Empower Work Partners With Public Libraries to Help Workers Thrive
At Empower Work, we hear from thousands of workers navigating challenges related to career growth, job searches, workplace stress, finding stable employment, and more. We’re proud to support people through these moments via our peer support text line, and through partnerships with trusted community spaces like public libraries.
Empower Work poster in the San Francisco Public Library
Libraries play a vital role in workforce support across the country, functioning as free trusted workforce readiness centers in many communities. Every day, an estimated 300,000 Americans receive job-seeking help at their public library, and 30 million people use library computers and internet access at the library each year for employment and career-related purposes.
We’re thrilled to be testing a new partnership with public libraries starting with the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), with the goal to supplement the jobs and career support that public libraries offer the library patrons with the Empower Work text line.
Early Learnings: Our Partnership with SFPL
Empower Work’s partnership with SFPL has moved quickly in exciting ways. Here are a few of our early learnings:
Career Support at SFPL
Public libraries have increasingly become critical workforce readiness hubs, offering far more than books and internet access. Across the country, libraries help people search for jobs, build resumes, apply for benefits, and navigate career transitions. According to the University of Maryland’s Digital Inclusion Survey, 99% of public libraries report providing economic and workforce development services, and nearly half also support entrepreneurship and small business development. Across the country, business owners and employees use public library resources to support their small businesses an estimated 2.8 million times each month, while entrepreneurs are increasingly turning to library makerspaces and 3D printers to prototype new products.
At SFPL, volunteer career coaches offer free 30-minute one-on-one career coaching sessions at the Main Library twice a week for job seekers. These appointments are in consistently high demand and are often fully booked.
This growing demand reflects the important role libraries play in supporting workers and job seekers, particularly for people who may not have access to other career resources. Alongside these services, Empower Work offers an additional layer of free, immediate support through our text line: confidential conversations with trained peer counselors for people navigating job uncertainty, workplace stress, burnout, conflict, and other work-related challenges.
Early Momentum
Our partnership with SFPL has been collaborative and fast-moving, grounded in a shared commitment to connecting people with support.
Our partnership with public libraries is aligned in several ways:
We value anonymity and confidentiality.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.
We are committed to connecting people with support quickly and in a way that feels comfortable for them.
We understand that people often need emotional support as well as tactical, when navigating tough moments.
We value each other’s services. Empower Work frequently refers people to local libraries. Librarians connect patrons with resources like Empower Work that can provide additional support tailored to their needs.
Within 24 hours of our introductory conversation with SFPL, Empower Work was included in the Career Support section of the library’s website.
Within the first month of partnering:
Empower Work was featured in an SFPL Business, Science & Technology newsletter.
Members of our team presented about Empower Work during a monthly SFPL Adult Services Meeting with library staff representing different branches across San Francisco.
Empower Work posters, table tents, and flyers were displayed prominently in the Jobs & Careers Center at the Main Library.
Empower Work flyers in SFPL Jobs & Careers Center
Empower Work flyers showcased in SFPL
Empower Work poster in SFPL
Early conversation data
In early data, we’ve received feedback from library patrons who have reached out to the text line and reported being highly likely to take action after a conversation with a peer counselor.
As one help seeker shared:
“Grace [my peer counselor] was great to talk with. She gave me a new light to explore things.”
Through the text line, library patrons are seeking support around topics such as:
Unemployment/Job Search
Health/Wellness Concerns
Emotional Support
Looking Ahead: Potential to Scale
Our early work with SFPL is already opening doors to conversations with additional library systems across the country, starting with cities that align with our Total Spark partnership.
We’re currently exploring opportunities with other public libraries across the country. As we continue learning, we’re excited by the possibility of scaling this model to more communities.
Why This Matters
Libraries are often one of the few truly free, trusted, and accessible public spaces available to everyone. At Empower Work, we believe workplace support should be just as accessible.
These community spaces do incredible work to support job seekers, with 92% of libraries providing access to online job databases and career resources and 76% help people complete online job applications.
By partnering with libraries, we hope to reach more people earlier — before workplace challenges escalate. And together, we can help ensure that no one has to navigate difficult work situations alone.
If you’re interested in exploring a partnership with Empower Work or would like to download our branded marketing materials for use, we’d love to connect: partnerships@empowerwork.org.