Tulane University Libraries Partners with Skilltype for Enterprise Skill Development
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, October 28, 2021 — Tulane University Libraries have joined Skilltype for Teams — a cloud-based skills management platform for libraries and knowledge management organizations. Launched in 2020 in response to the shift to remote work and online conferences, Skilltype enables personalized professional development for library employees, while producing real-time talent insights across the organization. Both Tulane and Skilltype are based in New Orleans, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration dating back to Skilltype’s research and development. Tulane was one of nine initial funders for the software platform. Tulane is the latest member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to adopt Skilltype for Teams and the first member of the Association of Southeast Research Libraries (ASERL).
The software will enable Tulane University Libraries to access thousands of on-demand trainings, presentations, and other professional development resources from trusted conferences, professional associations, and vendors. All staff members can begin developing expertise—whether working on campus or remotely, and regardless of rank or role—addressing long-standing DEI issues created by the traditional professional development model.
David Banush, Dean of Libraries and Academic Information Resources, says, “I am very excited by possibilities Skilltype holds for the future of library work. Tony Zanders and his team have built an impressive group of partners and developers and a foundational platform for skill building, talent recruitment, and cross-institutional collaboration. We hope Skilltype will help the entire library community reach our full potential in new and exciting ways.”
“As a native New Orleanian, partnering with Tulane Libraries to modernize employee development gives me a great sense of pride” says Tony Zanders, founder and CEO at Skilltype. “Their team has been a long-time supporter of our vision through funding and feedback since the early days of our research and development. It’s an honor to earn a spot in their talent strategy during such a critical time.”
About Tulane University Libraries
Through welcoming spaces, expert staff, and a broad array of services and resources, Tulane University Libraries support and enrich the teaching, research, and outreach missions of Tulane University. Crossing borders both disciplinary and geographic, we help convene a community of teachers and learners for the conversations that lie at the heart of a great research university. For more information, visit https://library.tulane.edu/.
About Skilltype
Skilltype is an American software company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2018, the company offers talent management software for information professionals and their teams to analyze, develop and share expertise. Skilltype was funded by academic libraries in the United States and has since developed a global community of learners and training providers across 12 countries.
About Tulane University
Tulane was founded in 1834 in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a public medical college with the goal of combating yellow fever, cholera, and other tropical diseases. Today, Tulane, an “R1”—highest research activity—doctoral university in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, is ranked in the top 40 national universities by the U.S. News & World Report. A member of both the Association of American Universities and the Association of Research Libraries, Tulane serves 14,000 students enrolled in 10 undergraduate and graduate schools.
