Staff: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Tai Meah, Counsel Tonya Cyrus, Policy

Analyst Shadawn Smith, Finance Analyst Committee on Small Business Matthew Hickey, Counsel Faith Corbett, Policy Analyst Ralph Hernandez, Finance Analyst

THECOUNCIL
BRIEFING PAPER OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION Robert Newman, Legislative Director

COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS, LIBRARIES AND INTERNATIONAL INTERGROUP RELATIONS Hon. Jimmy Van Bramer, Chair COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS Hon. Diana Reyna, Chair SELECT COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIES Hon. Vincent Gentile, Chair

April 16, 2012

Oversight: The Economic Impact of Libraries

Introduction On Monday April 16, 2012, the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, chaired by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the Committee on Small Business, chaired by Council Member Diana Reyna, and the Select Committee on Libraries, chaired by Council Member Vincent J. Gentile, will conduct an oversight hearing on the economic impact of libraries. Representatives of the Citys three public libraries systems, the Department of Small Business Services, and other interested parties have been invited to testify.

New York City Public Library Systems Library services in New York City are provided through three independent systems: the Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, which serves the boroughs of Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx, and the Queens Borough Public Library. The three library systems operate 214 local library branches throughout the City and four research library centers in Manhattan.1 The libraries offer free and open access to books, periodicals, electronic sources and non-print materials. Career services and internet access, along with educational, cultural and recreational programming for adults, young adults and children, are also provided. The total collection of the three systems include 377 electronic databases and more than 65 million books, periodicals and other circulating and reference items.2 While New York Citys library systems are independent not-for-profit corporations, their operations and programs are substantially funded by the City. Residents in urban areas, including New York City, see their libraries, particularly
Preliminary Fiscal 2012 Mayor Management Report available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/ops/downloads/pdf/mmr/lib.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/ops/downloads/pdf/_mmr/lib.pdf., last visited on 4/5/12. 2 Id.
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neighborhood branches, as safe havens for children after school, places where immigrants can learn English and multipurpose community centers, offering tax assistance and business services,3 including technical assistance programs for small businesses.4

Libraries: A Vital Resource, Especially During an Economic Downturn Since global economic recession began in 20075, the United States has experienced a significant economic downturn over the past few years.6 Although the economy has not recovered, the country is seeing some improvement. According to the latest data by the U.S. Department of Labor, the nations current unemployment rate is at 8.2%7 compared to 6.8% in 2008.8 According to the American Library Association (ALA), historically, when the economy suffers, more people turn to the library.9 With the nation currently facing tough economic times, libraries across the United States, including New York City, are reporting that people are turning to these facilities in record numbers to take advantage of the availability of such free resources as computer access, books, video games, DVDs and CDs, job-search assistance and health information.10 It has also been reported that high gas prices have kept families off the road and in their

The Library in the City: Changing Demands and a Challenging Future, The Pew Charitable Trusts, March 6, 2012, available at http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Philadelphia_Research_Initiative/Phila delphia-Library-City.pdf, accessed on 4/10/12. 4 Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development, Urban Libraries Council, January 2007, available at http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1001075_stronger_cities.pdf, last visited on 4/5/12. 5 http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/news/economy/recession/index.htm, last visited on 4/12/12. 6 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/26/ben-bernanke-jobs-recovery-economy, last visited on 4/12/12. 7 http://www.bls.gov/ces/home.htm, last visited on 4/10/12. 8 http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01092009.pdf, last visited on 4/10/12. 9 http://www.ala.org/, last visited 4/5/12. 10 Slow Economy Fuels Surge in Library Visits, American Library Association, press release: August 26, 2008, available at http://www.ala.org/news/news/pressreleases2008/august2008/RettigEconomy, last visited on 4/10/12.

homes, and that families who cannot afford vacations are turning to their local library for free activities near home.11

The Economic Impact of Libraries According to the Urban Libraries Council, the economic impact of libraries can be measured in multiple ways within three categories: (1) traditional service benefits, (2) benefits of business operations and (3) program related benefits.12 Traditional service benefits are the cost savings from goods and services that library users would otherwise have to pay for in the private market, as well as, other benefits such as access to information and technology.13 As previously mentioned, libraries offer free access to computers, CDs, DVDs, video games, health, career and job information. Such

traditional service benefits can provide significant savings to library patrons.14 The benefits of business operations are business-related or spin-off benefits to the local economy that include employment and wage contributions, such as the purchasing of supplies and materials, contracted services, and construction.15 Program related benefits are library services offered to communities such as literacy programs, workforce development initiatives, and small business support.16 For the purpose of this paper, this document will focus on the economic impact of job information, which is a traditional service benefit, as well as, workforce development and small business support, which are program related benefits.

