Educating & Preparing the Workforce of the Future
Broward County Library, Fla.
Innovation Synopsis
By providing free, cutting-edge resources and services Broward County Library has positioned itself as the community leader in preparing its citizens to participate in the workplace of the future by providing the 21st century skills they'll need to succeed.
Challenge/Opportunity
Anyone preparing to enter the workforce must possess 21st century skills to succeed. These include information literacy, media literacy, communication literacy and technology literacy. BCL is uniquely positioned to help its customers develop the skills that will help them participate meaningfully in the digital world rather than being steamrolled by it. In 2017, BCL focused on furthering and developing training programs, physical spaces and public-use technology to strengthen those skills.
Key Elements of Innovation
One key element is the expansion of BCL's Creation Stations, free workspace/labs located in five libraries, each offering high-tech equipment such as 3-D printers, robotics, audio/video production, virtual reality gear, design software and more. Creation Station Business, located at Main Library, offers free work/conference space. All-age business workshops and computer classes are held at library locations countywide, with an emphasis on high-tech training for teens and tweens including special free coding camps.
Achieved Outcomes
The anticipated outcome of Educating & Preparing the Workforce of the Future is the leveling of Broward County Library's employment playing field, which can be accomplished by providing access to all of the tools and training our citizens need to succeed in the workforce of the future.