A Librarian s Guide to Helping Job Seekers

ALA Editions r SPECIAL REPORTS CRISIS IN EMPLOYMENT A Librarian s Guide to Helping Job Seekers FOREWORD BY DENISE DAVIS Office for Research and Statistics JANE JERRARD

ALA s Office for Research and Statistics provides expert advice on all matters related to research and statistics about libraries, librarians, and library staff to association staff, members, and the public. Its multiyear study undertaken with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Public Library Funding and Technology Access, is the most comprehensive survey of patrons use of library technology ever undertaken; its 2009 report Job-Seeking in U.S. Public Libraries provides the quantitative underpinning of Crisis in Employment: A Librarian s Guide to Helping Job Seekers. While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jerrard, Jane, 1961 Crisis in employment : a librarian s guide to helping job seekers / Jane Jerrard ; foreword by Denise Davis, Office for Research and Statistics. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8389-1013-9 (alk. paper) 1. Libraries and the unemployed United States. 2. Vocational guidance United States Information services. 3. Job vacancies United States Information services. 4. Libraries and community United States. 5. Public libraries Reference services United States. I. Title. Z711.92.U53J47 2009 025.5086 9410973 dc22 2009016684 Copyright 2009 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-1013-9 / E-ISBN: 0-8389-9710-9 Printed in the United States of America 13 12 11 10 09 5 4 3 2 1

Contents Foreword v Acknowledgments vii 1 The Employment Crisis Hits the Public Library 1 2 An Operations Manual for Getting Started 5 3 How-tos for Providing Hands-on Help 13 4 Resources and Reference: Think Beyond the Bookshelves 21 5 Partnerships: You ll Never Work Alone 29 6 Best Practices: What Libraries Are Doing Right 35 Appendix A: Key Resources 43 Appendix B: Sample Documents 49 Bibliography 61 Index 63 The sample documents in appendix B can also be found on the book s website at www.ala.org/editions/extras/jerrard10139. iii

1 The Employment Crisis Hits the Public Library When Wynn Las Vegas announced that hiring was open for all positions at its new casino, it also announced that every job from gardener to cashier to housekeeper must be applied for online. As soon as the positions were posted, the North Las Vegas Public Library District saw lines of people waiting to use library computers that literally stretched out the door and down the sidewalk, week after week. Locals with no Internet access at home, and often no basic computer skills and limited English, flooded their public libraries to apply. Librarians and staff did their best to help, but with limited computers as well as staff resources it was a frustrating experience for everyone. Now, another new casino is slated to open in Las Vegas in January 2010, and the libraries are gearing up to face a repeat of this experience. In northwest Indiana, the recession has truly created a crisis in employment, and the Nappanee Public Library is a first responder. It plays a key role in a local economic recovery team effort modeled on the Long-term Disaster Recovery Team formed after a tornado ripped through downtown in 2007. With help from local and state orga nizations, Nappanee s library is working proactively to supply information and resources necessary to help the unemployed in their community, from guiding people through filing their unemployment claims online to providing basic job skills training to acting as a communication hub for all relevant messages. At the main branch of the Nashville Public Library, all hands are on deck to help job seekers get up to speed on computer skills. Every Tuesday, the library dedicates its computer lab to job seekers, and staff from various departments, along with volunteers, provide intensive hands-on help with basic computer and Internet skills, online job applications, and résumé creation. We triage when they come in, says Pam Reese, public education and web team administrator. We ask what they want to work on and if they need help. Generally, seven or eight instructors are available for twenty-five workstations. It s very intensive work. The other day, we helped someone fill out an [online] application for McDonald s, and it took all day. 1

2 Crisis in Employment These examples of public libraries under siege may be extreme, but every frontline librarian in this country has likely seen a shift in customer needs as more and more newly or chronically unemployed people turn to their public library for resources and guidance. Public libraries across the country are struggling to meet the new and growing challenge of helping an influx of customers who desperately need computer and Internet access, education on basic skills, and job search resources. Most libraries find themselves simply reacting to each symptom of the crisis finding ways to stretch their limited computer access or cobbling together training options to help ensure that people can correctly file for their unemployment benefits online. But even as they react, their own resources are limited; the recession has hit public libraries as well, trimming their budgets and, potentially, their staff and hours. Unemployment Everywhere The crisis in employment has become universal, with jobless rates increasing in forty-nine states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of March 2009, 4.4 million jobs have been lost since the beginning of the recession in December 2007. Some towns have seen massive layoffs from one or more major employers or industries; Elkhart County, Indiana, where Nappanee is located, is heavily invested in manufacturing RVs. As of January 2009, it had the highest unemployment rate in the country, 18.3 percent. In July 2008, when the first big layoffs came from the RV industry, we lost 1,400 jobs, says Nappanee s library director Linda Yoder. Over the next six months, it kept getting worse. Other areas see a slow and steady increase in unemployment over time. Even the most prosperous communities are experiencing changes, and libraries are at ground zero for this. And the people most recently laid off didn t necessarily see it coming; they don t have an up-to-date résumé or understanding of new methods for seeking and applying for jobs, so they often head to their local library for guidance and education. There s a shift in people coming on board the mobile job lab, says Memphis Public Library director Keenon McCloy. We were focused on a lot of entry-level job seekers, but now we re seeing more people with a masters-level education. Applications Move Online Part of the crunch experienced with libraries public access computers is that the majority of job openings today require an online application.

