Library Development

New York State Library

NYSED / OCE / NYSL / DLD / Coordinated Outreach Services Program / Job and Career Information

---

Job and Career Information in New York’s Public Libraries

Local public library system and public library resources vary across New York. Following are some examples of the kinds of statewide and national resources that, along with local information and referrals services, are basic to public library Job Information Centers in New York.
Quick links: Libraries with Career Resource Centers Project Compass Help Wanted: Tools for Tough Times [television series and multimedia project] Public Library Systems with Job/Career Information Web Pages Civil Service [New York State] U.S. Department of Labor Job Search Guides Other Resources Webinars Libraries and "Tough Times" news articles
See Also:
JobNow! is a unique service that features expert résumé assistance, live interview preparation and career coaching. Learn more about JobNow!	Five e-mobile computing training units and 33 public access computer centers around the State provide online access to job search resources as well as federal, state, and local E-government resources. Learn more about Broadbandexpress@yourlibrary.
Selected Job Opportunity and Employment Web Sites (from the New York State Library)

New York's public library systems and public libraries offer information, resources, and referrals for New Yorkers and people looking to work in New York State. Job Information Centers in libraries and related services often include:

• Specialized web resources developed by libraries and links to job search web resources
• Information on career development
• Education and training
• Résumé assistance and other job hunt strategies
• Workforce development services (Literacy instruction, GED assistance, citizenship information and referral)

These and much more are offered through public library systems and public libraries. They are even more important for New Yorkers and all Americans now.

Libraries with Career Resource Centers Career Resource Centers in Public Libraries: New York State by County; revised 2012; (269k) See also Find Your Public Library to locate the library nearest you Help Wanted; Employment/Job Information Links in Public Library Systems

The New York State Library is working with the New York State Department of Labor to offer support, training, and other job and career information and resources to public library systems and public libraries across the State.

In addition there are links to some basic resources found in public libraries and accessible through computers in public libraries.

Project Compass Project Compass was developed and funded through a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the North Carolina State Library and WebJunction. The project helps state libraries across the country support and assist public libraries in their provision of workforce development services including job information, career development and small business resources and services. Project Compass offered four summit meetings across the U.S. during 2010 to bring state library agencies together to share best practices and create partnerships between states. The project goal of expansion and improvement of State Library workforce development services to public libraries during the current economic crisis is in progress. More information on state library and public library workforce services from New York State Library's PowerPoint/recorded presentation to the Project Compass summit meeting held in Providence, RI in May 2010

Help Wanted: Tools for Tough Times (television series and multimedia project from PBS stations WMHT-Albany and WCNY-Syracuse; the New York State Library is a partner)

Workforce3one, the  U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration knowledge-sharing tool, is a communications vehicle to offer technical assistance, share promising practices, and network with colleagues in the Workforce and Economic Development world. Through the workforce3one listserv, libraries are notified of upcoming training opportunities, new publications, and current information of interest to the workforce development community. The site is one part of the National Re-employment Initiative.The federal Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) is a partner which represents the nation's 123,000 school, academic, research and public libraries and 17,500 museums.

More information on specific services available in your region of the State

NOTE: Links below will open in a new window

Employment/Job Information Links in Public Library Systems

Public Library Systems with Job/Career Information Web Pages

• Brooklyn Public Library: Education & Job Info Center
• Buffalo and Erie County Public Library: Job and Career Resources
• Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System: Databases and Research Sites - Jobs and Careers
• Finger Lakes Library System: Job Seekers' Guide
• Mid-Hudson Library System: Quick Answers - Get help finding a job
• Monroe County Library System: Job Information Center | Local Employment Resources
• The New York Public Library: Employment | Job Search
• North Country Library System: Learning Libraries
• Onondaga County Public Library: Jobs Links | Job Resources Available at OCPL
• Pioneer Library System: Resources for the Job Seeker
• Queens Borough Public Library: Job Information
• Ramapo-Catskill Library System:
  • Employment Resources Guide
  • Assisting Patrons Who Are Searching for Jobs: Job resource guide created by Deborah Weltsch, Librarian, Poughkeepsie Public Library District, for Summer 2009 RCLS Training (66k)
• Schenectady County Public Library: Careers & Job Hunting
• Suffolk Cooperative Library System: Career Info
• Westchester Library System: WEBS -- Career & Educational Counseling Service

Civil Service

• New York State Department of Civil Service
  • Test Guides
  • Scheduled Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals
    • New Announcement Issue Notification by E-mail
• New York State Department of Labor: Civil Service Job Listings (includes Federal, New York State and local government sites)
• Governor's Office of Employee Relations: State Jobs NY

Job Search Guides

• New York State Department of Labor:

  • In response to the needs of New York's job seekers and the needs of public libraries which are directly serving them, the New York State Library worked with the NYS Department of Labor (DoL) to produce a joint webinar on successful partnerships between public libraries and One Stop employment centers across the State. PowerPoint slide show from the Webinar List of DoL One Stop locations and contact information