11 12

Id. See Supra Note 4. 13 Id. 14 Id. 15 Id. 16 Id.

Job Information and Workforce Development Services Many patrons use computers at public libraries to prepare resumes and cover letters, seek employment opportunities, develop interviewing skills, open e-mail accounts and apply for jobs online. Many libraries also design and offer programs tailored to meet community economic needs, providing residents with career training and workshops, jobsearch resources and connections with outside agencies that offer training and job placement.17 The following describes various business and career service programs offered by the Citys three library systems: New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) system offers a broad array of services and resources for job seekers and the unemployed.18 These services and resources include job search assistance, career coaching, access to job databases, educational books and videos, and job search and resume writing classes and programs.19 NYPLs librarians research job websites and have aggregated links to proven employment websites that cover such areas as job listings, salary information, sample resumes and cover letters.20 They also offer free access to subscription databases at any branch or from home via the internet.21 For example, the NYPL subscribes to the Learning Express Library, which provides test preparation materials and interactive practice exams to help people improve their scores on academic, civil service, military, and professional licensing and certification exams.22

17 18

See Supra Note 10. See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/help/getting-oriented/for-job-seekers 19 Id. 20 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/job-resources-faq 21 Id. 22 Id.

In Manhattan, the NYPLs Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL)23 (located on Madison Avenue at 34th Street) offers comprehensive print materials, eresources, and services for beginning and established businesses and the full spectrum of job seekers.24 Specifically, at SIBL, the public can access online databases for job listings; research employers, industries and trends; access premium career databases including Vault Career Library,25 Wet Feets Career Resource Site,26 Plunketts Research Online,27 and Bloomberg;28 find books on writing resumes and cover letters; get information on how to start a business; and take a business-themed class or seminar.29 In the Bronx, the Bronx Library Center offers a Career and Educational Information Service to members of the public.30 This service includes one-on-one counseling, resume assistance, and career planning services.31 This branch is staffed by an education and career specialist who provides individual and group education, as well as career counseling, including resume and cover letter review for both young adults and adult patrons.32 Further, the specialist assists the public with conducting internet searches on educational opportunities and helps users post their resumes on the internet.33

23

NOTE: As of this writing, the NYPL plans to close the SIBL branch at Madison Avenue and consolidate its services into the main Manhattan branch located in the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. (See WSJ Article by Jennifer Maloney, Libraries Rethink Their Role in City. April 9, 2012 at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577331910499479218.html) 24 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/locations/tid/65/about 25 Vault Career Library offers career guides, industry guides, company and employer profiles. 26 Wet Feet Career Resources Site offers proprietary career, industry and employer guides and links to job and resume information. 27 Plunkett Research Online offers industry research, market trends, links to job search sites and job seeker research and tools. 28 Bloomberg offers resources for jobs in several areas including accounting, advertising, banking, consulting, IT/MIS, portfolio management, sales, insurance, and law with a concentration in jobs in the finance industry. 29 See NYPL Website at: http://legacy.www.nypl.org/research/sibl/docs/job_resources.pdf 30 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/locations/bronx-library-center 31 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/help/getting-oriented/for-job-seekers 32 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/node/57164 33 See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/node/57164

In Staten Island, the St. George Library Center offers a number of job searchrelated classes including classes on networking, interview planning and prep, mock interviewing, and follow-up and salary negotiation.34 Brooklyn Public Library The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) system includes a Business & Career Library (B&CL) located in Brooklyn Heights at Cadman Plaza and Tillary Street.35 The B&CLs purpose is to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, jobseekers, students, and community organizations through a suite if resources and services.36 In Fiscal Year 2011, the B&CL offered more than 500 program sessions and approximately 7,000 people attended.37 Services offered by the B&CL include one-on-one business and finance consultations, resume and test prep help, instruction in job searching and computer use, topical seminars and computer access.38 The B&CL also offers an array of programs and events designed to help small businesses, entrepreneurs and job seekers including the following: Meet One-on-One with a Business Counselor patrons are able to meet with a SCORE39 counselor to discuss their business needs and receive advice on starting a business, writing a business plan, and implementing a marketing strategy;40
34 35