Crisis in Employment 3 Often, even minimum-wage workers must apply for jobs via the Internet. For example, less than 44 percent of the top one hundred U.S. retailers now accept in-store paper applications. 1 Add to that the nearly three-quarters of job seekers today who use the Internet to search for employment, mainly because it is the only option for finding many job opportunities. 2 Job seekers who don t have computers or Internet access at home turn to the public library. Nearly 73 percent of libraries are their communities sole provider of free Internet access and that percentage increases to 82 percent in rural communities. 3 Compounding the problem of increased demand for computer access is the fact that many job seekers have few or no basic computer skills and need intensive help to perform a basic job search. Some public libraries are able to meet these demands with one-on-one over the shoulder help or additional computer classes; others need volunteers and donations to even come close to meeting the needs of their communities which may be complicated by a large population with limited literacy or English skills. Help Is Here This special report is designed to offer a range of solutions for meeting the crisis in your own community. It provides an overview of how to create a plan for coping with your library s specific situation provide appropriate training and education to job seekers maximize your physical resources, including public access computers beef up your reference materials for job seekers, including those considering starting their own business or making a career change let your community know what you have to offer It also provides suggestions for outreach efforts to help you locate and combine efforts with partners in your community, as well as best practices used by some hard-hit public libraries. Time for Libraries to Step Up With unemployment still on the rise, this is a crucial time for public libraries to respond with all the help they can offer. And they are aware of

4 Crisis in Employment this opportunity; as noted earlier, aiding job seekers has been increasingly viewed as a vital role for public libraries. This is exactly what a library should be doing. We re truly helping to bridge the digital divide, says Pam Reese. It s natural for us to respond to a crisis in our community. Consider the unemployed in your own community, what they need, and what you can provide. With the help of this report and the resources you have in your facility and in your community, your public library can better assist those seeking jobs in your area build their skills, polish their résumés, and find work. Notes 1. Taleo Research, Trends in Hourly Job Application Methods (San Francisco: Taleo, 2006). 2. Katharine Hansen, Web 2.0 Dominates Trends in Internet Job-Hunting, 2008, www.quintcareers.com/internet_job-hunting_report.html. 3. ALA and Information Institute, Florida State University, Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study, 2007 2008 (Chicago: American Library Association, 2008).

Index Note: Page numbers in italics refer to information in sidebars. A advertising. See marketing and advertising Antigo (Wisc.) Public Library, 22, 24, 25 application worksheet sample, 51 54 use of, 10 Arlington Heights (Ill.) Memorial Library, 12, 18, 23, 24, 29, 31, 32, 34, 40 41 Ashby (Mass.) Free Public Library, 19 B Baltimore County Public Library, 23 24, 25, 31 bandwidth, need for increased, 11 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Library Program, 9, 11 Board of Trustees and fund-raising, 8 and planning, 6 bookmarks, 26 budget. See costs bulletin boards in community centers, 27 for employment information, 6, 23 Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 business associations, 31. See also partnerships business databases for job seekers, 23 business directories, bibliography, 46 business start-ups, 22 business start-ups, information on, 46 47 businesspeople as volunteers, 14 buttons or stickers, 26 C career change, bibliography, 44 45 career information in collection, 22 chamber of commerce, 32. See also partnerships change, planning for, 7 charitable organizations, partnerships with, 29 churches and faith-based organizations community outreach, 34 networking with, 40 41 Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio), Public Library of, 10, 19, 22, 31, 41 classes and workshops computer skills, 3, 15, 16 GED preparation, 18 grief, 32 interviewing skills, 19, 45 languages, 18 math skills, 18 Microsoft Word, 16, 39 networking, 17 planning for, 6 7 résumé writing, 18 19 volunteer trainers for, 31 writing skills, 18 See also one-on-one help collaboration with other agencies, 8. See also partnerships collection development, 21 27 collection management, 21 Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library, 7, 9, 32, 34, 37 38 community organizations advertising to members of, 26 27 announcements at meetings, 33 keeping them happy, 34 partnerships with, 29 in planning, 7 as resources on emergency aid, 23 speaking at meetings of, 27 computer classes case study, 37 need for, 3 preregistration vs. open-lab, 15 skills covered in, 16 consultants for fund-raising, 30 costs and limits to public computers, 9 for new services, 7 of upgrading bandwidth, 11 See also no-cost solutions cover letters, bibliography, 45 D databases for job seekers, 23 24, 47 48 Dayton (Ohio) Metro Library, 24 demographics of community, 6 donations, 9, 32 33 Dwight Foster Public Library (Fort Atkinson, Wisc.), 11, 38 39, 50 E e-mail accounts fliers with instructions on, 6 free, 17 63

