rural resources partnership an employment resource centre in every village george stock oxford...
TRANSCRIPT
Rural Resources Partnership
An Employment Resource Centre
in every villageGeorge Stock
Oxford County Library
For OLA Super Conference 2004
Oxford County Library
18 branches:• one town
Ingersoll population 11,000
• 17 villages
populations 2,500 to 109
• floor space
12,000 to 370 square feet
Rural Resources Partnership
• Since 1998• Funded by Human Resources Development Canada (to
be Department of Human Resources and Skills Development)
• Use library branches as channels for government information delivery
• 2 components: – technology outreach: group training to support web-based
employment resources– community outreach through branches
Information and Resources
Internet for patrons to access job banks and other on-line job-finding resources and apply on-line
Information and Resources
Computers, printers and photocopiers
for patrons to develop resumes and cover letters
Training Promotes Internet Use
• Net a Job
• Career Horizons
• Applying On-Line
- in partnership with employment service providers (e.g., job finding club)
Benefits to Community
• Access to job finding resources close to home
• Library usually the only public access to computer/internet, sometimes the only fax/photocopy service available in small communities
• Familiar “non-government” environment, personalized customer service
• Children and other family members are made welcome
• Non-traditional hours: evenings and Saturdays
Benefits to Library
• Funding for staffing, training and promotion
• Enhanced sense of library’s role in community
• New users attracted to library, including non-
traditional populations
• Increased use of services already offered
Survey of library users
• 747 responses / 593 separate users
• Over 10 % reported some form of employment activity
(7 % checked job opportunities; 3 % prepared resume
or cover letter; 3 % sent job application)
• Around 50 % used [email protected] web site
Who uses employment information?
• 32% were unemployed
• 27% were employed but seeking different job
• 21% were employed but seeking extra work
• 8% were returning to work after long absence
Who uses employment information?
• 1/3 of job seekers were males but only 1/5 of
all library patrons were males
• Male job seekers most likely age 40-55
• Females most likely <25 and 25-40