Topeka & Shawnee Public Library has a new Jobs & Careers Neighborhood, including reference in proximity. They started circulating some career books, but included books from throughout the collection about:
- career exploration
- job success (for women)
- time management
- networking
- job search
- difficult coworkers
- career development (stress, advancement, etc.)
- job loss
- resumes – don’t write it from scratch…use a resume program if it’s available
- cover letters
- interview tips – work with Human Resources to know what you can/can’t ask and how to dress, for example
- Job 101 Class – Terry and HR Rep
- How to Dress
- Compiling a Resume (10 must haves and “never go ins”)
- Possible interview questions and strategies – couching on how to sell yourself to an employer
- (Questions you shouldn’t be asked)
- Courtesy and deportment – eye contact, hand shakes, etc., thank you email for interview
- 1 1/2 hours with high participation
- Tell the employer that you want the job and don’t ask about the salary…and the patron Terry gave that advice to came back to say she’d gotten a job (helping people get jobs) – great story
- Job 101 Class – Terry and HR Rep
- Winway Resume on all public access computers in Topeka
- Unemployment pushes many people to go into business for themselves!
- Topeka Small Business Center works with Library to offer FULL classes
- Workforce Center – new Kansas Registered Apprenticeship program (wind energy field/industry is training people in all aspects and are offering paid internships!) Just getting off the ground.
Maggie from Olathe Public Library (on the fly panelist)
- Problems with patrons applying for Kansas Unemployment prompted the start of appointments – ‘Book a Librarian’ program
- Media attention! Originally just for helping with Unemployment b/c of the computer aspects
- For many people, the online form is their first use of a computer…so they don’t have a pre-existing Email Address!
- A plus – you don’t get kicked off when you need to go get an email address mid-stream
- A minus – there’s a lot of information that the patron needs, like gross income data
- The form has 6 security questions – another foreign concept for a new computer user
- By using the appt system, there’s time set aside to work with the patron
- How long does the form take? Motivated – 1 hour, 3 hours with problems
- Normally, patrons have 1 hour on the computer, but extensions are given
- Rewarding for the librarian -
- A few hiccups – appts used for payday loans and genealogy, not unemployment
- How long in advance for an appointment? 5 minutes, if someone is available. A few no-shows and late comers
- If someone can’t type, do you type for them? Try not to do that at Olathe, but in a few cases she’s done a little
Patti – State Library of Kansas
- Thriving in Tough Times – Lots of good information – a source for smaller libraries (she passed out cards)
- HomeworkKansas – Includes resources for Adult Education and Assistance for Job Seekers, including help with Resumes and proofreading!!!
- (http://ksuc-agent.auto-graphics.com/homepages/customerwide/ValidateGlobalIP.asp?cuid=ksuc&lid=kw9&stfftype=Z&defaultlang=english&qmisc=&mode=H)