64 Crisis in Employment e-mail distribution lists to community groups, 34 e-mail newsletters, 27 e-mail training, 16 emergency aid to unemployed information on, 22 23 partnerships with charitable organizations, 29 emotional issues bibliography, 46 grief workshops, 32 programs on, 19, 39 reference services for, 23 English as a second language classes, 18 entrepreneurship, information on, 22 F Facebook, training in use of, 17 faith-based organizations. See churches and faith-based organizations family of job seekers as helpers, 14, 18 fliers (advertising) distributed through community groups, 33 samples, 58 59 use of, 24, 25 fliers (handouts). See handouts, pathfinders, and fliers Flint (Mich.) Public Library, 10, 19, 33 food stamps, information on, 22 23 franchising, information on, 22, 47 Fresno County (Calif.) Public Library, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24, 42, 57 59 friends of job seekers as helpers, 14, 18 Friends of the Library, 11, 30, 31 funding. See costs; no-cost solutions funding agencies, communications with, 8 fund-raising through library newsletter, 27 partnerships for, 30 targeted, 8 See also grants G GED preparation, classes in, 18 government agencies loans of equipment, 33 partnerships with, 29 state employment office, 12, 17 See also job resource centers; workforce development centers grants for adding technology, 8 for public computers, 9 workshops on, 22 See also fund-raising grief, workshops on, 32. See also emotional issues H handouts, pathfinders, and fliers for computer users, 6 in job search centers, 34 job search resources, 55 56 one-on-one help preferable to, 13 on writing résumés, 6, 55 56, 57 hands-on learning (case study), 39 40. See also one-on-one help health insurance, information on, 22 23 Highland County (Ohio) District Library, 33, 34 Homework Help Centers adapted for job seekers, 37 hours of operation and deadlines for filing claims, 17 maximization of, 8, 36 housing, emergency, 23 human resources department as one-on-one helpers, 14 and résumé writing classes, 19 I incorporation of businesses, bibliography, 47 Indiana Public Libraries, 17 instructors for classes, 6 7. See also training for staff; training for volunteers Internet access information for nonusers, 25 library as sole provider of free access, 3 Internet access speeds, increased, 11 Internet skills, 16 interviewing skills bibliography, 45 classes in, 19 J job applications, online, 2 3 job fairs, 38 job hunting, bibliography, 43 44 job hunting log sample, 50 uses of, 16 17 job resource centers link to library on website, 25 partnerships with, 15, 29, 31, 34, 41 state employment office, 12, 17 job skills, classes in, 18 job support groups in library, 38 and partnerships, 29 volunteers from, 31 jobs collection as stand-alone section, 21 L language classes, 18 laptops, library owned dedicated to job seekers, 11 donations of, 9 and wireless networks, 10 laptops, user owned, and wireless networks, 11 LAUS (local area unemployment statistics), 7 leasing public computers, 9 library, role of. See role of library library newsletter, 27 library systems, partnerships with, 29 library websites, 23 25, 27 limited English skills, job seekers with assistance to, 3 help from family and friends, 18 one-on-one help for, 13 LinkedIn, training in use of, 17 literacy groups, partnerships with, 18 literacy skills, job seekers with limited, 3, 13

