DREXEL HILL, PA, June 27, 2022 — The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI) is making a first of its kind investment in increasing the capacity of its 71 academic and research libraries by implementing a multi-year partnership with talent management platform Skilltype.
Data-Driven Networking and Addressing Staffing Challenges
By adopting Skilltype, PALCI can now access new opportunities for networking. The platform’s data-driven approach enables expertise sharing across this unique interstate academic library community.
“We are excited to use Skilltype and apply our experiences with library resource sharing to now begin facilitating consortial collaboration for human resources and expertise sharing too. In many of our recent meetings and informal polls, staffing has emerged as one of the biggest challenges our library leaders face this year.This three-year PALCI-wide pilot with Skilltype represents an opportunity for us to test the waters and explore the ways in which the consortium can deepen collaborations to address the challenges in this space,” shares PALCI’s Executive Director, Jill Morris.
Formerly known as the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc., PALCI has an expanded membership. They now reach across the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia. Its members include the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Carnegie Mellon University. These three of the initial cohort members during the Skilltype implementation.
PALCI Shaping the Future of Academic Libraries
“Skilltype will enable us to develop an intentional and systematic approach to continuous learning and the development of new capacities and competencies among our staff at a moment when we face many expectations for enhanced skills in parallel with resource constraints on our ability to hire new talent to meet all of those needs,” says Joe Lucia, Dean of Libraries at Temple University, a PALCI member.
By adopting Skilltype, the academic library consortium will provide access to a global database of professional development resources. This will be available to all library staff at member institutions for continuing education.
“As we advance our University’s strategic intent to create a 21st century library, we recognize the need to help our colleagues continue to develop their skills and professional knowledge, and to do so in a way that respects individuals’ unique talents. Skilltype has developed an innovative platform to help us create personalized plans that will help us achieve our ambitions,” said Keith Webster, Helen and Henry Posner Jr. Dean of University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon University.
“Under Jill Morris’ leadership, PALCI has consistently pushed the boundary for what’s possible for libraries through deeper collaboration,” says Skilltype CEO Tony Zanders. “This partnership marks a further step, using Skilltype to identify opportunities for shared services during a time when both budgets and talent pools are tighter than ever before.
To explore how data can help improve employee engagement and organizational development, visit Skilltype. You can also request a demo for your library, state, or consortium.
About Skilltype
Skilltype is a library software company specializing in using data to create modern talent management workflows. Libraries across six countries use Skilltype to provide personalized training to their employees. Additionally, Skilltype identifies skill gaps among staff members. It helps libraries make data-informed decisions on whether to recruit, reskill, or share expertise. Skilltype was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
About PALCI
PALCI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization. They originated in 1996 as the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. A grassroots federation of 35 academic libraries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Known today as the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation, the PALCI membership now consists of more than 70 academic and research libraries in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia. PALCI’s mission is to enable cost-effective and sustainable access to information resources and services for academic libraries in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. PALCI is well known for its highly-regarded EZBorrow consortial ILL service. PALCI members partner to serve over 800,000 students, faculty, and staff. They have a particular focus on collaborative collections programs and resource sharing services. As well as, innovative technology projects and approaches to library services. For more information contact jill@palci.org or visit palci.org.