Just Another Day at Work: How Librarians Are Changing Lives, One Job Seeker at a Time

Living through unemployment is already challenging enough—it doesn’t help when searching for a job feels like an impossible process. Unfortunately, the current US job market has been reaching historical levels of difficulty, with fewer employers hiring overall. Thankfully, libraries provide free opportunities for job seekers to get support in their search.

A Challenging Present Job Market

Today’s job seekers—especially recent graduates and young adults—have been attempting to navigate a difficult job market. Employers have been hiring candidates at the slowest pace in a decade, with an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent and minimal layoffs. Additionally, the previously high rate of resignations has begun to stagnate, meaning fewer people are quitting their jobs.

Although the current career climate appears discouraging, librarians continue to meet community needs. People struggling with their job search should consider seeking assistance from the local public library. Most US libraries provide free access to wifi, office supplies, and computers—but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

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Libraries as Career Launchpads

Enhancing Job Skills

Libraries offer several opportunities for job seekers to amplify their skills and stand out among other candidates. Many provide unlimited access to training tools that would otherwise be blocked by a paywall. Of course, people interested in a specific skill can check out books relating to the topic. Some libraries also host classes specializing in job skills, such as computer literacy, to help job seekers work with software like Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, and more. In certain locations, patrons can even join clubs dedicated to job hunting and skill building.

Free Workspaces

For small business owners or job seekers in need of a quiet location to job hunt in private, renting a community room can be expensive. Fortunately, public libraries offer private workspaces at no charge. There may be guidelines specific to your library, like a sign-up form, but if you plan ahead, you can cultivate a routine workspace. Library community rooms can be essential for start-up business owners who do not have immediate funds for personal space or job seekers conducting career-building activities like mock interviews.

Résumé and Cover Letter Revisions

Many public libraries host résumé and cover letter revision sessions for job applicants. Librarians or career counselors can work with job seekers directly to identify relevant keywords for their position and show them how to format a résumé correctly. Résumé revisions can be beneficial for applicants entering the workforce after a long-term position. Plus, job seekers experiencing financial insecurity can utilize free access to computers, printers, and wifi.

Mock Interviews

Libraries offer opportunities for job seekers to participate in free mock interviews with librarians, volunteers, or career counselors. As an added convenience, some libraries have adjusted to current needs by offering these services virtually. Mock interviews give job hunters a chance to polish their career presence while working with coaches to implement new skills. Patrons can also use library research databases to delve deeper into common job interview questions or take online courses.

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Librarians in Action

Research Assistance

In Inspiring Library Stories: Tales of Kindness, Connection, and Community Impact, Oleg Kagan edited and contributed to a collection of accounts from librarians sharing their everyday services.

Among these is the story of Tamara Evans, who assisted an older man trying to get back into the workforce. “One evening as I was working at the reference desk,” said Evans, “an older gentleman approached me looking for an electrical exam test prep book for a job test he was taking the next day.”

Although Evans was unable to find the book, she redirected him to websites featuring the information he needed. A week later, the man returned to let her know he had successfully landed the job.

Resource Access

After the closure of a primary employment center in a small, rural community, Deborah Gadwah and her team worked together to support their patrons. “With the large amount of unemployed persons in such a remote area, a special unemployment office was established in a nearby town and served the displaced workers for some time.”

Realizing that some unemployed residents still needed the library’s help, Gadwah sought out extra help. “With the library trustee’s support and a few extra hours allotted for my assistant, we began to open an hour earlier on Monday mornings for unemployment filers only. This allowed us to privately help each filer needing assistance.”

Application Support

While serving as a youth services librarian, Heidi Colom found herself assisting a patron seeking a job working with children. “A customer came to me for assistance with a job application. This customer had moved to the United States from Cuba. She spoke very little English, and did not have much computer knowledge. She was applying for a job as a Substitute Cafeteria Employee.”

Colom helped her fill out the job application, including translating it from Spanish to English. “A few months after that, she came into the library again to share even better news. She had obtained a full-time position in a school’s cafeteria!” Colom would later learn that the experience would also help the woman learn English and enhance her computer skills.

People struggling to navigate the current job market should visit their local public library. Speak with a librarian to learn more about their event schedule, as well as unique career opportunities.

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