Cambria County Library workforce development program captures interest of national library leaders, State Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.

CHICAGO – On Monday, July 27, at 2:00 ET, American Library Association (ALA) President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., and State Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr., will pay a virtual visit to Cambria County Library in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where they will discuss the library’s partnership with the state of Pennsylvania in hosting PA CareerLink®, the commonwealth’s job-matching program.

Cambria County Library will host Stronger Together for Workforce Development, a roundtable discussion covering the PA CareerLink® office fully embedded in the library as well as workforce development efforts in other Pennsylvania libraries. The roundtable will address federal and state policies that can enable greater access to – and impact of – those programs. Along with Jefferson, conversation participants include:

• Gwenn Dando, chief of staff, Office of Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., Pennsylvania State Senator
• Jeff Dick, PA CareerLink® site administrator
• Glenn Miller, Deputy Secretary & Commissioner for Libraries
• Christi Buker, executive director, Pennsylvania Library Association
• Ashley Flynn, library director, Cambria County Library
• Alan Cashaw, president, Johnstown NAACP

ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr.: “Cambria County Library and libraries across the commonwealth are improving lives every day, helping people find jobs and build careers, providing internet access to underserved communities, empowering students as they develop literacy skills that will lead to lifelong learning. Many of these successes take place in the shadows. Their stories need to be told, their local community and professional organization need to listen, and their elected leaders need to support them.”

PA CareerLink® Site Administrator Jeff Dick: "The PA CareerLink® in Cambria County was very excited to co-locate into the library in the fall of 2018 and it has far surpassed our expectations.  The accessibility of the library, along with the strong partnerships that we’ve already formed, has allowed us to better serve the residents of Cambria County in their employment needs."

Pennsylvania Library Association Executive Director Christi Buker: “Often libraries don’t recognize how awesome they are at serving their community.  The Cambria County Library in a rural area with economic challenges is one such library.  Workforce development has been and will continue to be a major need here and in many other communities.  Through the partnership with PA CareerLink®, the library can encourage and expand their support for residents who need assistance.”

Cambria County Library Director Ashley Flynn: “The Cambria County Library fully embraces our PA Forward™ tagline, Literacy is POWER. Libraries provide the fuel for you, for your community, for Pennsylvania. We are excited to share how they make a difference in their community!”

Cambria County Public Library is the first on Jefferson’s 12-stop virtual tour, Holding Space: A national conversation series with libraries, to spotlight how libraries of all kinds across the country are addressing the needs of their diverse communities and engaging stakeholders to advocate for libraries. At each stop of the 10-day tour, Jefferson will hold community discussions exploring local and national solutions to local and national issues addressed by libraries, such as workforce development programs, children and family services, outreach to rural residents, and broadband for Tribal communities. Jefferson will also invite tour participants to join ALA advocates, who are currently supporting the Library Stabilization Fund Act to provide federal resources to libraries during the COVID pandemic.

For more information on tour stops and how to join, visit ala.org/advocacy/holding-space. To speak with ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., or other library leaders/advocates, contact: 

• Shawnda Hines, assistant director, communications, ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, at (202) 628-8410 ext. 8208 or shines@alawash.org
• Steve Zalusky, Communications Specialist, ALA Communications and Marketing Office, at (312) 280-1546 or szalusky@ala.org 

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.