CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Medical University of South Carolina Library (MUSC) has implemented Skilltype for Teams — a cloud-based skills management platform for libraries and knowledge management organizations. Launched in 2020 in response to the shift to remote work and online conferences, Skilltype enables personalized professional development for its employees, while producing real-time talent insights across the organization. Medical University of South Carolina is the first health sciences library to adopt Skilltype, and the first member of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL).
Medical University of South Carolina Library Addressing Employee Development Challenges
MUSC, founded in 1824, stands as South Carolina’s only integrated academic health sciences center. U.S. News & World Report ranks several MUSC programs among the best graduate schools. News & World Report. Medical University of South Carolina serves 3,000 students and nearly 800 residents in six colleges.
“Skilltype has created a fresh approach to the employee development challenges we’ve long wrestled with. To provide everyone with a personalized, on-demand training experience at an affordable cost was exactly what we needed during the pandemic,” said Shannon D. Jones, Director of Libraries at MUSC and Director of Region 2 of the National Library of Medicine Network (NLMN). “Working with the Skilltype team to implement this data-driven approach has been a pleasure. As the first medical and health sciences library in the Skilltype community, and a hub for the NLMN, we have been able to make contributions that will benefit the broader health sciences community.”
The software will enable the library to access a variety of resources. These include on-demand training, presentations, and other professional development materials. Importantly, these resources come from trusted conferences, professional associations, and vendors. As a result, all staff members can begin to develop their expertise. This holds true whether they are working on campus or remotely. Furthermore, it’s applicable regardless of rank or role. Ultimately, the software aims to address long-standing DEI issues, issues that have been created by the traditional professional development model.
A Milestone for Skilltype
“Supporting MUSC in their transition to a digital talent operation is a milestone for our young company,” says Tony Zanders, founder and CEO at Skilltype. “We have been impressed with their ideas and use cases for Skilltype, along with the diversity they’ve managed to achieve as an organization. This partnership will have broad reaching implications for the global health sciences library community.”
About Medical University of South Carolina Libraries
As a major biomedical information resource and partner in the mission of the Medical University of South Carolina, the Library promotes the advancement of research, education, and patient care for MUSC and the state of South Carolina. To this end, the Library supports the creation of new knowledge, the education of health professionals, lifelong learning, and timely access to information, informed health care decisions, as well as preserving the historical record of the Campus and health professions in South Carolina.
About Skilltype
Skilltype is an American software company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2018, the company offers talent management software. This software helps information professionals and their teams analyze expertise. They can also develop and share their skills. Academic libraries in the United States funded Skilltype. Since then, the company has developed a global community. This community includes learners and training providers across 12 countries.