Providence Public Library awarded $530K grant for teen workforce development program

THE PROVIDENCE Public Library has received $530,000 in National Leadership Grants for Libraries funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE PROVIDENCE Public Library has received $530,000 in National Leadership Grants for Libraries funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Public Library this week received $530,000 in National Leadership Grants for Libraries funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to develop a teen workforce development program.

Called LibraryU, the program will serve more than 600 underserved teens, providing them with free, high-quality workforce development training. Teens who participate in the program will receive academic credit, be exposed to the work world and build digital credentials.

LibraryU will serve as a teen workforce development model for other libraries throughout the nation.

“The new grant for workforce development will enable Providence Public Library to support more youth on their pathway to the workforce and to becoming successful and engaged citizens,” U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said in a statement.

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During the drafting of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Reed argued for the inclusion of provisions that would help integrate local libraries into state and local workforce strategies in order for them to have a greater impact on local communities through education and workforce development.

Recipients of IMLS National Leadership Grants are recognized for their support of projects addressing challenges faced by the library and archive field and that have the potential to advance those fields. Prior winning proposals have produced widely used research findings, services and practices, new tools, and alliances.

IMLS is an independent federal agency and the primary federal support of the country’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums.

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