BATON ROUGE, LA and HARRISBURG, PA — The Office of Commonwealth Libraries
(OCL) announced today their statewide pilot of Skilltype, a cutting-edge software
platform designed to support skills management and professional development for
library workers. This software equips public and academic libraries across Pennsylvania
with personalized tools to identify, develop, and track the evolving competencies of their
teams. The partnership marks the sixth statewide implementation of Skilltype in the
United States.
The implementation and pilot of the platform will be managed by Hosting Solutions &
Library Consulting (HSLC), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Pennsylvania libraries
through technology and services. The move is a major step in OCL’s commitment to
fostering an agile, data-informed library workforce ready to meet the demands of
today’s rapidly changing information environment.
“Pennsylvania’s library community is entering a new chapter,” said Susan Banks, Deputy
Secretary and State Librarian at the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. “Our goal is to
provide our library professionals with the resources to grow their skills in ways that
align with the needs of their institutions and the communities they serve.”
Skilltype offers AI-driven tools that deliver personalized training recommendations,
track institutional skill gaps, and create development plans aligned with national
frameworks. With this rollout, library staff from Erie to Philadelphia will have access to a
centralized platform that helps them stay ahead of emerging trends, technologies, and
patron needs. “Skilltype was built to empower library workers with the insight and support they need to grow in their careers,” said Tony Zanders, founder and CEO of Skilltype. “We’re honored
to partner with the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and HSLC to bring this vision to
life across Pennsylvania.”
Leading the implementation, HSLC will support onboarding and provide technical
assistance to libraries during the pilot phase.“This partnership underscores our commitment to strengthening library infrastructure and empowering library staff at every level,” said Maryam Phillips, Executive Director of HSLC. “Skilltype offers libraries a way to connect strategic goals with workforce
development in real time.”
The statewide pilot marks a first for Pennsylvania and positions the commonwealth as
a national leader in preparing libraries for the future through innovative, data-driven
tools. To learn more about bringing Skilltype to your library or consortium Kelly Terry at
kelly@skilltype.com.
About Office of Commonwealth Libraries
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) within the Pennsylvania Department of
Education (PDE) operates a major research library and collects, preserves, and connects
state government, libraries, and Pennsylvanians with the information and resources
needed for education, enrichment, and advancement.
About HSLC and POWER Library
Hosting Solutions & Library Consulting is a non-profit library support organization
contributing to the success of libraries by delivering technical solutions and consulting
services.
POWER Library is a service of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries,
Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is hosted by HSLC at
www.powerlibrary.org. The POWER Library portal offers Pennsylvania residents access
to four services: a statewide union catalog, the ability to chat with a librarian, access to
e‐resources, and access to digital collections uploaded by POWER Library participants.
About Skilltype
Skilltype, headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, USA, provides talent management software
designed for knowledge management organizations and information professionals.
Since its founding in 2018, Skilltype is now used by over 400 organizations across 10
countries.