Granted! Digital Literacy/Workforce Development

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry continues on mission to build Digital Literacy and Workforce capacity within the state. It has offered significant, year-over-year, sustained grant support (2022-26 so far) to providers of digital/workforce skills for those in need. Recipients of grants include public Libraries, and, in much greater number so far, dedicated workforce development agencies trying to meet the needs of adults in the present and future labor environment.

Delmont Public Library (DPL) and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library (GHAL), in collaboration, have made this initiative one (1) of their three key Public Resource Centers, about which you have read in this column before. The other two are: (2) Special Needs: Autism; and (3) Family Place Libraries. The DPL/GHAL team is unusual within the digital literacy/workforce project in that it is dedicated to making early childhood/teen learning a major element of its effort.

On June 14, the Department of Labor & Industry publicly announced renewal of grants for 29 institutions already in the digital literacy/workforce program and grants for 21 newcomers. The $5 million award total for this Round 5 is equally distributed at $100,000/each. DPL and GHAL are sharing the $100,000 award that they received.

The DPL/GHAL initiative, which began in 2022, serves three age ranges in three different ways: (1) PreK-8 children have been learning about simple algorithms by working with Bee-Bot (PreK-4) and Sphero (grades 5-8) robots under instruction in-house; (2) Teens, who typically do not visit Libraries in numbers, have been purposefully, but not only, reached where they are (notably an instructional session for teens with behavioral issues at Centerville Clinics and programming at Hempfield Area High School, at which GHAL shared an informed Power Library handout and other Power Library resources that are on-line); and of course (3) In-house programs for adults seeking to access the workforce immediately, meaning courses taught expertly by teaching consultant Gina McGrath. This last meets the more traditional purposes of the PA Department of Labor & Industry.

Power Library (https://powerlibrary.org) is an example for which Libraries can claim special knowledge and access. It is made possible “in part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Library Access funds administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.” Participants can access Power Library’s “Find Pennsylvania Job Resources,” which includes such topics as PA CareerLink®, PA Employment, Resume Builder, SkillUp™ PA, Pennsylvania Career Guide, Pennsylvania CareerZone, and Education Planner. All in one place, while learning computer skills for access.

How successful has this Public Resource Center been? As reported to the third-party consultant who is overseeing progress for the state, after the first full year, mid 2022 to mid 2023, participation for DPL and GHAL combined on just this one grant (There are others.) was: 291 PreK-8 children in 37 sessions, 170 teens in five sessions, and 99 adults in 14 sessions. As well, 170 adults were aided at the Help Desk.

So, congratulations to Delmont Public Library and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library for a very successful initiative beginning in 2022, now extended through April 2026 with the new grant received. Please ask about the programs being offered, whatever the age range need, and do participate.