See NYPL Website at: http://www.nypl.org/help/getting-oriented/for-job-seekers/programs See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/locations/business/ 36 Id. 37 Linda Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library, testimony before the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations on the Mayors FY 2013 Preliminary Budget, March 13, 2012. 38 See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/locations/business/ 39 SCORE is a non-profit association that helps small businesses get started through education and mentoring services. (See SCORE Website at: http://www.score.org/about-score) 40 See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/locations/business/events/

 STEP41 Career & Job Development patrons can meet one-on-one with a librarian trained to give job searching help, as well as assistance writing or editing resumes and cover letters;42 Leasing Commercial Property patrons can get tips on how to sign a sound lease from attorneys from the NYC Bar Associations Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project;43 PowerUP! Business Plan Competition patrons are able to enter this competition and attend classes, meet with business counselors and learn how to write a business plan;44 NYS Department of Labor Counselors Onsite patrons can meet one-onone with NYS Dept. of Labor staff to receive help with job search and interviewing skills, as well as DOL training programs and other resources;45 Free One-on-One Financial Counseling patrons are able to make a confidential appointment with a counselor from Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporations Financial Empowerment Center who can advise on budgeting and money management, establishing and improving credit ratings, analyzing a credit report, finding affordable banking services, financial planning, and debt reduction;46

41

The Skills Training & Employment Project (STEP), originally funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant. See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/step/ 42 See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/locations/business/events/ 43 Id. 44 Id. 45 Id. 46 Id.

 Franchising: Is it Right for You? patrons may meet with representatives from FranNet (a franchise matching service) to receive an overview of franchising, learn how to assess appropriate franchising opportunities;47 and Resume Writing 101 patrons can learn to craft a resume to increase the likelihood of getting called for job interviews.48 The BPL also offers its Growing Dollars and $ense financial literacy program - a series of events and workshops whereby patrons can learn about budgeting, investing and goal-setting, connect with service providers to address financial concerns, receive free counseling to help patrons develop strategies for success, and learn to use online sources to find financial information.49 One such event, a Financial Empowerment Fair, will take place on April 21 (10:30am 3pm) at the BPLs Central Library at Grand Army Plaza.50 Queens Library The Queens Library system offers a selection of services and resources for job seekers and entrepreneurs. These offerings include civil service study guides, job information centers in select branches, access to employment websites, and classes on various job search and entrepreneurship topics.51

47 48

See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/locations/business/events/ Id. 49 See BPL Website at: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/growingdollars/ 50 Id. 51 See Queens Library Website at: http://www.queenslibrary.org/services/jobinformation/?filters=ev_own:011006190

The Queens Library Job Information Centers are located in the Central Library branch in Jamaica and the Flushing branch.52 The Job Information Centers offer a variety of services for people who are unemployed, underemployed or would like help with the direction of their career.53 The centers contain books, periodicals, and newspapers helpful to job seekers categorized for easy selection.54 The Job Information Center located at the Central Library branch offers resources to help patrons write a resume, conduct a job search, or explore continuing education needs one-on-one resume assistance services are also available by appointment.55 The centers also produce the Job Search Resource Series; online guides to selected resources in popular careers intended to introduce job seekers to various career areas and to help patrons get started using online resources and library materials.56 Patrons may also avail themselves of Career Exploration Inventory (CEI) diagnostic resources; self-scored career-interest evaluations for adults to help job seekers select from a variety of potential careers.57 The Queens Library Job Information Centers also sponsor workshops given by career guidance professionals throughout the Queens Library system on resume writing, job interview skills, and job search techniques.58 Such offerings include the following:59 Small Business Workshop through this 12-session workshop, patrons are able to learn the ins and outs of starting and managing their own small business;
52

See Queens Library Website at: http://www.queenslibrary.org/services/job-information/job-informationcenters 53 See Queens Library Website at: http://www.queenslibrary.org/services/job-information/job-informationcenters 54 Id. 55 Id. 56 Id. 57 Id. 58 Id. 59 See Queens Library Website at: http://www.queenslibrary.org/branch/centrallibrary/?filters=ev_loc:11000000

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Job Readiness Workshop Series these interactive workshops allow patrons to learn to write resumes and cover letters, prepare for interviews, and develop effective job search techniques;

Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint patrons learn how to create slide presentations;

Microsoft Word patrons can learn how to create an save documents as well as how to format documents and create headers, footers, labels and charts;

Microsoft Word for Resumes and Cover Letters patrons learn to make their resumes and cover letters stand out from the crowd;

DIY Business Cards patrons learn how to create their own business card using Microsoft Publisher;

Your Online Job Search patrons can learn tricks to make their job search more effective;

How Companies and Entrepreneurs Can Use Facebook, Foursquare, Yelp & More for Business patrons can learn best practices for leveraging social media tools to enhance business opportunities including how to create a social media strategy, increase brand awareness, improve customer service, and drive innovation; and

World Education Services Seminars: Pathways to Success this interactive workshops offers information and resources that help immigrants learn how to effectively utilize their foreign academic credentials in the U.S., pursue their professional and academic goals, and connect with local programs and services that support immigrants.60

60

See World Education Services Website http://www.wes.org/community/seminars.asp

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Workforce One Centers The primary vehicle for funding and developing workforce programs in the City is the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA).61 WIA provides funding for programs that offer employment and training services for adults, as well as dislocated and youth workers. The Act also mandates the presence of One-Stop delivery systems to provide a point of access to various employment programs for those seeking employment or job training. The Citys 15 Workforce1 Centers fill this role as One-Stop delivery systems.62 Workforce1 is a service provided by SBS with the goal of preparing and connecting qualified job seekers to job opportunities in New York City.63 The centers provide job seekers with a full array of employment services, including: resource rooms for job search and exploration; job matching and referral services; job search services including workshops for resume writing, interviewing, and job search techniques; career counseling and skills assessment; labor market information; development of individual employment plans; dedicated staff to serve veterans; assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program; assistance with the 599 Unemployment Insurance Training program; occupational training through the Individual training Grant program, and; specialized pre-layoff services for workers affected by a mass layoff.64 In Fiscal Year 2011, SBSs Workforce1 Career Centers received $70.2 million in funding ($39M* from WIA; $6.2M from City Tax Levy, and; $25M from Wagner Peyser, Reemployment

61 62

29 USC 49 See SBS Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/contact/contact.shtml 63 See SBS Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wf1/html/about/about.shtml 64 See Report Prepared by the NYC Workforce Investment Board One System for One City: The State of the New York City Workforce System, Fiscal Year 2011 at WIB Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wib/downloads/pdf/swfs_report_fy2011.pdf *M=million

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Services and Reemployment Eligibility Assistance), served 242,344 people, and helped 91,179 people find employment.65 Workforce One Centers Located in Libraries In February 2012, the Administration announced a partnership that began the previous fall between the Citys three public library systems the Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library and the Queens Library and SBSs Workforce1 Career Centers.66 Under this agreement, SBS opened new Workforce1 Career Centers in Brooklyn, in the Sunset Park branch and in the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, and in Queens, in the Flushing branch.67 SBS also plans to open an additional center at a New York Public Library branch in the Bronx.68 According to the Administration, the three centers opened in libraries have helped New Yorkers find placement in more than 500 jobs since their opening in the fall of 2011.69 In addition to the two centers in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Public Library has collaborated with Workforce1 to train librarians on how to better assist jobseekers.70 The training was delivered by the Workforce Professionals Training Institute,71 a non-profit training and technical assistance organization, to provide librarians in the two Brooklyn locations with skills to help serve branch customers seeking employment including job readiness services, job search strategies, and New York Citys the latest labor market trends.72 Funding for the library centers operations,

65 66

Id. See SBS Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/pr/2012_02_21_wf1cc.shtml 67 Id. 68 Id. 69 Id. 70 See SBS Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/pr/2012_02_21_wf1cc.shtml 71 See Workforce Professionals Training Institute Website at: http://workforceprofessionals.org/organization/org_about.php 72 See SBS Website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/pr/2012_02_21_wf1cc.shtml

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facilities, and technical assistance costs total approximately $2 million and have placed 976 individuals in employment since the launch date.73 Conclusion New York Citys libraries play a vital role in delivering services to our communities. Libraries are more than just a repository for books and periodicals. Libraries facilitate workforce development by providing access to computers and the internet, and offer technology training that helps local residents learn new skills, apply for jobs, start and grow businesses. Todays hearing will explore the contributions of the public libraries to the Citys economy.

73

Source: New York City Department of Small Business Services

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