Libraries

Training Webinars and Guides

Webinars, presentations, contact information, and other guides to familiarize library staff with local workforce partners and programs, and to help assist library users in need of workforce services.

Contact Chris Baker (Public Library Consultant/ Games & Learning Consultant, Bureau of Libraries) to recommend free upcoming workforce development or social service webinars, presentations, or other opportunities, or for general updates.

Employment-Related Resources & Recordings

Digital Accessibility in Libraries


This video, created and hosted by Lori Baumgart (Marketing, Communication, and CE Specialist at the Nicolet Federated Library System), addresses digital accessibility. More specifically, it goes over Web Accessibility Perspectives – with the goal of providing a very basic level of understanding of what web accessibility means to people of a wide range of abilities.​

Most of the information in this presentation comes from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which develops its work through a consensus-based process, involving different stakeholders in web accessibility, such as: industry, disability organizations, government, accessibility research organizations, and more.​

Covering Wisconsin & Health Insurance Assistance in Libraries

In this Library Workforce Connection workgroup presentation on August 27th, 2024, Tina Marshalek (Interim Community Relations Coordinator & Health Coverage Navigator, Covering Wisconsin), joined us to offer an overview of who Covering Wisconsin are, what their services are, how to refer consumers to them, and what outreach and educational resources they have that libraries can utilize to assist patrons with questions about health insurance needs.

For more information visit Covering Wisconsin.

Ready for Reentry 2024

In Wisconsin, individuals reentering the community from jail or prison may come to your library facing many unique challenges that impact their ability to make a smooth and effective transition into society. Learn about online resources and programs you can point to that can help them navigate the reentry journey in areas that impact them the most: housing, employment, education, healthcare and legal barriers. Helping them access these tools is an initial step in helping these individuals rebuild their lives. During this webinar, participants will become familiar with these resources:

  1. Reentry Ready Resources Presenters: Ronda Davis, Todd Wenzel, and Jonathon Ferguson (UW-Extension)
    • UW-Extension developed a site that provides a Reentry Action Plan and links to resources for assistance in housing, Identification, work, legal questions, tax and voting, income and benefits, expenses, healthcare and insurance, and more.
  2. Legal Tune-up Tool Presenter: Jessie Lutter-Long (Lift Wisconsin)
    • Free legal assistance can be just a click away to help people who face civil legal barriers to economic prosperity for them and their families. Common areas include consumer debt help, child support, suspended driver’s license, and more.
  3. Wisconsin Reentry Access Portal (WRAP) Presenter: Cawley Hubner (Wisconsin Department of Corrections) 
    • WRAP provides a database of community-based providers offering reentry services and improves access to information and communication between all reentry stakeholders to assist successful reentry and reduce recidivism for clients returning to their communities.

This webinar was provided with support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Library Workforce Connection, Wisconsin Public Library Systems, and the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin.

Building Sustainable Partnerships


In this Library Workforce Connection workgroup presentation on July 23rd, 2024, Kellie Dunn-Poggemann (Workforce Readiness Director, WISHRM), joined our group to offer an overview of the Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Management, a non-profit professional association whose mission is to share expertise and facilitate thought leadership to advance human capital practices across Wisconsin. Kellie also discussed various collaboration and support opportunities that libraries could take advantage of by contacting a local WISHRM chapter.
 

Best Practices: Workplace Accessibility Accommodations & IEPs w/ Independence First

In this Library Workforce Connection (LWC) workgroup meeting (originally hosted on April 23rd, 2024), we were joined by Gerald Hay (Director of Independent Living Services with Independence First), as he presented about best practices related to hiring, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and proper HR practices for neurodivergent and disabled staff.

For more information visit Independence First.

Reentry Ready Resources, Initiatives for Assisting Justice-involved Individuals & Families

In this Library Workforce Connection (LWC) workgroup meeting, originally hosted on March 26th, 2024, UW-Extension's Diana Hammer, Ronda Davis, Emma Sarazin, and LaToya Bates presented about reentry ready resources, initiatives, & opportunities that libraries could utilize in assisting justice-involved individuals & families.

For more information visit UW-Extension Reentry Ready Resources.

 

There’s an App for That?! Wisconsin Social Services Apps

There's an App for That?! Wisconsin Social Services Apps (YouTube video) 

Webinar held August 9, 2023. Services and assistance are available with a tap of a mobile device’s screen. From ordering a meal, hailing a ride, or finding a home, people can use their mobile phones and other smart devices to access services when they need it. Many government programs and social service organizations have also optimized access to their services to make it more convenient for people to find the help they need when they need it. This webinar will feature two apps and a mobile-optimized website to more easily find social services in Wisconsin that can address their specific needs ranging from healthcare, childcare and housing, to judicare (legal needs) and driver’s license restoration from wherever they have an internet connection. Here are the three services that will be covered:

  • 2-1-1 Wisconsin App from United Way: The familiar and amazing 2-1-1 service goes mobile. Find local help for food insecurity, housing insecurity, mental health assistance, and substance abuse treatment. Presented by Ed Wall, 2-1-1 Director for Dane County UnitedWay.
  • MyACCESS App from the State of Wisconsin: Enroll and manage BadgerCare (healthcare), FoodShare, childcare subsidies, Wisconsin Works (W2), and other services from a single app and website. Presented by Gwen Hannes, Dane County Human Services.
  • Legal Tune-up from LIFT Wisconsin: A mobile optimized online tool to help navigate legal barriers to employment, housing, etc. The tool allows visitors to reinstate driver’s licenses, remove eviction records, remove criminal records, and more. Presented by Alberto Prado from LIFT Wisconsin

Sponsors for this webinar include Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, South Central Library System, SEWI Libraries, and the Wisconsin Library Workforce Connection (LWC).

Reentry Resources and Programs for Your Community

Reentry Resources and Programs for Your Community (YouTube video)

Webinar held April 2022. Libraries can help their patron's post-incarceration with resources and information about programs available to assist the return to community. Finding employment can be a key factor in adjusting to community life and avoiding returning to incarceration. During this webinar, participants will learn:

  • Reentry 101: background information about incarceration and the reentry process,
  • Resources & Opportunities: Employment and social service programs available in communities and through local job centers,
  • Incentivizing Hiring: Incentive programs for employers to hire people with criminal records,
  • LIFT Wisconsin Legal Tune-up: A program to review criminal records.

After the webinar, participants will be provided with a set of resources to assist patrons, including a ready-made resource list for patrons created with assistance from Julie Enloe on behalf of the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin and Carol Hassler from the Wisconsin Law Library. This program is presented by staff members from multiple agencies. Visit SEWI Libraries Continuing Education Archives for more information.

This webinar was sponsored by the LAWDS (Libraries Activating Workforce Development Skills) Project and the Bridges, Monarch, South Central and Winnefox Library Systems.

Local Workforce Development and Public Libraries

If available, training modules specific to your Workforce Development Region/Area are included below. If no training is listed, contact your library system directly for assistance.

WDA 1 – Southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties

WDA 2 – Milwaukee: Milwaukee County

WDA 3 – Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington: Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties

WDA 4 – Fox Valley: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties

WDA 5 – Bay Area: Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, and Sheboygan counties

WDA 6 – North Central: Adams, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Wood, and Vilas counties

WDA 7 – Northwest: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn counties

WDA 8 – West Central: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties

WDA 9 – Western: Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties

WDA 10 – South Central: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Marquette, and Sauk counties

WDA 11 – Southwest: Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock counties

Job Center of Wisconsin

Chris Baker