The problem

In today’s era, libraries are navigating a sea of novel challenges in their quest to serve their communities effectively. The shifting demands of patrons, coupled with the critical need to optimize staff deployment amidst shortages, have made it increasingly complex for libraries to maintain their service standards, let alone advance strategic projects, engage broader audiences, or maximize network collaborations.

The puzzle of tapping into staff expertise, often scattered across various documents or tucked away in anecdotes, is a common hurdle for managers seeking to bridge service gaps across departments or branches.

While physical collection sharing thrives within library networks, extending such collaborative frameworks to include the sharing of resources or staff know-how remains largely uncharted territory.

Imagine a future where libraries unite to fill skill voids, offering staff mentorship and crafting shared services in cutting-edge realms like emerging technologies, web development, and data literacy.

The solution

When a library conducts a Talent Audit with Skilltype and discovers a skill gap, not only does Skilltype highlight these areas, it also identifies partner libraries within consortia that possess the requisite expertise, paving the way for innovative collaborations.

Within the Skilltype ecosystem, libraries can engage with multiple consortial networks, harnessing a rich range of library expertise to confront shared challenges and explore opportunities for advice, mentorship, and more.

Skilltype facilitates a spectrum of networked connections, from established consortia to grassroots collaborations, all tailored to shared goals or locales.

As individual organizations utilize Skilltype to map and leverage their resources more efficiently, consortial groups like LOUIS and AMIGOS are leveraging this collective intelligence to bolster the impact of libraries across networks, driving consortial programs and initiatives forward.

Through Skilltype’s strategic networking, when administrators from collaborating entities agree to pool skills data, the resulting intersection of Talent Audit and Skills Inventory can spotlight communal skill gaps, strengths, or areas ripe for strategic development—collectively rising to address prevalent community challenges such as digital infrastructure, academic success, or health literacy.