REHOVOT, ISRAEL — Weizmann Institute of Science Library has selected Skilltype for Teams. This is an enterprise skills management platform for libraries and knowledge management organizations. Founded in 2018 and released in June 2020, Skilltype enables personalized professional development for its employees. It also produces real-time talent insights across the organization. Weizmann is the first library outside of the United States to adopt Skilltype for Teams at the organizational level.
The Need for a Modern Solution in Academic Libraries
“We were often searching for relevant material to help us remain current in the constantly changing realities of a modern academic library,” says Joan Kolarik, Chief Librarian at The Weizmann Institute of Science. “Skilltype is exactly the solution we needed. It proactively surfaces relevant content – both new and old – and provides a library-focused learning platform. I find myself looking forward to my personalized Skilltype Weekly Digest.”
The cloud-based software provides one-stop access to over 10,000 on-demand trainings. These trainings include presentations and other professional development resources. They come from trusted conferences, associations, and vendors around the world. Weizmann staff members receive personalized training recommendations based on both their personal interests and the needs of the library. This addresses key concerns about finding the right training at the right time. These concerns have worsened due to COVID-19’s impact on travel and large gatherings. Furthermore, Skilltype aligns the organization with a global library expertise standard. It uses proprietary controlled vocabulary based on over a dozen core competency frameworks.
Expanding Skilltype’s Global Reach
“We are excited to begin serving libraries outside of the U.S., and for the Weizmann Institute to be leading this expansion,” says Tony Zanders, founder and CEO at Skilltype. “As our smallest customer with 15 employees, we look forward to demonstrating the value of improving access to quality training and data for organizations that are constrained by budget or geography.”
An active member of international user groups and library consortia, Weizmann will help inform Skilltype’s content strategy and feature offering for sharing expertise across multiple institutions. “Our monthly community town halls have already begun to benefit from the perspectives of a small library that relies heavily on global training providers and networking groups. The team at Weizmann has already broadened our horizons on ways the product can better solve a number of ubiquitous use cases,” commented Zanders.
About Skilltype
Skilltype is an American software company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2018, the company offers talent management software for information professionals. This software allows teams to analyze, develop, and share expertise. Skilltype received funding from academic libraries in the United States. It has since developed a global community of learners and training providers across 12 countries.
About The Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world’s top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff. Institute research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.