DOVER, DE, April 2022 —The Delaware Division of Libraries (DDL) is arming its public library professionals with skills to meet the growing demand for public health, digital literacy, and more by implementing the data-driven talent platform powered by Skilltype.
In the first-ever statewide library employee development rollout of this kind, DDL partnered with Skilltype, the enterprise skill development software company, to provide all public libraries with access to over 8,000 training resources to upskill those most connected to the community.
“Library workers provide important services to anyone who comes in, totally free of charge. They don’t turn anyone away,” says Skilltype CEO Tony Zanders. “Each employee must have their personal training needs met in order to meet the dynamically changing needs of Delawareans,” he continues.
This rollout follows other recent DDL statewide initiatives including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, supporting early literacy by providing a free book in the mail each month to Delaware preschoolers, and the Telehealth Kiosk and Device Loaning Initiative which deployed hundreds of Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots at public libraries throughout the state.
Delaware has a very generous Scholarship/Loan program that enables library employees to obtain Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. The Skilltype platform supports ongoing Continuing Education for library staff with personalized training plans based on their interests, including those required for earning or maintaining credentials. Library staff are able to render quality service to patrons looking to benefit from all library programs and initiatives as they evolve.
“As we create and implement our LSTA Plan for the next 5 years, the Skilltype platform will help us better coordinate the continuous learning needed by library staff to support lifelong learning and development in their communities,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware.
For Delaware Libraries, the platform provides a “consortial view” of expertise across the state, allowing library managers to identify needed expertise. This unlocks new opportunities for collaboration and shared services during a time when finding the right skills at the right time has grown increasingly important. Skilltype’s software also uncovers employee skill and interest data allowing library administrators to begin sharing expertise across member libraries, helping them to better amplify and leverage the capabilities of these valuable workers.
"I am beyond elated that our state is now a partner of Skilltype.” commented Jamar Rahming, executive director of the Wilmington Institute Library. “This partnership highlights our movement into the 21st century paradigm shift of managing professional development, as Skilltype is the consummate tool for libraries."
To explore how data can help improve employee engagement and organizational development, visit skilltype.com and request a demo for your library or state.
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About Delaware Division of Libraries
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, offers free access to the statewide online catalog (delawarelibraries.org), Wi-Fi, computers/internet, eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.
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, identify skill gaps, and make data-informed decisions on whether to recruit, reskill, or share expertise. Skilltype was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
