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Whether it is resume writing help, access to classifieds, industry and company information or acquiring new skills, job hunters have always been able to rely on the free resources of their local library. In today’s economy, these resources are more in demand than ever. To meet this demand, and provide additional support for local job seekers, five central Ohio libraries came together as the Central Ohio Library Collaborative to sponsor Job Help Day @ Your Library on Sept. 24.
Job Help Day @ Your Library featured job-related presentations, programs, demonstrations and expert speakers at different library locations throughout Franklin County. A concentrated press and publicity effort was executed to make sure as many central Ohioans as possible knew about this event. Attendees had their resume reviewed by experienced career advisors, learned the “dos and don’ts” of interviewing, received help with job search strategies and even learned how people are using tools like blogs, Twitter and LinkedIn to find jobs. All sessions were free and open to the public.
The partners shared names of career assistance service providers from the non-profit, private, college and university sectors at planning meetings to ensure each Library had access to presenters on just about any job readiness subject matter. This was very significant to the value of the partnership. One of the target outcomes of this collaborative effort was to help more people by sharing resources, expertise and promotion.
 Some of the central Ohio organizations that participated as providers for Job Help Day @ Your Library were 40 Plus of Central Ohio, New Directions Career Center, Columbus Urban League, and Jewish Family Services. Additionally, the Central Ohio Library Collaborative became aware of a state funded job help service called Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC), as well as the resourceful website www.OhioMeansJobs.com .
Recently, the Central Ohio Library Collaborative met to share results and to celebrate the success of the first ever Job Help Day @ Your Library. Preliminary results show that approximately 1,000 job seekers participated in this day. The resume clinics and interview related sessions were the most popular. Of all the public relations and promotional activities marketing the day, radio interviews and internal Library signs and material were most persuasive. The collaborative agreed that this partnership approach offers a great service to the public. Kristin Shelley, Deputy Director of Worthington Libraries, summed it up by saying, “We should begin thinking of what is next for this collaboration and how we can continue to foster the partnership.”
The initial collaborative partners were Columbus Metropolitan Library represented by Joe Yersavich, Steve Hippes and Kim Snell, Grandview Heights Public Library represented by Rebecca Felkner, Westerville Public Library represented by Nieca Nowels, Worthington Libraries represented by Kristin Shelley, Mandy Knapp, Lisa Bond and Jeff Regensburger and Upper Arlington Public Library represented by Ruth McNeil. The Central Ohio Library Collaborative has since expanded to include Bexley Public Library represented by Susan Studebaker and Chris Atzberger and Southwest Public Libraries represented by Michelle Lowe. Planning has begun for our next collaborative event in February 2010.
Libraries collaborating is a win-win for patrons, libraries and those who support libraries through charitable giving, local levies and state funding.
For more information about library job seeker resources, log on to www.ualibrary.org/jobspot/. Links to participating libraries job help sites are posted there also.
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