Draft:Learn & Work Ecosystem Library

The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library is a digital platform that gathers, organizes, and shares resources to support the learn-and-work ecosystem. It was created to make information more accessible for various stakeholders and is regularly updated through a community-supported wiki model.

Research conducted in 2021 by the George Washington University Program on Skills, Credentials & Workforce Policy identified key areas of focus for the Library concept based on studies of existing websites and surveys of experts in the field. This research informed the organization of the digital Library into four content types: topics, initiatives, organizations, and an archive.

George Washington University initially received funding from an anonymous donor in 2021 to create the Library, followed by funding from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) grant program, to support the national Credential As You Go initiative. While connected to Credential As You go, the Library is a separate initiative and aims to support a range of efforts improving the overall learn-and-work ecosystem.

The Library is led by Holly Zanville, research professor, at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy. The Library work is supported by the strategic communications firm, Weathers Strategy Group, and a Librarian. The Library Advisory Board was established in the fall of 2021 to ensure that the Library's design and contents are useful to audiences and develop sustainability plans. The Library prototype launched in December of 2022.

The Library's most significant aspect is its commitment to community ownership through the wiki model, where users are encouraged to contribute and keep the information accurate and up-to-date.