  • Finding a Job
  • Writing Résumés and Cover Letters
  • Career Services Forms and Publications
• New York State: Citizen Guide: Career / Employment
• America’s Job Exchange: Job search engine that helps users find career related content, tools and advice to help manage their job search and overall careers.
• CareerJet; a job posting search engine that draws from more than 70,000 employment web sites
• Indeed. One search. All jobs: Search engine for jobs, allowing job seekers to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards. Create user profile to customize searches and save search results.
• Newspaper Association of American Career Center: Newspaper Association of America database containing jobs posted in newspapers across the country. Resume Builder and Professional Profile tools to make your resume available to employers.

Other Resources

• New York State
  • GED revamp sparks anxiety, by Daniel Massey (8/12/12)
  • Department of Civil Service: Workers with Disabilities Program
  • Division of Veteran Affairs: Veteran Employment
  • Department of Correctional Services: Jobs and Careers
  • New York State Unified Court System: Current Opportunities
  • Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance: myBenefits
  • Department of Labor:
    • One Stop Locations
    • CareerZone
    • Jobs Express - Job Openings in New York State
• National
  • Social Jobs Partnership -- a joint commitment of Facebook, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), DirectEmployers Association (DE), and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) to facilitate employment for America's jobless through the use of social networks.
  • A National Partnership to Meet Local Needs [338k];
    flyer on the partnership between
    the Employment and Training Administration
    and the Institute of Museum and Library Services;
    also at the reEmployment WORKS web site
    
    
  • Job Dislocation: Making Smart Financial Choices After a Job Loss; from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services and Department of Labor announce new partnership -- June 25, 2010
  • Department of Labor Provides Guidance to Workforce Agencies on Partnering with Libraries -- June 30, 2010
  • Training and Employment Notice No. 50-09 from U.S. DOL; Encouraging Partnerships between the Workforce Investment System and Public Libraries to Meet Career and Employment Needs -- June 29, 2010
  • Accessible .pdf version of complete Employment and Training Administration of U.S. DOL Announcement / Notice No. 50-09; Encouraging Partnerships between the Workforce Investment System and Public Libraries to Meet Career and Employment Needs -- June 29, 2010
  • careeronestop
    • ReEmployment Portal -- from Minnesota
    • Job Seeker Tools
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.
• Other
  • DigitalLiteracy.gov: Online hub for digital literacy practitioners developed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Job Accomodation Network: Accommodation Rights & Advice for Employees and Employers
  • The Riley Guide: The Riley Guide is a directory of employment and career information sources and services on the Internet. It is primarily intended to provide instruction for job seekers on how to use the Internet to their best advantage.
  • O*NET OnLine: O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!
  • Upwardly Global: Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping skilled immigrants rebuild their careers.
• Webinars
  • Archived:
    • Best Practices: Workforce Development Services in Your Library -- February 26, 28 & March 6, 2013
    • mySkills, myFuture: A New Tool for Job Seekers -- September 29, 2010
    • Libraries and Economic Development Series -- August 2010
    • Helping Job Seekers: Using Electronic Tools and Federal Resources -- August 11, 2010
    • Effective Partnerships between the Public Workforce System and Libraries -- July 19, 2010

The New York State Department of Labor has labor market analysts in 10 locations across the state. These analysts help employers and economic developers by providing data about wages, economic trends, and availability of labor. They also help job seekers by providing occupational and career information. Regional Labor Market Analysts in New York's 10 regions And for statewide trends, please contact: Kevin Jack, NYS Department of Labor State Office Campus Bldg. 12, Room 490 Albany, NY 12240 Phone: (518) 457-2919 Fax: (518) 457-6199 E-mail: Kevin.Jack@labor.state.ny.us

Libraries and “Tough Times”

• [Syracuse] Post-Standard newspaper -- Help During Hard Times column
  • "Job hunters can find free online resources and personalized help at Onondaga County libraries"
• NYS Department of Labor's "Labor Buzz" web site -- Port Washington Job Fair Attracts 800 Job Seekers
• New York Library Association:
  • Libraries Play Vital Role in Helping Patrons Find Jobs
• The Wall Street Journal:
  • "Folks Are Flocking to the Library, a Cozy Place to Look for a Job"
  • "Libraries Give Résumé Help"
• American Library Association Office for Research and Statistics: Job Seeking in U.S. Public Libraries
• The Today Show, NBC: Libraries lend a hand in tough times....
• The Post-Journal: Jamestown, NY - "Libraries Offer Aid In Tough Times"
• IMLS "Libraries to the Rescue" podcasts, June 23, 2009
• Garden City News Online -- "Garden City Library Updates Job Corner"
  

Last Updated: March 8, 2013 -- asm; for questions or comments, contact Cassandra Artale