The Chatham Area Public Library has been awarded a Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant for almost $12,000 to help our local workforce bounce back from the pandemic.
“We are proud to be working to provide critical services to our community during the pandemic and beyond,” Library Director Amy Byers said. “We are excited to provide so many opportunities to members of our community seeking employment assistance this year.”
Throughout 2022, The Library will offer services, programming and equipment to those within the workforce, from first time job-seekers to local business owners. Included in the Library’s plans are monthly events and classes on topics from searching for jobs, resume & interview workshops, and starting a business in Illinois. There will also be a few larger events that focus on headshots and speed networking later in the year. For those who want to grow as a leader in their field, the Library has started a quarterly leadership book club to engage patrons in discussions focused on different leadership topics and business techniques.
Along with these events, a number of resources and equipment have been purchased to help members of our community with their employment and business needs. An Interview Kit and an Entrepreneur Kit will be available to check out in early 2022. Library cardholders can use these kits in the comfort of their own home, in order to help them attend an online interview and perform tasks associated with starting a business. Six laptops will be available to checkout to allow cardholders the ability to work from home.
Online databases have also been added to provide career and job search advice. JobNow and HelpNow, two databases from Brainfuse, have live tutoring, career counseling, and interview coaching available daily from 2:00 – 11:00 p.m. This amazing resource is available to anyone with a Chatham Area Public Library card and an internet connection (the Library can help if you need either of those).
The Library is happy to use the Bouncing Back! Improving Workforce Development grant to help our community and hopes that those looking for employment assistance will take advantage of all that the Library has to offer. Visit the Library’s web page for more information at www.chathamlib.org/bouncing-back.