoom session will be recorded
The Workshop in a Box “package” will include:
- The recording of the workshop being run (for library staff to review)
- Lesson plan and all materials needed by staff to facilitate the workshop in your library
- All materials needed for workshop attendees
A WiaB can be run as a one-on-one lesson or they can be run in a larger classroom setting.
Downloading a Workshop in a Box
The first Workshop in a Box, Resumes & Cover Letters will be released in April 2023. With more to follow regularly.
Labor & Literacy Libraries will use Canvas to access all Workshop in a Box materials. If you do not have access to the Labor & Literacy Library Canvas, reach out by email.
Marketing Tools
Labor & Literacy Libraries will use Canvas to access standardized marketing tools. If you do not have access to the Labor & Literacy Library Canvas, reach out by email.
Contact Us
Contact the Labor & Literacy Library Canvas, reach out by email.
NJSL + Partners Literacy Project Year One
The NJSL + Partners Literacy Project offers two models for providing literacy services in public libraries.
The Hub & Spoke Libraries initiative provides uniform digital literacy training and credentialing for adult residents at literacy labs across the state.
Currently, digital literacy training and certification for adults looking to enter or advance in the workforce is a non-standardized, decentralized patchwork of disparate service providers. Due to this lack of a cohesive system, the training and credentialing which is desperately needed for New Jersey’s workforce has become non-standard, of disparate quality, and difficult to access. To address this need, the State Library has selected three “hub” libraries that will serve as regionally-based training labs, and 11 “spoke” libraries that will provide additional digital literacy support. The goal of the Hub & Spoke Libraries project is to create a standardized and replicable library-based digital literacy certification program to assist New Jersey’s workforce.
Hub and spoke libraries connect with their local Workforce Development Boards and American Job Centers, as well as other libraries in the area, to create a referral system that accounts for client intake, record keeping, and data sharing. Participants have access to free, high quality training materials, videos, classroom aides, and mini lessons. The program is facilitated by the Plainfield Public Library (PPL), and models PPL’s proven system for providing literacy programming.
Resources for participating libraries can be found here.
Success Stories
Check out Success Stories from some of our participating libraries:
- Trenton Free Public Library had an overwhelming response to the digital literacy program once they were selected to become a Spoke Library. Read their story here.
- Bradley Beach Public Library has helped patrons gain more independence and comfort using technology as a Spoke Library. Read their story here.
The Access Navigators project, an initiative that places a cohort of skilled trainers (Navigators) into select libraries across the state, in order to provide individualized assistance to persons seeking employment, job training, or digital competence.
The State Library has partnered with the New Jersey Library Association to launch a mobile navigator approach to digital literacy that is currently being used across the country. In order to provide individualized support to community residents to guide them from where they are, to anywhere they want to go, 12 libraries covering nine NJ counties were selected to host a cohort of skilled trainers (Navigators). The Navigators provide individualized assistance to persons seeking employment, job training, or digital competence. The program provides: training in computer-based applications; assistance with resumes and job searching; access to electronic information databases, textbooks and learning aids; and resources to teach and enhance digital literacy skills. Entrepreneurs seeking to launch their new businesses can also receive help from the Access Navigators, among other needs.
The Navigators conduct individual assessments, and assist program participants in creating a roadmap for achieving their goals. Once an individual plan is created, the Navigators guide the participant to the resources that they need to accomplish the goals defined in their plan.
Map of NJSL + Partners Locations
NJSL + Partners includes 26 libraries across 14 counties in New Jersey. Participating locations appear in the map below:
- Hubs – Purple
- Spokes – Blue
- Access Navigators – Green
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS award number LS-250226-OLS-21). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this website do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
