Library Offers Help to the Jobless

The threat of flash flooding and torrential rain didn’t damper the spirits of jobseekers attending the Memphis Public Library & Information Center’s JobLINC Career and Education Fair held in late July. In fact, several hundred lined-up at nine o’clock and waited patiently for the fair to start at 10 a.m.

“The economy has gone down south a little bit,” concedes library customer service agent Robyn Stone. With optimism she adds, “But, there are still jobs out there.” Stone estimates that close to a 1,000 people filed through the Library’s meeting rooms attempting to find work or educational opportunities available from the 35 businesses participating. The fairs, which started in 1996, have always been well attended. However, Stone reported this year’s numbers were up 15%.

The JobLINC Career and Education Fair is just one way Memphis Public looks to help the under- and unemployed. The Library’s JobLINC, a mobile career center, takes computer access and resume development expertise to shopping areas and community centers. JobLab, offered twice a month, is a dedicated computer lab staffed by career search experts. Workshops on online job searches, updating resumes and interviewing skills have been popular. Then, there are the 541 internet ready computers. While there are no hard and fast statistics on how customers are using the computers, librarians say they are fielding more questions about how to complete online job applications.

Memphis is not alone. An American Library Association (ALA) study set for release September 15 attests to the national state of libraries. Larra Clark, manager of the study, told USA Today that just two years ago 44% of libraries said assisting job seekers was a “critical use” of their library. Today, with the current state of the economy it’s 67%.