Crisis in Employment 65 local agencies, lists of, 21. See also government agencies; job resource centers M marketing and advertising of job resource centers, 24 outside library, 26 27 within library, 25 26 and partnerships, 33 34 planning for, 7 math skills, classes in, 18 meeting space for employment-related workshops, 6 in return for help from community organizations, 34 Memphis Public Library, 2, 9, 11, 31, 39 40 Microsoft Word classes, 16, 39 mission statement, 6 mobile computer labs, 11 12, 40 N Nappanee (Ind.) Public Library, 1, 2, 8, 17, 31, 33, 35 37 Nashville Public Library, 1, 11 12, 13, 31, 51 56 networking bibliography, 46 with local organizations for volunteers, 32 training classes in, 17 for volunteers, 40 41 networking meetings, 38 New Haven (Conn.) Free Public Library, 12, 23, 40 New York Public Library, 31 news media and community organizations, 34 placing stories with, 26 See also press releases newsletters, 27, 33 no-cost solutions case study, 37 38 and collaboration with other agencies, 8 suggestions, 6 See also costs non-internet users, information for, 25 nonprint materials as resources, 21 North Las Vegas Public Library District, 1, 10, 18 O Office of Workforce Development. See workforce development centers Olathe (Kans.) Public Library, 9 10, 13, 14 one-on-one help, 13, 14. See also classes and workshops online job searching classes, 16 online networking, 46 on-screen messages, 26 open-lab classes, 15 Orange Beach (Ala.) Public Library, 24 outreach, 40 42. See also partnerships P partnerships, 29 34 advertising services through, 26 27 case studies, 40 42 for conducting workshops and classes, 15 and Gates Foundation, 9, 11 give-and-take with, 34 literacy groups, 18 with SCORE, 22 services from, 33 with state employment office, 17 with state labor department, 12 with student groups as volunteers, 12 passwords, tracking of, 16 PDF attachments, handouts on sending, 6 piracy issues with donated software, 9 planning, 5 12 for advertising, 7 8 and community organizations, 7 drafting a plan, 6 7 information gathering, 5 6 stretching of resources, 8 12 podcasts, 24 posters and signs, 27 preregistration, 39 press releases, 24, 26. See also news media privacy and confidentiality and donated computers, 9 policy on, 12 and unemployment claims, 18 private areas for Internet use, 12 public access computers dedicated to job seekers, 10 maximizing access to, 8 spending for, 9 public service announcements, 26 R Racine (Wisc.) Public Library, 21 recycling of donated computers, 9 reference resources, circulation of, 21 registration for computer classes, 15 resources bibliographies, 43 48 handouts on job search resources, 55 56 identification of needed resources, 6 7 for librarians, 61 résumés, 45 case studies, 38, 39 classes in writing, 18 19 handouts for, 6, 55 56, 57 partnerships, 31, 32 sources of information for, 23, 45 rewiring of building for more bandwidth, costs of, 11 role of library assistance for job seekers, 4 as sole provider of Internet access, 3 as source of information, 6 RSS feed of library website, 25 S schools as partners, 31 volunteers from, 32 SCORE, partnerships with, 22 search optimization, 25 service organizations partnerships with, 29 speaking at meetings of, 27 shelving of collection, 21 signage at community organizations, 34 in library, 25, 26

66 Crisis in Employment small libraries, 38 39 software for job skills training, 22 piracy issues with donated computers, 9 space constraints, adaptations to, 9 10 speed dating style events, 31 sponsorships for public computers, 9 staff for job seeker services, 12 in planning, 6 task force for, 40 staff training grants for, 8 by local job counseling agencies, 15 for one-on-one help, 14 15 staff training rooms as computer rooms, 10 state employment office, 12, 17. See also government agencies state library, partnerships with, 29 stickers or buttons, 26 stretching your resources, 8 12 survey of community needs, 6 T test preparation resources, 22, 48 time limits for computer use and computers dedicated to job seekers, 10 on dedicated laptops, 11 timetable for programs, 7 training for staff, 8, 14 15 training for users, 15 19 training for volunteers, 12 U unemployment claims case study, 35 37 classes for making, 17 18 unemployment data, sources of, 2, 7 used equipment donations of, 9, 32 33 loans of, 33 V veterans, services for, 24 volunteers for computer classes, 8 for job seeker services, 12 keeping them happy, 34 need for, 3 for one-on-one help, 14 as partners/trainers, 30 32 recruitment of, 6 and résumé writing classes, 19 W wireless networks, 10, 11 word-of-mouth advertising, 27 workforce development centers partnerships with, 31 as resources on emergency aid, 23 See also government agencies; job resource centers workshops. See classes and workshops worst-case scenarios, 35 36 writing skills, classes in, 18

I n difficult economic times people turn to their local library for help seeking new work. Crisis in Employment will give you the tools you need to support this growing group of patrons. Based on interviews with librarians across the country, as well as research from ALA s Office for Research and Statistics, this ALA Editions Special Report offers advice and methods for providing appropriate training and education to job seekers with Tips for maximizing your library s physical resources A list of key reference resources useful to job seekers Advice on building partnerships with key community organizations Crisis in Employment will help you meet the needs of patrons seeking new work, making career changes, or starting their own businesses in a comprehensive way that suits your local community s conditions. Additional material can be found on the book s website, at www.ala.org/editions/extras/jerrard10139. You may also be interested in www.alastore.ala.org American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611 1-866-SHOP ALA (1-866-746-7252) www.alastore.ala.org