As in many communities across the country, Lexington residents struggle with increased unemployment in a rapidly changing jobseeker environment. The community recognizes Lexington Public Library as a community leader in providing access to free information services, and the library has become a de facto resource for jobseekers who come to use these services. The goal of the initiative is to address two obstacles that our staff face every day: a customer base lacking essential job-seeking skills, such as digital and computer literacy, and inadequately-trained frontline staff who want to help but don’t know where to start.

Internally, staff are trained to give on-the-spot jobseeker help with the aid of some basic tools created to determine the type and degree of assistance needed for the jobseeker. Externally, services provided include a twice-weekly Job Lab to provide walk-in assistance, professional volunteer help with resume writing, and reference librarian appointments to assist individual jobseekers. Computer classes offered include Resumes 101, Cover Letters 101, and Interviews 101. These classes teach the basics of the job-seeking process while incorporating essential computer literacy training. Programs being developed with community partners include providing resources for career advice and mock interview training.

The Lexington Public Library will play an essential role in supporting job growth and local economic development in a changing economy. By providing our customers access to the training, technology, and information they need, we will empower them to achieve their job-seeking goals. Serving a diverse community and a customer base with varying degrees of job-seeking skills, a well-trained staff can use the tools created to identify key barriers (such as digital illiteracy) and address these barriers by offering jobseekers resources and programming that will meet their needs at a time, place, and format of their choice.